English Literature

Analysis 

Title

The title of 'Eat Me' connotes childlike imagery due to the way that it comes from the children's tale 'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll.The use of the imperative suggests a sense of command and aggression, as the use of the imperative  and the duo-syllabic title is very abrupt and 'bossy'.

Initial Meaning 

On first appearance Agbabi's poem can be about a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a feeder. At a second glance it can also be about a battle with inner demons and the inner voice. 

Structure 

Agbabi uses a consistent structure of tersets throughout her poem. This can show the consistency of the abuse and the consistent pressure on the narrator to conform to standards set by society. The rigid structure can also be used to show just how trapped the narrator feels in the relationship she has with the male, and also how trapped she is in the face of society's expectations and her own self esteem. 

Form

Agbabi's use of a poem for Eat Me has been done in order to make the message more personal. She is making a statement to society in her poem, and encouraging the idea of female empowerment against society's expectations and the patriarchal traditions in society (the idea that women need to conform to what men desire from them). 

Narrative

The narrator is an unnamed female narrator, with heteroglossia used in the 4th, 8th, and 9th stanza with the male narrative. This is effective as it allows the reader to see into the mind of both narrators, as well as invoking a feeling of hatred toward the dominating male narrative. The use of the heteroglossia also shows that, even in the personal dramatic monologue, the male intrudes her personal space and her deepest thoughts- this can also be used to convey feelings of hatred towards the male.

The consistent use of assonance, alliteration and repetition, as well  as innuendo combined together in Eat Me allows the narrator to convey a sensual feeling throughout the poem from the narrator, which mirrors the excess that is described in the poem. It is also ironic as there is no indication of any intimacy between the narrator and her partner.

Rhyme

The half rhyme of 'cake' and 'weight' implies feelings of uncertainty and ambiguity as even though they are not spelled the same when said aloud they sound almost the same. This carries the idea that even in her thoughts the female narrator is unsure about herself and is lacking a sense of identity, which can be linked to the way females are often pressured by society to the point where they lose their individuality, instead becoming a slave to the expectations of society. The assonance of the 'o' sound in the 8th terset ('poured olive oil down my throat') creates the sound of someone choking. This can be representative of the way the narrator is feeling choked by the presence of the abusive male in her life. It can…