Last Supper: Form and Structure

Last Supper: Form and Structure

“Last Supper”: Form and Structure

Form

• Lochhead’s “Last Supper” is structured as a free verse going devoid of regular meter or rhyme.
• This form is often used in modern poetry to allow themes and imagery to flow naturally, similar to natural speech.

Structure

• The poem is divided into five distinct segments, each telling a part of the story and leading to an overall narrative arc.
• The first segment sets the scene at a dinner party, and the subsequent segments build upon this backdrop, giving the reader an understanding of past events and present emotions.

Use of Repetition

• Repetition is a key feature of “Last Supper,” used both within lines and at the end of lines, creating a rhythmic pattern. The repeated use of the word “remember” creates an invoking tone, emphasising the struggle of the speaker to cope with deep seated emotions tied to memories.
• Repetition often heightens tension and highlights key themes or emotions. In this poem, it underscores the speaker’s growing sense of isolation and alienation.

Enjambment and Caesura

• Lochhead widely uses enjambment in “Last Supper” to carry the narrative’s momentum from one line to the next. This forms a continuous, uninterrupted rhythm that reflects the lyrical quality of the speaker’s internal monologue.
• On a few occasions, a caesura, or a pause in the middle of a line, is used to create dramatic effect where the reader is forced to halt, meet or reflect upon the presented idea.

Use of Monosyllabic Words

• Much of the poem incorporates monosyllabic words, simplifying the language and conveying the raw, straightforward emotions of the speaker.

Key to analysing Lochhead’s “Last Supper” is understanding the form and structural choices made by the poet which ultimately inform its mood, pace and the ebb and flow of its linear narrative.