WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LULU.docx

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LULU?

by Charles Causley

MEANING OF STANZAS Meaning of Stanza 1 (4 lines) The persona is a young child. He is asking his mother where his sister, Lulu is. He says there is nothing on her bed except an old rag and a shoe by its side. Meaning of Stanza 2 (4 lines) The persona is asking his mother why Lulu’s window is open and her money-box is missing. Meaning of Stanza 3 (4 lines) The mother asks his mother why she is turning her head and crying. He asks her why crumples and throw the note into the fire and tells him that nothing is wrong. Meaning of Stanza 4 (4 lines) The persona wants to know why his mother is saying the voices and the roar of an engine he heard are just a dream. The roar implies that his sister is driven away in a car. Meaning of Stanza 5 (4 lines) The persona heard somebody cry in pain or anger but his mother tells him that it must have been the wind. Meaning of Stanza 6 (4 lines) The persona wants his mother to explain why she is confused and what has happened to his older sister, Lulu.

LANGUAGE & STYLE • ballad (stanzas with 4 lines each) • first person pronoun • simple, informal & conversational Repetition • Eg: What has happened to Lulu, mother? Metaphors • Eg: the curtains – used to refer Lulu’s new freedom • dust on the shelf used to refer – her previous life Symbolism • Eg: the abandoned bed – Lulu’s new freedom Imagery •

Eg: Lulu’s abandoned bed, rag doll, money-box, ,the sound of a car in the middle of the night

SETTING place: at persona’s house time: late at night

TONE puzzlement & confusion Eg: stanza 3, stanza 4

RHYME SCHEME - 6 stanzas, vary in length - the second & fourth lines in every stanza rhyme eg: What has happened to Lulu, mother? What has happened to Lu?

THEMES • • • •

Love for our family members. Running away from home. Importance of close family ties Coping with loss of a family member

MORAL VALUES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

We must have a close relationship with our family members to discuss our problems easily. We must love our family members. Running away from does not solve our problems. It is difficult to get over of loss a family member. The loss of a family member affects everyone at home.