A MINOR ROLE- U.A.

FANTHROPE
‘A Minor Role’ The title of the poem is one which encourages the reader to ask various questions
and wonder about the situation. For example, what is the role? Why is it described as being ‘minor’?
Is it relating to drama, or could it be another role? All of these questions and potential answers will
help to create a variety of scenarios and ideas in a reader’s imagination, which would be very
effective at encouraging a reader to potentially approach the poem with a more open mind as to
what the subject matter may be. In addition, a reader could consider a more philosophical viewpoint
to the idea of a ‘role’, which would particularly be the case if the title is being reflected on after a
reader has completed reading the poem.
Poem Structure
One of the most apparent features of the structure in this poem is the irregular line length and
stanza structure. In some ways the structure initially appears uniform, but strange and unique forms
are made in the poem as it goes on.  The reader may interpret this as showing the irregularity of life,
and how parts of life can change quite suddenly and unexpectedly. The impact on the rhythm as a
result of these structural changes is very noticeable, which further emphasises the idea of
unexpected changes. Alternatively, the reader could consider the way in which the structure could
link to that of a play or piece of drama which has different elements to a plot, and different paces of
action.
There are also frequent caesura in the poem, particularly with semi colons in the second stanza. This
links well with the irregular structure to show pauses and interruptions in life, perhaps indicating
how people’s actions and thoughts may not be as ‘free’ as initially anticipated. There are also other
breaks to the flow in the poem, such as the use of brackets to insert additional snippets of
information, which highlights the complexity of life. Some readers may even find this variety of pace
and structure somewhat overwhelming due to the constant changes. This would be a very effective
outcome for the poem, as it would make ‘A Minor Role’ more memorable and encourage a reader to
develop empathy for the narrator.
The single final line of the poem is very striking, due to the way it draws a readers attention when
the poem is first viewed. The separation from the rest of the poem even draws a readers attention
to it before they may even have started reading the rest of the poem, which if the case would be
highly effective at making a reader consider the rest of the poem with a deeper meaning. Similarly,
ending the poem on this line, rather than placing it at the beginning or the middle, would ensure
that it remains one of the key thoughts for the reader.
Poetic Techniques
There are a range of examples of imperatives being used in ‘A Minor Role’ such as “admit it’s not”
“make you believe” and “I’m best observed on stage”. This creates a sense of certainty and precision
which is juxtaposed with the irregular and varied structure, with this sense of ‘conflict’ between
language and structure encouraging a reader to consider the way in which the narrator is attempting
to exert power and influence, while at the same time conforming to the irregular structure and
unpredictability of the pace and rhythm.
In the second to last stanza, Fanthorpe takes the unusual step of adding an asterisk and then a
reference to ‘Oedipus Rex’ which is a tragedy written by Sophocles, a playwright from Ancient
Athens. The main character Oedipus begs for his death after learning that as a result of him being
separated from his parents at birth, he had unknowingly killed his father and married his mother.
While the exact story of the play is not seen as significant to the poem, the choice of this play is
interesting because it can be seen as showing that even in the worst situations an individual should
not wish for death or deem it better to die, with the following exclamation of “No it wouldn’t!”
highlighting this opinion.
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
There is another form of contrast that is built up in the poem, but rather than being structural, it is
instead different semantic fields. One of the key ones within the poem is that relating to medical
themes, with words such as “formula” “consultant” “illness” and “dosages” which continue the
idea that the narrator is suffering from a form of illness. At the same time there is the semantic field
of the stage and drama, such as “roles” and “stage” which often are directly associated to the
medical descriptions. This is one of the key ways in which the idea of the ‘minor role’ is brought to
the poem.
Important Lines
“my heart’s in the unobtrusive”
The adjective “unobtrusive” is noticeable as a result of it being four syllables long, which may be
interpreted as a link to the idea of a “heart” with the beat and rhythm of the word. Readers may
interpret this line as considering the potential insignificance of life, but also the way in which health
and emotion are directly linked.
“For well-meant intrusiveness”
The contrast between the positive connotations of “well-meant” and the negative connotations of
“intrusiveness” makes this quite an interesting line for a reader to consider, and one that is likely to
make them form their own opinion as to what degree they may find people enquiring about their
health instructive. Some readers may also consider a potential disconnect between the narrator and
society, with each wanting to do and experience different things.
“Saying Thank you // For anything to everyone”
The reader may find this line quite emotional due to the helpless and dependent feeling which is
inferred, particularly with the word “anything” as it indicates an almost complete lack of control of
the narrator’s personal situation. The use of italics helps to add further visual emphasis to the line,
showing the way in which Fanthorpe sees it as important to the poem as a whole. Readers could also
see a potential link to being on stage and completing a performance, once again linking to the idea
that ‘the end’ is approaching.
‘A Minor Role’ Key Themes
Identity: There are a range of hints and allusions to the loss of identity within ‘A Minor Role’, in
particular the idea of saying thank you for “anything” and the way in which the medical semantic
field consumes the poem. There is also the way in which the narrator sees themselves, and the
contrast between an on stage and off stage identity, which much of the poem also rests upon.
Power: In a similar way to the identity theme, power is also explored through the way in which it is
lost and diminished as a result of illness. However, there can also be interpretations of gains in
power and influence through medicine and the ‘power’ of the stage.

A Minor Role by U.A. Fanthorpe is a reflection on the role the poet has been forced to play
within society due to her illness. There is a fine line between the life the poet wants and the
one she has, and this is explored through the constant changing narrative directions of the
poem. Fanthorpe challenges the reader to reflect on their own life, on the role they play and
how they present themselves to society.
Although the tone of the poem is overly sardonic, there are flashes of an innate desire to
live and to thrive. Fanthorpe seems to be caught in a purgatory of wanting more, and
finding out how to live as she is.
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
The tone Fanthorpe evokes could be read as bitter, she is envious of those who have the
‘star part’ while she has to read the ‘unobtrusive’. The desire for something different, even
just a ‘simpler illness’ illustrates Fanthorpe’s frustration. The poem is about wanting to
change who you are in society, how you project yourself into the world and how you are
received.
A large amount of the semantics from the poem come from the field of the theatre. This
relates to the idea of identity as a performance. Considering the inter-textual reference to
‘Oedipus Rex’, the use of theatrical semantics could be a reference to Shakespeare’s ‘As You
Like It’, in which Jacques says ‘All the world’s a stage’. The performance of life is one
everyone is involved with, ‘all the men and women merely players’ they have their exits and
their entrances.’ Fanthorpe forces the reader to question the performance of identity.

Structure
A Minor Role is split into 6 unequal stanzas, with major irregularity in line length and stanza
shape. There is no rhyme scheme, and lines are often enjambed to increase the flow of the
poem. The truncated lines, sometimes enjambed and sometimes broken into pieces with
caesuras bring a chaotic rhythm to the poem. It seems as if Fanthrope is freely speaking the
poem, with the strange and unmelodic poem a reflection of her thought process.
The differing stanza lengths could be a reflection of the differing roles that one can play in
society. Similarly, the strange form could be a reflection of the erratic mindset Fanthorpe
feels after not ending in the role she would have liked. You can read the full poem here.

Analysis
Stanza One
Lines 1-4
A Minor Role begins with the first personal pronoun, focusing the attention directly on the
poet. The beginning is idea for the poet, with her desire for the ‘star part’ being realised
through her instant directing of the audience to herself. This idea of being central is further
explored with the state of being ‘observed’. The poet enjoys the attention of the reader and
this central concept of being seen on the ‘stage’ illuminates most of the poem. This idea of
‘stage’ also begins to set the central extended metaphor of the poem, with the idea of
performing a ‘part’ in society being imitated through the poet on the stage.
The use of ‘exits and entrances’, as mentioned above, could be a reference to Shakespeare’s
‘As You Like It’, in which the concept of identity as a performance is also explored.
Nevertheless, the reliance on the semantics of the stage punctuates Fanthorpe’s idea
equally. The first stanza is very visual, and the imagery of the stage projects a certain view of
the poet. This stanza is polysemic, on one hand, it can be read as an actual performance,
perhaps with the poet reminiscing on a past stage performance. Yet, the images could also
be interpreted as a reference to the poet playing a role in society.
Furthermore, this idea of ‘endless[ness]’ in the first stanza further relates to the cyclic
nature of life and the continual push to perform identity. This isn’t a problem reduced
directly to the poet, it is an ‘endless’ force which is applicable to everyone in society. It does
not begin or end with the ‘exits and entrances’, but exists in the space between. Here, the
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
poet is arguing that this idea of performance will never change, this is simply the way
society is.

Lines 5-6
The ‘monstrous fabric’ is a reference to the fabrications one has to make to fit into a certain
role in society. Due to the stereotypical ideas of how something should be, the poet argues
that one must fabricate their identity to match this. Fanthorpe finds this idea ‘monstrous’,
with the adjective detailing her disgust, yet she does nothing about it, continues to play her
chosen role ‘endless[ly]’.
This idea of the cruel nature of society is pinpointed within the last line of the first stanza,
the ‘unwanted sniggers’ echoing through the poet’s head as she ends the first section of A
Minor Role.

Stanza Two
This stanza focuses more on the reality of the poet’s life. She is sick, with her life reduced to
the ‘unobtrusive’ role of hospital patient. The first three images in the stanza are related
directly to the hospital, ‘waiting-room’, ‘driving to hospitals, parking at hospitals’. The
monotony of the poet’s life is palpable after being the heightened central focus of the first
stanza.

The poet uses asyndeton (a list without connectors) to further the monotony of this stanza.
Thirteen images are quickly rattled off within the stanza, covering the typical day to day life
of the poet. She even categorises herself as ‘background music’, with the demeaning shame
she feels at having been assigned a ‘waiting-room role’ palpable.

Stanza Three
Stanza three of A Minor Role much reflects the initial ideas of monotony evoked in stanza 2.
There is a certain desire to avoid contact, a wish to be left alone. The ‘walking fast’ is a
contrast to the slow pace of stanza 2. Yet, the action is one of self isolation, actually
achieving the opposite to what the burst of energy would indicate.
The repetition of ‘getting on, getting better’ works in ways. The first is that the double
gerund ‘getting’ shows the quick passing of time. The movement reflects the movement of
time, how it is slipping away from her. Moreover, the prepared response displays how the
poet has planned out her social interaction before it even happens. It seems that she goes
through the same conversation so many times that now she is ready to auto-pilot through
any social interaction she encounters. She has been reduced from a main part to one of four
words: ‘getting on, getting better’.

The ‘well-meant intrusiveness’ is a direct contrast to the ‘unobtrusive’ of stanza two.

Whereas she once was ‘best observed on stage’, she has shrunk with her illness into
‘unobtrusive[ness’. Where she once thrived off being ‘observed’, social interaction now
seems ‘intrusive’. The change the illness has brought upon the poet is tragic. She longs for a
different role, but this is the one she is destined to preform.

Stanza Four
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
The repeated beginning of this stanza, ‘At home’ firmly cements the monotony of the poet’s
life – it revolves around two locations, the hospital and her home. The poet’s life has been
grounder, her ‘stage’ now fading into ‘home’.

Throughout this stanza the poet frequently asks questions and answers them herself. This
again feeds into the tone of loneliness that the poem projects. The only person with who
the poet can speak is herself, ‘Bed? A good idea!’
 

Stanza Five
Stanza 5 of A Minor Role has an element of grandeur alike that of the first, with the
intertextual reference to the ‘Chorus’ from ‘Oedipus Rex’. In Greek Tragedy, the Chorus is
composed of the eldest and wisest members of the community, with their dialogue
normally discussing the complexities of the political situation and plot that drives the play.
By linking her own life to this grand concept, the poet regains an element of glory of her
former stature.
Furthermore, the final line exemplifies this rally against her depressive nature. She exclaims
‘No it wouldn’t!’, battling against and overcoming the proceeding ‘it would have been better
to die’. The division between these two statements, enforced by the caesura after die can
be taken as a representation of the division in the poet’s character. On one hand she wants
to live, to be the ‘star part’ and to thrive, yet there is this part of her that longs to end it all.
Although bleak, the poet sees why she must continue to live, a flash of happiness in an
otherwise melancholic poem.

Stanza Six
The final stanza reduces its message into one simple line, communicating with the audience
directly. If Fanthorpe, with a crippling illness that subdues her completely in life, can
continue, so can the reader. The balance of ‘I’ and ‘you’ within the final line also
encompasses this reaching out to the reader, with the connection established being a wave
form of connection with a poem of isolation.

Summary:

 Fanthorpe describes the interactions, and routines, of life when a difficult situation (for
example, illness) is constantly present. The speaker displays a truthful account of their
life as it becomes increasingly clear that the illness may be terminal, or a severe mental
disorder such as depression. Although Fanthorpe does reference the difficulty of getting
through the day -whether it's hospitals visits or simple discussions with a friend- as the
poem develops, there is a hopeful tone. The speaker explains to the reader that -despite
their struggle- they believe that there is something to live for, and that they want to
share this with the reader to inspire hope in them.

Language:
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
 The extended metaphor of theatre- the poem's foundation describes life in the
metaphor of a performance, with the speaker playing a minor role, an average
citizen in everyday society. Each job is likened to a role in a play and all interactions
are portrayed like scripted dialogue. You could interpret the speaker as being the
main, starring role or that the speaker sees themselves as a tiny part in a huge
production, seemingly insignificant but also like a cog in a machine.

 Colloquial language- throughout the poem the speaker uses casual language, either with
colloquial phrases or using brackets to create an 'aside' style of speech. This gives the
impression that the poem is a personal account of the speaker's life, or, alternatively,
that the speaker is trying to confide in the reader and be welcoming for them in order to
make them understand and relate to them.

 Punctuation- there is a huge amount of punctuation used throughout the poem with

many cesuras breaking up the lines. This could be to represent the speaker's fast
moving, continuous thought process, supporting the fact that the poem is a private,
genuine representation of their life in contrast to the performance that they put on for
the outside world.

Form:

 6 stanzas and 1 single line.

 free verse- represents the thought process of the speaker.
 the stanzas each address a theme or an aspect of life with its theatrical
metaphor/representation.

Structure:

 first and last stanzas- these both focus heavily on the theatre metaphor, showing how
the speaker constantly uses the metaphor to cope with their life in a cyclic movement of
covering up the truth.
 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th stanzas- provide a more honest view of the internal thoughts of
the speaker, the stanzas reveal that the speaker ill. They refer to hospitals, meetings
with consultants, pretending that they're everything is okay and coping with small tasks
in everyday life. This honesty is then covered up again at the end of the poem.
 as the poem progresses, we form a deeper understanding of the speaker and empathy
grows for their struggle through life and the robotic motions that make up their days.

Themes:

 Illness- it becomes clear during the poem that the speaker is suffering from an illness.
Whilst this could be terminal, there are many indications that the illness is mental, for
example anxiety or depression. The constant reference to robotic movements, struggling
with seemingly simple interactions, admittance that they aren't fine and that they're
lying, alongside the fact that the speaker wishes to change their "misery" into "a simpler
illness, like a broken leg". Here, the speaker realises that physical illness is much more
widely understood and accepted than mental illness and that it would make it easier to
get through a day. Despite the obstacles they are facing, the speaker retains a hopeful
tone to inspire others who may be in the same situation to "believe in life"
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
 Social expectation- the speaker behaves in the way that they are expected to behave
and how people expect people to openly reveal their inner feelings about what they may
be experiencing.

 Isolation- the speaker is both mentally and physically isolated from those around them.

 Illusion/pretence- both the extended metaphor of life being a performance and the

pretence that the speaker is coping reveals how people with illness often hide their
emotional instability privately and publicly.

 Acceptance- the final line can be seen as a form of acceptance of the speaker's illness
and the fact that they are utilising their experience to help others. On the other hand, it
could also be seen as a mockery of the fact that people do not appreciate their lives
when they are free of mental or physical illness.

Potential comparisons:

 On her blindess
 Effects
 A leisure centre is also a temple of learning
 This poem is about… there are 4 main interpretations that we can make about A
Minor Role:

1) A Minor Role is about societal expectations:

This interpretation purports that the poem is discussing the way society expects
individuals to behave. In this case, the poem deals with the way the terminally/
severely ill are expected to put on a mask that all is well.

2) A Minor Role is about Avoidance:

An alternative view is that A Minor Role is describing the human tendency to run
away from things we find difficult and challenging.

3) A Minor Role is about Death:

A Minor Role clearly has morbid overtones and this viewpoint suggests that the
poem is about dealing with the concept of death and our own mortality.

4) A Minor Role is about Performing:

This final interpretation claims that A Minor Role is about putting on an act and
pretending to be something/someone you are not.

*Some of these interpretations work well together such as societal expectation and
performing, but it is also possible to claim that the poem is about all four of these
interpretations.
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
Analysis of title… the title is ambiguous, but that means it can be linked to all of the
four main theories (below):

- The first of these links to the societal expectations interpretation, the ‘role’ refers
to the function each of us has in society and the use of the word ‘minor’ in
conjunction expresses the speaker’s wish that she had a less significant position in
society.

- From the avoidance perspective, the title is referring to the speaker’s desire for
anonymity, smaller role with fewer responsibilities. It is, therefore, an expression of
the speaker’s want to avoid the greatest challenges in life, instead of living a more
mundane life.

- The title could also be seen as a reflective summary of the speaker’s life, she has
judged her part in life as being a minor role.

- The most obvious link is to that of the performance interpretation. A role is another
term used to describe the parts actors play, hence the conclusion is easily drawn that
the title is a reflection on the part the speaker plays/will play/has played.

Form/POV… A Minor Role utilises the form of a dramatic monologue, which is

important because it creates a feeling of isolation, which the poet furthers
throughout the poem. If we refer back to the 4 main interpretations this could be
important for all of them. All of the views convey a sense of the individual and
society as distinct and separate entities (in the case of societal expectations and
performing) or an individual faced with something immense (in the case of death
and avoidance). As the reader, we are better able to understand the world from the
perspective of the speaker. This is a useful device as it allows even people who have
not been through the experience being described to understand it.

A Minor Rule uses a first person perspective. The first person perspective makes the
speaker more relatable as we can understand her actions and why she took them,
hence the use of the first person garners greater empathy from, us, the reader. The
use of the first person also aids in immersion, though the use of first person the
reader experiences the events of the poem themselves and thus develops a deeper
connection with the protagonist and their plight. 


Structural analysis… there is no true rhyme scheme: the lack of rhyme scheme is

useful for a myriad of reasons. Without a rhyme scheme, the poem instantly gains an
uncertain tone, foreshadowing an unhappy ending. This also helps to avoid the poem
having an inappropriate tone for the subject matter, by keeping the poem more
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
serious and thus evoking a pensive frame of mind from the reader.

The disjointed appearance of stanzas: The stanzas disjointed appearance create a

visual representation of the speaker’s feelings on being forced into the spotlight and
role she didn’t want. The appearance of the stanzas also depicts how the speaker’s
personality and behaviour clash with the behaviour and personality that society
expects her to have.

Single line final stanza: This final stanza is representative of the speaker being the
main focus, in the spotlight and also conveys a very sorrowful message, that we are
all alone in the end (and can be used as support for the death interpretation among
others). However, the final stanza may be interpreted as accepting or bowing to the
whims of social expectations, succumbing and allowing herself to be in the spotlight
playing the role we expect her to play. 


Language analysis… semantic field of hospitals: the semantic field of hospitals is

used within the poem to further the distant and almost apathetic tone. The poet
describes “getting on terms with receptionists” as something mundane and
unimportant, yet something she likes doing as her “hearts in the unobtrusive”. The
use of words such as “receptionists” creates this distant tone, as “receptionists” are
typically associated with being formal and impersonal. This perhaps explains why the
speaker talks so fondly of this, as the poem makes it clear that she does not enjoy
putting on the act that she feels obliged to; however, in such situation as described
there would be no need for facades and false niceties.

Semantic field of misery: The semantic field of misery is used to convey the speaker’s
opinion on what they are relating. If we were to take it from the social expectations
interpretation, then the semantic field of misery used in stanza 5 is the speaker
confessing how these expectations have crushed her soul. The list in stanza 5, “tears,
torpor, boredom, lassitude, yearnings” creates a seemingly endless seeming list
which shows how the speaker is being completely overwhelmed and the
connotations of these words further this impression of futility.

Semantic field of theatre: The semantic field of theatre that is used throughout the
poem significantly furthers the case of the performance interpretation. The poet
likens the life of the ill as to that of a stage performer; they are a model to the rest of
us and they are there to “make you believe in life”. Fanthorpe uses prop imagery,
including “spear” and “servant’s tray” as symbols for importance and unimportance.
Contrary to most the speaker would “jettison the spear” and take the “servant’s
tray”; however, the poem is about how the speaker is forced from her minor role
into the “star part” and these two symbols are important in understanding the
speaker’s decision to “jettison the spear”. The “spear” has connotations of danger,
violence and uncertainty of life (doing battle risks your life), whereas, the “servant’s
tray” alludes to security, a mundane but safe life.
A MINOR ROLE- U.A.FANTHROPE
The final stanza: The word of the final stanza “I am here to make you believe in life”
can be considered as quite ambiguous. At first glance, they may appear to send a
positive message to the reader, that although she is going through this horrible
experience she can still make the lives of others better. However, this final line could
also be seen as a scathing remark criticising society and the way it treats the ill. The
fact that the statement is not elaborated upon lends weight to this argument as it
implies that those who are ill ‘I’ serve only the purpose to make ‘you’ (the healthy)
feel better.


Themes/Symbols… life and death are key themes that are presented within the poem as binary
opposites.

Illness is another theme, which is closely linked to the theme of death; however, illness is presented
as the gateway to death.

Avoidance is a theme, which is developed throughout the poem as the way in which the poet deals
with her illness.

Performance and the need to conform to others ideals are considered throughout the poem and are
perhaps the reasons that the speaker seeks solitude so often (where she need not conform nor
perform).

The stage is one of the key symbols within the poem, it used to reflect the nature of the speaker’s
position in her life. This includes her new role in society and the way she is expected to perform in
social interactions.

The cat is a smaller non-pervasive symbol used in the poem. The speaker claims that the cat is
“mysteriously reassuring”, which adds an almost hopeful tone to a poem, that was previously and
continues afterwards, to be a fairly defeatist manner. The speaker sees the cat as reassuring for a
variety of reasons. Firstly, cats are notorious for being independent and thus acting as they chose,
therefore the cat acts as a symbol for the dream of the speaker getting to act as she chooses. In
addition, there are many myths surrounding cats, primarily those regarding a cat always landing on its
feet and of cats having nine lives. Ergo the cat also represents the hope the speaker has of still living;
however, it is also important that that dream is embodied by the cat and not herself, as it implies that
she has given up on the dream becoming reality and thus has separates herself from it. Yet its very
presence (in the form of the cat) reveals that although she has given up on it becoming reality she
cannot help but wish for it.

Poems that can be compared…

- On Her Blindness: This poem deals with similar issues to those in A Minor Role. Both consider the
roles that certain types of people have within society. In the case of On Her Blindness the poet
subverts the stereotype and in A Minor Role, the poet clearly challenges what society thinks is
acceptable behaviour. Furthermore, both poems have key themes in common such as death (more
specifically suicide) and illness/disability.

- The Deliverer: This poem can be compared with The Deliverer; they share common themes. Both
poems touch upon the idea of societal roles and being trapped into certain fates as a result of them,
as well as death.