Technique/idea Key Quotes and analysis
Key themes: What does Monotony “Please Hold” is both the name of
this poem explore? Technology the poem and a phrase commonly
The future used when on the phone to a
Humanity company. The reader is incredibly
familiar with the monotony of having
to wait to speak to an employee.
The speaker is speaking to a ‘robot’
on the phone, which has already
started to become a part of modern
technology, with automated call
systems being used frequently.
“This is the future” is repeated
numerous times throughout the
course of the poem.
The only person actually appearing
to be human in the poem is the
speaker. The wife mirrors the robot
and the robot transfers the speaker
to himself when the speaker asks
for an agent.
Language: Any patterns Repetition “This is the future” and “please hold”
of language? Poetic Humour are repeated numerous times
techniques? Eg: similes, Metaphor throughout the poem, the robotic
metaphors, verbs, etc. Musical allusion tone suggesting that the future will
Commanding plosives be robotic, unfeeling and impersonal
and there’s no choice.
The speaker uses sarcasm to make
fun of the robot, saying “I have a
wonderful telephone number” when
the robot uses adjectives such as
“wonderful” and “great”, which
usually connote joy, but are
impersonal in this sense.
The robot is giving the speaker “no
options in the guise of countless
alternatives”, which is a metaphor
for manipulation of truth, the
speaker has no control over this or
his future.
“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” is a lullaby
by Mozart. A beautiful, pre-
technology piece of art is being
ruined by corporate society.
“Grow Old. Grow cold” has a scary
tone, especially considering the
imperative tone and no ‘please’
seen previously and symbolises the
end of humanity as we know it.
Key themes: What does Monotony “Please Hold” is both the name of
this poem explore? Technology the poem and a phrase commonly
The future used when on the phone to a
Humanity company. The reader is incredibly
familiar with the monotony of having
to wait to speak to an employee.
The speaker is speaking to a ‘robot’
on the phone, which has already
started to become a part of modern
technology, with automated call
systems being used frequently.
“This is the future” is repeated
numerous times throughout the
course of the poem.
The only person actually appearing
to be human in the poem is the
speaker. The wife mirrors the robot
and the robot transfers the speaker
to himself when the speaker asks
for an agent.
Language: Any patterns Repetition “This is the future” and “please hold”
of language? Poetic Humour are repeated numerous times
techniques? Eg: similes, Metaphor throughout the poem, the robotic
metaphors, verbs, etc. Musical allusion tone suggesting that the future will
Commanding plosives be robotic, unfeeling and impersonal
and there’s no choice.
The speaker uses sarcasm to make
fun of the robot, saying “I have a
wonderful telephone number” when
the robot uses adjectives such as
“wonderful” and “great”, which
usually connote joy, but are
impersonal in this sense.
The robot is giving the speaker “no
options in the guise of countless
alternatives”, which is a metaphor
for manipulation of truth, the
speaker has no control over this or
his future.
“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” is a lullaby
by Mozart. A beautiful, pre-
technology piece of art is being
ruined by corporate society.
“Grow Old. Grow cold” has a scary
tone, especially considering the
imperative tone and no ‘please’
seen previously and symbolises the
end of humanity as we know it.
