Exam Preparation: ‘Please Hold’
O Driscoll’s poem explores the irritation of being put on hold and the increasing use of technology in
modern life.
Key themes:
The changing, modern world.
The future.
Humanity
Satirical tone.
Verse form One long stanza, followed by a short stanza-
Relentless and monotonous nature of the phone call amplified by the long stanza at the
beginning. Continues cycle experienced by the speaker.
Short stanza at the end-
shift- loss of speaker’s voice here- becomes like the automated transcript. Perhaps
reflecting the way in which the modern world, with its reliance upon technology, is losing
sense of humanity.
Structural A range of phrases are repeated throughout the poem-
devices Limited options- the robot can only offer a few suggestions- relentless and futile nature of
the phone call. Meaningless nature of language- language being destroyed here (see final
section)
‘This is the future’ repeated by the wife- scenario used as a metaphor for the changes
occurring in the modern world. Wife herself almost seems robotic- loss of human
interaction?
The structure of the final stanza is fragmented-
Speaker’s voice seems to be lost- repeating earlier phrases. Sentences become more brief
Use of internal rhyme: ‘hold…old…cold…told’, ending on ‘hold’ again- sounds more robotic
as poem progresses, reenforcing the growing deteriorating and breaking down.
Cyclical nature of the poem-
Begins with ‘This is the future’, which is also found on the final line- repeated insistence;
no escape- certainty of this way of life. Technology only developing.
Language The tone of the speaker and how this develops-
techniques Satirical poem- desperate comedy- recreating a recognisable experience and highlighting
the speaker’s impotence in the scenario.
Frustrated and sarcastic at the beginning- ‘countless options,/none of which answer to
my needs’- aware he cannot achieve what he wants.
Mocking use of language by the robot- ‘I have a wonderful telephone number/ and a
great account number’.
Increasing frustration throughout the conversation- ‘I shout’ & ‘I scream’- becoming more
aggressive as the speaker’s situation remains static. Highlighted again by the expletive in
‘Eine fucking Kleine Nachtmusik’. Change in speaker’s tone achieves nothing. Reference to
Mozart here for the hold music- further highlights the deterioration and devaluing of
culture. Speaker is angry about this.
The use of different voices-
Robot uses adjectives like ‘wonderful’ and ‘great’, which the speaker mocks- insincere
nature of the interaction. The robot cannot read meanings- ending of the first stanza
‘Wonderful’ in response to the speaker’s sarcastic reflection.
Wife only focuses on ‘This is the future’- she seems as robotic as the automated voice; has
already been influenced by the shift in society.
O Driscoll’s poem explores the irritation of being put on hold and the increasing use of technology in
modern life.
Key themes:
The changing, modern world.
The future.
Humanity
Satirical tone.
Verse form One long stanza, followed by a short stanza-
Relentless and monotonous nature of the phone call amplified by the long stanza at the
beginning. Continues cycle experienced by the speaker.
Short stanza at the end-
shift- loss of speaker’s voice here- becomes like the automated transcript. Perhaps
reflecting the way in which the modern world, with its reliance upon technology, is losing
sense of humanity.
Structural A range of phrases are repeated throughout the poem-
devices Limited options- the robot can only offer a few suggestions- relentless and futile nature of
the phone call. Meaningless nature of language- language being destroyed here (see final
section)
‘This is the future’ repeated by the wife- scenario used as a metaphor for the changes
occurring in the modern world. Wife herself almost seems robotic- loss of human
interaction?
The structure of the final stanza is fragmented-
Speaker’s voice seems to be lost- repeating earlier phrases. Sentences become more brief
Use of internal rhyme: ‘hold…old…cold…told’, ending on ‘hold’ again- sounds more robotic
as poem progresses, reenforcing the growing deteriorating and breaking down.
Cyclical nature of the poem-
Begins with ‘This is the future’, which is also found on the final line- repeated insistence;
no escape- certainty of this way of life. Technology only developing.
Language The tone of the speaker and how this develops-
techniques Satirical poem- desperate comedy- recreating a recognisable experience and highlighting
the speaker’s impotence in the scenario.
Frustrated and sarcastic at the beginning- ‘countless options,/none of which answer to
my needs’- aware he cannot achieve what he wants.
Mocking use of language by the robot- ‘I have a wonderful telephone number/ and a
great account number’.
Increasing frustration throughout the conversation- ‘I shout’ & ‘I scream’- becoming more
aggressive as the speaker’s situation remains static. Highlighted again by the expletive in
‘Eine fucking Kleine Nachtmusik’. Change in speaker’s tone achieves nothing. Reference to
Mozart here for the hold music- further highlights the deterioration and devaluing of
culture. Speaker is angry about this.
The use of different voices-
Robot uses adjectives like ‘wonderful’ and ‘great’, which the speaker mocks- insincere
nature of the interaction. The robot cannot read meanings- ending of the first stanza
‘Wonderful’ in response to the speaker’s sarcastic reflection.
Wife only focuses on ‘This is the future’- she seems as robotic as the automated voice; has
already been influenced by the shift in society.
