The narrator looks back to her childhood when she was friends with a boy called Brendon Gallacher. They come from quite different backgrounds but spend a lot of time tgther. The narrator had to stop believing in Brendon - he was an imaginary friend.
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Brendon Gallacher - Form
The poem has a regular rhyme scheme and she uses Brendon's name as a song-like refrain, which makes the poem sound childlike.
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Brendon Gallacher - Structure
The poet describes events in the order they happened, saving the fact he's not real for the end, so that we share in her fantasy.
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Brendon Gallacher - Childish Language
Some language and images in the poem are quite childlike and emphasise that the narrator is talking about her past. It helps the reader to visualise the narrator's childhood.
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Brendon Gallacher - Regional Language
The narrator uses Scottish words and dialect and creates a clear sense of place to make the poem personal to her own childhood.
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Brendon Gallacher - Direct Conversation
Sections of direct conversation introduce other voices into the poem. It makes the account of the narrator's childhood seem more realistic.
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Brendon Gallacher - Feelings and attitudes in the poem
Love - The relationship between the narrator and her imaginary friend is loving...Sadness...and Possessiveness - She repeatedly refers to her friend as "my" which suggests that she feels protective over him but also that he is only real for her.
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Brendon Gallacher - Why does the mother's conversation kill Brendon for the narrator?
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Brendon Gallacher - Why do you think the narrator created her imaginary friend?
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Brendon Gallacher - Why do you think the poet waits until the end to describe Brendon's physical appearance?
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Brendon Gallacher - Do you think this poem could be described as an elegy to Brendon Gallacher? Why/why not?
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Brendon Gallacher - What is the effect of "cat burglar"?
Quite an innocent, childlike description.
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Brendon Gallacher - What is the effect of "hold my hand"?
Innocent image of their relationship.
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Brendon Gallacher - What is the effect of "daddy"?
Childlike language, reminds reader that she's looking back to her past.
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Brendon Gallacher - What is the effect of the repetition of "24 Novar?"
Repeated detail of address shows place is important.
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Brendon Gallacher - What is the effect of "There never have been any Gallachers next door"?
Direct, unequivocal dialogue - helps reader to identify with the narrator's shock.
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Brendon Gallacher - What can you compare this poem with?
Narrators often describe their past or childhood...You could compare this narrator's account of her childhood to Alison's younger, healthy self in 'Casehistory : Alison (head injury)'. Both narrators look to the past and describe their sense of loss.
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
Brendon Gallacher - Form
Back
The poem has a regular rhyme scheme and she uses Brendon's name as a song-like refrain, which makes the poem sound childlike.
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