Literary Devices in “The Telephone Call” by Fleur Adcock
Fleur Adcock used some literary devices in “The Telephone Call” to pass the message of the poem. Some of these literary devices include metaphor, irony, dialogue, etc. This article identifies and describes the literary devices used in “The Telephone Call” with examples of where each device is found in the poem.
Themes in The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock
Literary Devices in “The Telephone Call” by Fleur Adcock
1. Irony
Whatever emotional high the speaker gained from merely hearing the news that they have won a million pounds was ruined when the caller declared that the real prize is “Experience”. The grand prize, not being money, is therefore ironic, especially given that lottery prizes are usually monetary.
“’But the money?’ ‘We don’t deal in money.
Experiences are what we deal in.”
(Stanza 6, Lines 42-43)
2. Metaphor
Example 1:
Examples of use of metaphors in the poem, “The Telephone Call” include – a dry throat, tingling nose, and the feeling of the head floating off.
These express the overwhelming emotions the speaker felt. These emotions include excitement and disbelief.
“I said ‘I feel the top of my head
has floated off, out through the window,”
(Stanza 2, Lines 14-15)
Example 2:
The caller’s declaration that their currency is “experience” is a metaphor. It makes the lottery prize abstract and worthless in monetary terms. This further expands on the hollowness of the grand prize and the emptiness that follow once the exciting emotions clear.
“’But the money?’ ‘We don’t deal in money.
Experiences are what we deal in.
(Stanza 6, Lines 42-43)
3. Simile
The speaker described her emotions using a simile in stanza 2, lines 14-16. This shows the euphoria the experience has caused the receiver.
“I said ‘I feel the top of my head
has floated off, out through the window,
revolving like a flying saucer.’”
4. Enjambment
Run-on lines are a technique employed throughout the poem to keep it flowing, propelling the reader forward.
Example 1:
“I said ‘I feel the top of my head
has floated off, out through the window,”
(Stanza 2, lines 14-15)
Example 2:
“’I haven’t bought a lottery ticket
for years and years. And what did you say
the company’s called?’ They laughed again.”
(Stanza 4, lines 27-29)
5. Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a literary device where a part of something is used to represent the whole. In the poem “The Telephone Call”, Fleur Adcock uses the “experience” to represent the whole concept of the conversation, which includes winning the lottery (a positive outcome), the disappointing phone call (the negative event), and the lessons learned.
6. Ellipsis
The use of ellipses in the poem gives the reader the chance to infer and fill in the gaps.
Example 1:
Ellipses were used to convey the speaker’s disbelief and skepticism about winning the lottery prize (Stanza 5, Line 39).
“’It’s marvellous. I still can’t quite . . .”
Example 2:
This literary device is also used to express the caller’s eagerness to encourage and reinforce the speaker’s emotions (Stanza 4, Line 26).
“we’ll give you a moment . . .’ ‘Hang on!’ I said.”
7. Hyperbole
The nature of the grand prize is exaggerated. This hints at the unrealistic nature of the win, although the caller quickly diverts attention to the receiver’s emotions to keep them from realizing the surreal nature of the news.
“they said. ‘You’ve won the top prize,
the Ultra-super Global Special.”
(Stanza 1, Lines 3-4)
8. Dialogue
The poem uses dialogue to highlight the speaker’s inner turmoil and the surreal nature of the lottery grand prize being announced. The dialogue pushes the speaker to process their emotions on hearing the news, thereby revealing the internal state of the receiver.
Also, the dialogue in the poem creates dramatic tension as the speaker grapples with words to express their feelings, and the caller acknowledges and encourages them to go on. It also reflects the speaker’s vulnerability as the caller encourages an emotional response, and the speaker plays along.
Read also:
Literary Devices in “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron
Literary Devices in “The Breasts of the Sea” by Cheney-Coker
Conclusion
Dialogue is the most prominent literary device used in “The Telephone Call” by Fleur Adcock. The writer employed accessible everyday conversation language making the poem relatable. The irony of the entire conversation is easily identified and the metaphoric nature of the poem cause the readers to think beyond a lottery.
Read also:
Themes in The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock
The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock – Full Analysis
This analysis was really helpful! I especially liked how the examples clarified the literary devices in The Telephone Call. It made the poems techniques much clearer and more engaging for me.
September 22, 2025 at 10:51 pm