My Polish Teacher's Tie - Helen Dunmore

‘He sang a song i knew … i knew it, i knew it, i knew it’

• Rule of Three - used to make ideas more memorable, impactful, and satisfying to the reader or listen

• carla has struggled with identity but this is the turning point

  • she knows the song and feels part of something bigger

• epiphany

  • finally feels understood

‘Pleasure. A smile lit in his eyes and ran to his mouth’

• warmth and light imagery

  • immediate acceptance and relief

• genuine human connection beyond class

• complete opposite reaction to expected when meeting her

  • counters fear of rejection

‘Teachers are used to getting out of the way for catering staff without really seeing them’

• reinforces theme of invisibility

  • not to be seen or heard

  • like background objects

• taken for granted

  • lower position in school hierarchy

  • dehumanising

• imagery of separation

  • sits at the back of teacher meeting

  • headteacher doesn’t remember her name’I

‘I wear a uniform, blue overall, and a white cap with the school logo’

• first line of story

  • immeduate tone of low status

  • wears a uniform like a student

• individuality reduced to just her role / job and social class

• ‘thats’s me’

  • self mocking

  • self-depricating

  • diminishing tone