Techniques Used in Peter Porters Your Attention Please :: essays research papers

A poem written by Peter Porter is called â€Å"Your Attention Please†. Phrases like â€Å"Death is the least we have to fear† and â€Å"A nuclear rocket strike of at least one thousand megatons†, certainly got my attention. This poem is written in the form of a radio announcement, warning of a large nuclear attack aimed at all our major cities. It covers a serious subject and yet the tone used is used in a casual way. Many techniques are used which make this poem very effective. A rather strong feeling used throughout the whole poem is that it is satirising the government. It does so by using bureaucratic language that people often relate to officials and being organised. I felt that this acted as a disguise for the horrifying truth of the events happening. The voice had a sense of authority over me, made me feel that I should obey the advice given in commands. The poet uses this to get his opinions across discreetly using a satirising tone and allowing the reader to work it out for themselves. Words and phrases are used that intimidate you like, â€Å"To comply with the shelter Requirements published in the Civil Defence Code†, it would seem that in the time it took to say that the announcer could have moved on and stopped wasting time. We often relate this to a grander more pompous way of speaking. It makes you think almost like this attack was planned. You also feel intimidated by the use of precise times and exact measurements - such as - à ¢â‚¬Å"This announcement will take two and a quarter minutes to make†. This is also typical of a government speech, again wasting time with information you did not really need to know. Another meaning of this poem is possibly to prepare you for a nuclear attack and make you think of what you would do in this situation. This aspect of a war like this is shocking, however, it is obvious that the poet finds it ridiculous. This idea is familiar as it still works today as this threat is still existent. The idea of this happening to you and your family is genuinely chilling. This poem does contain a certain amount of poetic effect but if you were a listener it wouldn’t be obvious. Nevertheless there is a certain structure which is kept to through the poem.