The Telephone Call, Fleur Adcock: Summary, Analysis & Themes

"The Telephone Call" by Fleur Adcock centers around a phone conversation between the speaker and the "Universal Lotteries." The choice of the definite article "the" instead of "a" before "telephone conversation" suggests that this particular conversation holds significant meaning in the poet’s life. It could have led to personal change or become a memorable moment she reflects upon. Despite its straightforwardness, the poem’s simplicity and humor engage the reader until the final twist, which leaves them eagerly anticipating the conclusion.

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The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock

They asked me 'Are you sitting down?
Right? This is Universal Lotteries,'
they said. 'You've won the top prize,
the Ultra-super Global Special.
What would you do with a million pounds?
Or, actually, with more than a million—
not that it makes a lot of difference
once you're a millionaire.' And they laughed.

'Are you OK?' they asked—'Still there?
Come on, now, tell us, how does it feel?'
I said 'I just . . . I can't believe it!'
They said 'That's what they all say.
What else? Go on, tell us about it.'
I said 'I feel the top of my head
has floated off, out through the window,
revolving like a flying saucer.'

'That's unusual,' they said. 'Go on.'
I said 'I'm finding it hard to talk.
My throat's gone dry, my nose is tingling.
I think I'm going to sneeze—or cry.'
'That's right,' they said, 'don't be ashamed
of giving way to your emotions.
It isn't every day you hear
you're going to get a million pounds.

Relax, now, have a little cry;
we'll give you a moment . . .' 'Hang on!' I said.
'I haven't bought a lottery ticket
for years and years. And what did you say
the company's called?' They laughed again.
'Not to worry about a ticket.
We're Universal. We operate
a Retrospective Chances Module.

Nearly everyone's bought a ticket
in some lottery or another,
once at least. We buy up the files,
feed the names into our computer,
and see who the lucky person is.'
'Well, that's incredible,' I said.
'It's marvellous. I still can't quite . . .
I'll believe it when I see the cheque.'

'Oh,' they said, 'there is no cheque.'
'But the money?' 'We don't deal in money.
Experiences are what we deal in.
You've had a great experience, right?
Exciting? Something you'll remember?
That's your prize. So congratulations
from all of us at Universal.
Have a nice day!' And the line went dead.

Summary of The Telephone Call

‘The Telephone Call’ by Fleur Adcock is a witty and satirical poem that captures a brief but humorous telephone conversation between the poet and a representative from a fictitious company called “Universal Lotteries.” In this poem, the poet conveys a sense of disbelief and absurdity as the conversation unfolds, ultimately leading to a twist in the expectations of the reader and the poet alike.

The poem begins with the poet receiving a call from the company. The representative eagerly informs her that she is one of the “lucky winners,” suggesting that she is on the brink of becoming a millionaire, or possibly even a multi-millionaire. This news excites the poet, as one might imagine, especially when the representative encourages her to “give way to” her emotions. The excitement of winning such a large sum of money seems almost too good to be true, yet the poet, momentarily overwhelmed, begins to indulge in the fantasy of newfound wealth.

However, as the conversation progresses, a subtle shift occurs. The poet begins to question the authenticity of the call. Her excitement gives way to skepticism as she wonders when she will receive her cheque or the promised money. At this point, the poet seeks clarification, expecting details about the financial aspect of the win. But the representative’s response is unexpected and reveals the absurdity of the situation. They explain that they don’t deal with money at all, but instead, “the experience” is what they are offering.

This revelation only deepens the absurdity of the situation. The idea that a company would offer an “experience” instead of actual money defies logic, and it becomes clear that the call was a scam or a playful trick. The humor in the poem intensifies when the representative’s statement highlights the emptiness of the promise. As the conversation comes to a close, the line suddenly goes dead, leaving the poet with nothing but the realization that she has been the subject of a practical joke or a meaningless offer. The abrupt ending serves as both a literal and figurative conclusion, leaving the poet, and the reader, to reflect on the ridiculousness of the entire exchange.

The Breakdown of the Poem

1. Receiving the Call: The poem begins with the poet receiving a call from “Universal Lotteries,” informing her that she is a winner, about to become a millionaire. This is the moment of excitement and anticipation.
2. Initial Excitement: The representative encourages the poet to express her emotions, which amplifies her sense of elation at the prospect of newfound wealth.
3. Growing Skepticism: As the conversation continues, the poet begins to feel uncertain about the authenticity of the call, questioning when she will receive the money.
4. Revelation: The representative responds by explaining that the company doesn’t actually deal with money—only with “the experience.” This explanation undermines the excitement and turns the conversation into a mockery.
5. End of the Call: The conversation ends abruptly with the line going dead, leaving the poet to come to terms with the fact that the call was either a scam or a trick, offering no real prize.

The poem uses this humorous and ironic situation to explore the themes of false promises, consumerism, and the emptiness of materialism. The poet, initially swept up in the excitement of a potentially life-changing event, is ultimately left disillusioned, reflecting on the hollow nature of such offers. Through this lighthearted yet thought-provoking exchange, Fleur Adcock sheds light on the absurdity of modern consumer culture, where promises of wealth or success often turn out to be shallow and unfulfilling.

Structure Analysis of The Telephone Call

‘The Telephone Call’ by Fleur Adcock is a six-stanza free verse poem, where each stanza consists of eight lines. The structure of the poem plays an important role in conveying the emotional shifts that occur during the telephone conversation. The poem's free verse form—meaning it does not adhere to a regular rhyme or meter—allows for a natural, unrestrained dialogue between the poet and the lottery company. This lack of structured rhythm and rhyme mirrors the spontaneous nature of the conversation, making it feel more authentic and unscripted.

In addition to its free verse structure, the poem avoids a fixed meter. Instead, it uses a mix of **iambic** and **trochaic feet**. This creates a rhythmic flow that is not uniform, which is reflective of the emotional ups and downs the poet experiences during the conversation. The rhythm in the poem rises and falls in a way that mirrors the changes in the speaker’s emotional state—starting with excitement, shifting to doubt, and ultimately ending in disillusionment. The internal rhythm of the poem helps illustrate these mental transitions and adds to the overall tone of unpredictability.

To break it down further, let’s look at how the structure reflects the emotional journey of the poem:

1. Excitement and anticipation: At the beginning of the conversation, the speaker is filled with hope as she believes she has won a lottery. This sense of optimism is reflected in the rhythm of the lines, which may have a more upbeat and energetic tone.
2. Doubt and realization: As the conversation progresses, the speaker starts to doubt the legitimacy of the lottery claim. The rhythm slows down, becoming more hesitant as the speaker questions what is happening.
3. Disillusionment: Finally, when the speaker realizes that the lottery call is not genuine, the rhythm reflects this final emotional shift. The free verse structure, with its varied pacing and changing line lengths, mirrors the speaker’s disillusionment and the abrupt end of the phone call. The line “the line went dead” marks the final shift, symbolizing the end of both the conversation and the speaker's excitement.

The free verse and mixed rhythmic patterns in ‘The Telephone Call’ allow for a flexible structure that mirrors the poet’s emotional fluctuations. This structure gives the poem an informal, conversational quality, further emphasizing the irony and the sense of disappointment the poet feels. The absence of a predictable rhythm or rhyme allows the reader to experience the emotional shifts alongside the speaker, providing a more immersive understanding of her response to the phone call.

Overall, the structure of the poem enhances its meaning, helping the reader to feel the emotional rise and fall of the speaker’s journey. The absence of rhyme and meter, coupled with the varying internal rhythms, adds depth to the poem’s exploration of disappointment and the disillusioning nature of modern-day phone scams.

Literary Devices in The Telephone Call

‘The Telephone Call’ by Fleur Adcock makes use of several literary devices that enhance its meaning and tone. These devices not only contribute to the playful, ironic, and sarcastic nature of the poem but also underscore the speaker's changing emotional state during the conversation.

1. Interrogation: The poem features several questions that the speaker asks, which help convey the sense of confusion and doubt. These questions create a sense of back-and-forth between the poet and the lottery company, emphasizing the growing uncertainty in the speaker’s mind.
2. Enjambment: The poet uses enjambment, a technique where sentences or phrases flow from one line to the next without a pause. This mirrors the rapid pace of the conversation, making the reader feel the continuous nature of the phone call. It also helps to create a sense of momentum and urgency, mimicking the flow of thoughts in the speaker’s mind.
3. Irony and Sarcasm: One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of irony and sarcasm. For example, the line “Or, actually, with more than a million –” is sarcastic, as the speaker mocks the exaggerated promises made by the lottery company. The irony becomes evident as the speaker slowly realizes that the call is not genuine. This creates a sense of humor in the poem while also highlighting the absurdity of the situation.
4. Ellipsis: The poet uses ellipses (…) in three instances throughout the poem. This literary device serves to create pauses, suggesting uncertainty or an unfinished thought. It mimics the way the conversation lingers, with moments of hesitation as the speaker processes what is being said.
5. Metaphor: In the second stanza, the poet uses the metaphor “top of my head.” This expression suggests that the speaker is thinking quickly or improvising a response, possibly indicating the suddenness or shock of the phone call. The metaphor highlights the speaker’s state of mind and the abrupt nature of the conversation.
6. Simile: The last line of the poem contains a simile, which compares the experience to a “reward or prize.” This simile adds to the ironic tone of the poem, as the supposed “reward” turns out to be a deceptive, unfulfilling experience.
7. Personification: The poet personifies the lottery company in the lines “We buy up the files, / feed the names into our computer.” By giving the company human qualities, the poet highlights the mechanized, impersonal nature of such scams, suggesting that the company is treating the speaker like a mere name on a list rather than a real person.
8. Synecdoche: In the final stanza, the poet uses synecdoche, a literary device where a part is used to represent the whole. In the last line, the phrase “the line went dead” uses “the line” as a stand-in for the entire phone conversation. This symbolizes the abrupt end to the interaction and the realization that the whole conversation was a waste of time.

These literary devices come together to build a rich and layered text. The use of sarcasm, irony, and enjambment reflects the speaker’s changing emotions as she shifts from excitement to disappointment. The metaphorical and figurative language, such as personification and synecdoche, further emphasizes the deceptive nature of the call. Together, these elements work to create a humorous yet critical commentary on modern-day scams and the empty promises they offer.

Historical Context of The Telephone Call

‘The Telephone Call’ by Fleur Adcock is a postmodern poem that delves into the human psyche, particularly exploring emotions such as greed, hope, and disillusionment. In the poem, the speaker’s interaction with a lottery company serves as a catalyst for examining human nature and the ways people are influenced by the concept of luck.

The poem is set in a contemporary context where lottery companies often use persuasive tactics to lure people into believing they are “winners.” The lottery call, though seemingly a moment of opportunity, is revealed to be a hoax. This deception plays into the idea of greed, where the speaker initially believes she is about to receive a large sum of money, only to be let down as the call ends abruptly. This mirrors the psychological process many individuals experience when they buy lottery tickets, hoping for a stroke of luck that could change their lives.

In a broader historical context, the obsession with luck and chance is not a modern phenomenon. Throughout history, people have been fascinated by the idea of winning large sums of money or achieving sudden success through chance. The lottery, as a form of gambling, taps into this human desire for a quick and effortless way to secure wealth and success. Adcock uses the phone call as a metaphor for this pursuit, showing how it plays with human emotions and encourages people to dream of what might be, even when those dreams are based on illusions.

Through this poem, Fleur Adcock critiques the way society feeds into the idea of luck and the illusions of fortune. It serves as a reflection on how human desires can be manipulated, and how people often waste their time and money in hopes of something that may never come. The telephone call in the poem is not just a literal interaction but also a symbol of the larger societal obsession with luck and chance.

Stanza by Stanza Analysis of The Telephone Call' by Fleur Adcock

Stanza One

The opening lines of the poem set the stage for the situation. The speaker is asked, “Are you sitting down? Right? This is Universal Lotteries,” which immediately grabs the reader’s attention. The phrase suggests an exciting announcement is about to follow, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.

In the following lines, the speaker explains that the phone call is related to a prize in the “Ultra-super Global Special” lottery, which implies an enormous sum of money—more than a million pounds. However, after this dramatic revelation, the callers sarcastically add, “not that it makes a lot of difference once you’re a millionaire.” They then laugh, which suggests that the announcement is not meant to be taken seriously.

1. Poet’s Perception: The speaker seems to imply that she did not actually win any prize. The sarcastic tone and mocking laughter point to a situation where the lottery call was more about ridicule than an actual reward.
2. Mockery: The callers’ laughter and their comment about wealth losing significance once someone is already a millionaire highlight the emptiness and irony of the situation.
3. Innocence Exploited: The speaker’s innocence or expectation of a life-changing event is mocked, suggesting a deeper commentary on the way people can be taken advantage of or belittled.

This first stanza sets up a sense of disillusionment, as the speaker realizes the lottery call is not a genuine offer but an attempt to mock her. The tone shifts from excitement to sarcasm, suggesting the disparity between expectation and reality.

Stanza Two

The second stanza of "The Telephone Call" begins to reveal the poem's deeper themes. The tone shifts as the callers ask, “Are you OK? Still there? Come on, now, tell us, how does it feel?” These questions highlight the speaker’s growing sense of confusion and disbelief. The question of "how does it feel?" suggests a disconnect between what the poet expected and the reality of the situation.

1. Theme of Appearance vs Reality: The first few lines introduce the theme of appearance vs reality, showing the poet’s internal conflict between the illusion of winning a large sum of money and the reality of the situation.
2. Greed’s Influence: The news of the supposed lottery win triggers feelings of greed within the speaker. This internal struggle is represented by a "nagging and angry child" inside her, symbolizing the overwhelming desire for wealth.
3. Loss of Rational Thought: The speaker begins to lose control over her thoughts, symbolized by the image of her brain floating "out through the window." This suggests a sense of detachment from reality and a loss of clarity.
4. Flying Saucer Imagery: The image of her brain floating away like a flying saucer reinforces the sense of absurdity and disorientation, emphasizing how the overwhelming thoughts of wealth have taken her mind elsewhere.

This stanza underscores the growing conflict in the poet's mind, where the illusion of a life-changing prize feeds her desire for wealth, leading to confusion and loss of sense. The image of the flying saucer suggests that her rationality has been overtaken by greed and fantasy.

Stanza Three

In the third stanza of "The Telephone Call," the poet's emotions begin to take over her rational mind. The question “That’s unusual” followed by “Go on” from the callers indicates a shift in tone. The speaker is no longer able to remain composed, and her thoughts become dominated by greed and desire. The line "Her throat went dry for the burning greed of her heart" captures the internal struggle the poet faces, as her rational mind is overshadowed by overwhelming emotions.

1. Theme of Turbulent Emotions: This stanza explores the theme of turbulent human emotions, where the speaker finds it difficult to speak or think clearly due to the intense greed and excitement stirring inside her.
2. Loss of Self-Control: Her desire for the lottery prize makes it hard for her to maintain composure. The mention of her throat going dry emphasizes her physical reaction to the overwhelming emotions.
3. Vulnerability: The poet's vulnerability becomes evident as she struggles to control her emotions, symbolizing how greed can strip away a person’s defenses.
4. Manipulation by the Callers: The callers seem to encourage the poet to abandon her self-control, pushing her towards emotional highs. Their words aim to lead her into a state of unrealistic elation, further highlighting the manipulative nature of the situation.

This stanza illustrates how the poet’s emotions overpower her logic, leading to a sense of vulnerability and loss of self-control. The callers play on her emotions, pushing her into a state of euphoric hopefulness, emphasizing the theme of emotional manipulation.

Stanza Four

In the fourth stanza of “The Telephone Call,” the poet begins to emerge from the hallucination-like state she had fallen into. She responds to the callers, telling them that she hasn’t bought any lottery tickets in recent years. The response causes the callers to laugh at her once again, reinforcing the sense of mockery in the conversation. Despite this, they reassure her not to worry about the ticket, claiming that they operate a "Retrospective Chances Module," which suggests they can retroactively include her in the lottery, regardless of whether she had purchased a ticket.

1. Emergence from Hallucination: The poet begins to come out of her fantasy-like state, realizing the absurdity of the situation as she recalls that she hasn’t purchased a lottery ticket for years.
2. Mockery Continues: Upon hearing her response, the callers laugh again, emphasizing the continuing ridicule the poet faces.
3. Retrospective Chances Module: The mention of a "Retrospective Chances Module" raises questions about the authenticity of the call, suggesting that the whole scenario might be a scam or a fabricated lie.
4. Uncertainty and Manipulation: The caller, aware of the doubts this claim might raise, tries to soothe the poet by explaining the process, further manipulating her emotions and drawing her deeper into the illusion.

This stanza introduces further doubts about the authenticity of the lottery call. The poet’s return to reality contrasts with the absurd and manipulative claims of the callers, highlighting the theme of deceit and emotional exploitation in the poem.

Stanza Five

In the fifth stanza of “The Telephone Call,” the poet reflects on the common human tendency to rely on luck, as nearly everyone has bought a lottery ticket at some point, hoping for a chance at a windfall. This highlights the widespread belief in chance rather than self-determined success. The poem suggests that the company, Universal Lotteries, acquires old data from other lottery companies and enters it into their system for a new draw. The poet’s name is drawn, though by this point, she is already recovering from her earlier emotional confusion. She responds skeptically, saying she will only believe the win when she sees the cheque.

1. Dependence on Luck: The poet highlights how people often rely on luck to achieve success, as demonstrated by the common practice of buying lottery tickets in hopes of winning.
2. Universal Lotteries' Method: The poem reveals that Universal Lotteries purchases old files from other companies and enters the data into their system for a new draw, raising questions about the legitimacy of the lottery process.
3. Realization and Skepticism: The poet, now recovering from her emotional state, expresses skepticism about the authenticity of the lottery win, saying she will only believe it when she sees the cheque.

This stanza further explores the theme of human reliance on chance and luck, contrasting the excitement of the lottery with the poet’s growing awareness of the situation’s absurdity and her skepticism toward the authenticity of the win.

Stanza Six

In the final stanza of “The Telephone Call,” the poem takes an unexpected turn that shatters the last remnants of the poet's greed. When the poet asks about the cheque, the callers inform her that there is no cheque. Instead, they explain that they do not deal with money but rather with “experiences.” This revelation serves as a powerful message, suggesting that memorable experiences are far more valuable than material wealth. The call ends with the poet being congratulated, but without any actual prize, highlighting the emptiness of the entire situation.

1. Shift in Focus: The twist reveals that the company does not offer money, but rather "experiences" as prizes. This suggests that material wealth is not the ultimate goal, and unforgettable experiences hold more significance.
2. Broken Illusion: The poet’s greed is ultimately shattered, and she realizes that the whole ordeal was a delusion. The use of the word "dead" in the last line symbolizes the collapse of her unrealistic expectations.
3. Alliteration: The phrase "don’t deal" uses alliteration, which serves to emphasize the stark contrast between the expectations of wealth and the reality of the situation.
4. End of the Call: The poem concludes with the call being abruptly ended, highlighting the futility of the poet's hopes and the emotional manipulation she experienced.

The final stanza delivers a harsh yet profound lesson, illustrating the emptiness of materialism and the fleeting nature of illusions. The poet's greed is dispelled, and the "experience" she receives becomes her only lasting "prize." The poem ends with a sense of closure, as the line goes dead, leaving the poet to reflect on the absurdity of the situation.

Similar Poetry

Like The Telephone Call by Fleur Adcock, which masterfully explores human emotions and interactions, here is a list of a few poems that delve into similar themes of emotions, communication, and human experiences:

1. Hello Lust by Anita Nair – A poem that examines lust and its impact on human emotions.
2. What Are Years by Marianne Moore – This poem reflects on the emotions that make life meaningful and unique.
3. Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka – Another poem centered around a telephone conversation, but with a focus on racial and cultural tensions.
4. Eletelephony by Laura Elizabeth Richards – A humorous, lighthearted poem about a chaotic telephone conversation.
5. Please Hold by Ciaran O’Driscoll – This poem expresses the general frustration and sense of helplessness that comes with being “on hold” in a phone call.