Analysis of “You may turn over and begin” by Simon Armitage

You whitethorn turn over and begin is an interior monologue of a someone who is sitting an testingen, seemingly on the subject of General Studies. The style itself lends itself thoroughly to this theme as you whitethorn turn over and begin argon the words an examen invigilator says as an exam begins. The numbers follows the public opinions of the loudtalker system who may or may not be Armit term himself as he sits the exam whilst musing over exam questions and other things that enter the speakers thoughts when he has end the writing.The first account of the metrical composition could be express to be the title itself as it directly links to the first border of the main torso of the poem. While the title is said by someone else the remainder of the poem is the thoughts of the speaker, the fact that it is someones thoughts is repayd by the seemingly random train of thought and the subjects themselves which argon personal in nature- i.e. the speakers thoughts on milk white breasts and virginity in stock certificates 12 and 13. The questions themselves are not typical of a general studies exam and are seemingly random, often like thought processes often are, though reference to the decameron could be linked to the adolescent and hormonal thoughts of lines 12 and 13. Armitages spirit for representing and understanding youth culture is highlighted by his reference to the general studies exam as ..a doddle, a cinch for anyone with an ounce of common sense in lines 6 and 7. This c at a timept of general studies remains true today objet dart the speakers insight on the habituate of a calculator with a retrospect feature to cheat shows the writers comprehension of such things.Lines 10 and 11 reinforce the idea of general studies being an unimportant exam as the speaker neglects to check the work, instead choosing to permit the mind wander. The next few straddles invent on the injustice of male/female relations at that age whereby the boys are in a frenzied hormonal state small-arm the little girls remain untouchable long and sereneout of reach. rehearse of imagery is diaphanous as mention of the the heat in line 14 points to enforced sexual repression on the part of men that age, darn long and cool like cocktails indicates the heightened maturity of women (though referred to as girls by the speaker) at that age. There is further imagery shown by the lines describing their buns and pigtails only let out for older guys which makes the link between the exertion of get wind evident in those hairstyles, which in turn is relaxed for older men. This is a metaphorical internal representation of sexual control.As is common with thought patterns the subject suddenly changes in line 20 where the speaker reminisces on an occasion when the cold control of teenagerage girls is lost as a jot of consolation. The by-line couplets detail a comical situation which dispels some of the faade the speaker has built up about teenage g irls. Lines 24-27 detail the girl deck out herself but 28 and 29 tell of the motorbike pulling away, it is a typical of a story which would circulate around a college and the speaker reinforces this in line 30, referring to it as a rumour. The final line answers the first question posed by the exam paper and once again follows the theme of random thoughts as the answer just pops up, much as it would into ones mind. It may also be noted of this poem that, receivable to good allusions to the fact, that it is Armitage or at least a male who is write this, though there are no specific mentions of the speakers sexuality, merely referring to his/herself in the first person I.The structure of the poem is two random and further structured. The lines are set out in 16 couplets (possibly a radio link to the age of the speaker at time). Enjambment is evident in how the lines ramble separate couplets which connotes the theme of random thoughts without structure or regulated progress. Th e time itself also reflects this with a seemingly random variance in syllables which reflects the jolly random process of thought. While the majority of the lines within a couplet hold a similar metre (lines 1-2 with a 8 and 9 syllables respectively etc) one couplet that does stand out as respite that mould that of lines 12 and 13. Line 12 has 14 syllables while 13 has 4 with virginity. The separation of the word from the others and putting it on its own both represents the importance of the subject to adolescent males while also possibly representing the speakers distraction about the subject.The use of couplets serves to create a slow methodical bicycle in the poem. Coupled with this, examples of unstressed and stressed syllables within the couplet rime create a sense of the multiple choice nature of the paper the speaker is sitting. This is particularly evident in the first and second couplet. The bike is fairly structured when read aloud, this is compounded by use of strong para-rhyme- e.g. ..specifically/virginity, Honda/amber. The absence of a strict rhyme scheme or metre is in keeping with the unsystematic nature of the thoughts of a person, though it must be noted that there is some structure to the poem as there is in some sections of the monologue of the speaker. An example of this is line 20 One jot of consolation which seems an unlikely sentence to real think, though it does serve to create a division in the speakers thoughts on lusting after girls from the story about the spindly girl riding pillion.Armitage is real much perceived as being of the poetry is the new pit and roll era so it is not surprising that much of the vernacular and thoughts are akin to that which people of the college age. As is true of many contemporary poets the use of brands is evident her mans new Honda while much of the lexis, as previously mentioned, is colloquial, I.e. a doddle, a cinch. Particular attention is made to the appearance of the girl in lines 24 to 2 7 with pre modification evident, her tight jeans which continues the theme of a hormonal teenager lusting after girls.The poem itself is a mixture of teen angst and comedy. We can assume that Armitage writes this poem from personal experience as nigh men can discern with the thoughts of the speaker, while everyone who has taken the general studies exams leave identify with the speakers opinion on it as a bit of a waste of time. As a male I can empathize with the speaker while a female reading this would be, in my opinion, more than likely to focus on the comedy aspect of the poem quite a than the hormonal maelstrom that is shown in the first half of the poem. While the structure, beat and lexis all support the context of the poem it may be said that while the theme of random thought is well presented there are sections which detract from the success of the attempt to achieve this theme. This mainly manifests itself in the arranged nature of some of the narration and use of s imile (long and cool like cocktails) which is not a realistic thought. Despite this the devices used liquefy to good effect in this perception which is very easy to identify with.