Breakfast

Welcome, everyone, to a fascinating exploration of Jacques Prévert’s poignant poem, “Breakfast.” This seemingly simple piece of writing holds a profound depth, inviting readers to reflect on human connection, routine, and the unspoken emotions that often color our daily lives. Prepare to delve into its layers, uncover its central message, and appreciate the masterful way Prévert uses language to evoke such powerful feelings.

By Jacques Prevert

He poured the coffee
Into the cup
He put the milk
Into the cup of coffee
He put the sugar
Into the coffee with milk
With a small spoon
He churned
He drank the coffee
And he put down the cup
Without any word to me
He emptied the coffee with milk
And he put down the cup
Without any word to me
He lit one cigarette
He made circles with the smoke
He shook off the ash into the ashtray
Without any word to me
Without any look at me
He got up
He put on a hat
He put on a raincoat because it was raining
And he left into the rain
Without any word to me
Without any look at me
And I buried my face in my hands
And I cried

Understanding “Breakfast”: A Concise Summary and Central Idea

Jacques Prévert’s “Breakfast” is a powerful and deceptively simple poem that chronicles a mundane morning ritual, revealing a profound emotional chasm between two individuals. The poem, written in 1946, resonates deeply with themes of disconnection and the quiet despair that can permeate everyday existence, particularly in the aftermath of widespread societal upheaval.

The narrative unfolds through the eyes of an unnamed speaker observing a man’s morning routine. With meticulous detail, the poem describes the man preparing his coffee: pouring it into a cup, adding milk, stirring in sugar with a small spoon, and then drinking it. This sequence is repeated with the lighting of a cigarette, the creation of smoke rings, and the flicking of ash. Throughout these actions, a crucial detail emerges: the man performs each task “Without any word to me” and “Without any look at me.” Finally, he dresses for the rain and departs, maintaining his silence and indifference. The poem culminates in the speaker’s raw, emotional response: “And I buried my face in my hands / And I cried.”

The central idea of “Breakfast” revolves around the profound sense of alienation and emotional void that can exist within close proximity. The poem highlights how routine can become a shield, allowing individuals to operate mechanically, detached from their surroundings and the people within them. It explores the pain of unacknowledged presence and the devastating impact of emotional indifference, suggesting that even the most ordinary moments can be fraught with unspoken grief and longing for connection.

In-Depth Analysis of “Breakfast”

To truly appreciate the artistry and emotional impact of “Breakfast,” a closer examination of its thematic depth and the literary and poetic devices Prévert employs is essential. This poem serves as a masterclass in conveying profound emotion through stark simplicity.

Major Themes in “Breakfast”

The poem delves into several universal themes, making its message timeless and relatable.

Alienation and Emotional Disconnection: This is arguably the most prominent theme. The man’s actions are performed in complete isolation, despite the speaker’s presence. The repeated phrases underscore this profound lack of engagement.

Without any word to me
Without any look at me

These lines, recurring throughout the poem, emphasize the man’s deliberate or unconscious exclusion of the speaker, creating a palpable sense of loneliness and emotional distance. The speaker is an invisible observer, yearning for recognition that never comes.
The Monotony and Meaninglessness of Routine: The detailed, almost clinical, description of the man’s actions highlights the repetitive nature of daily life. The preparation of coffee and the smoking of a cigarette are presented as mechanical, devoid of joy or genuine engagement.

He poured the coffee
Into the cup
He put the milk
Into the cup of coffee
He put the sugar
Into the coffee with milk

This meticulous recounting of mundane tasks suggests a life lived on autopilot, where actions are performed out of habit rather than conscious choice or pleasure. This routine becomes a symbol of emotional stagnation.
The Power of the Unspoken and Unseen: Despite the man’s silence, the poem is filled with unspoken emotions. The speaker’s grief at the end is a direct result of the man’s lack of communication. Prévert demonstrates that silence can be more deafening and painful than words. The entire poem is a testament to the weight of what is left unsaid.
Grief and Despair: The poem’s climax, the speaker’s tears, reveals the deep emotional pain caused by the man’s indifference. This is not just a moment of sadness, but a profound expression of despair over a lost or absent connection.

And I buried my face in my hands
And I cried

These final lines are a raw, visceral outpouring of sorrow, signifying the culmination of the speaker’s silent suffering and the crushing realization of their emotional isolation.

Literary Devices in “Breakfast”

Prévert masterfully employs a range of literary devices to amplify the poem’s emotional impact and thematic depth. Understanding these devices unlocks a deeper appreciation of the poem’s artistry.

Anaphora: This technique involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses. Prévert utilizes anaphora effectively, particularly with the repetition of “He” and “Without any.”

He poured the coffee
Into the cup
He put the milk
Into the cup of coffee

The continuous use of “He” at the beginning of lines establishes a detached, observational quality, focusing solely on the man’s actions. Similarly, the repeated phrase “Without any” emphasizes the man’s complete lack of engagement.

Without any word to me
Without any look at me

This repetition hammers home the theme of disconnection and the speaker’s unacknowledged presence.
Repetition: Beyond anaphora, Prévert uses general repetition of words and phrases to create a sense of monotony and to underscore the mechanical nature of the man’s actions. Phrases like “Into the cup” and “And he put down the cup” are repeated, mirroring the repetitive, unthinking quality of the routine. This structural repetition also builds a rhythmic tension, leading to the poem’s emotional release.
Enjambment: This technique involves the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a grammatical pause. Prévert uses enjambment to create a sense of flow and momentum, mimicking the continuous, unbroken sequence of the man’s actions and the relentless passage of time.

He put on a raincoat because it was raining
And he left into the rain

Here, the thought of putting on the raincoat flows directly into the act of leaving, creating a seamless, almost inevitable progression.
Imagery: Prévert masterfully utilizes imagery to create vivid sensory experiences for the reader, despite the poem’s starkness. Lines like “He poured the coffee,” “He made circles with the smoke,” and “He shook off the ash into the ashtray” evoke clear visual and tactile sensations, immersing the reader in the scene. The image of the speaker burying their face in their hands is particularly powerful, conveying profound despair without explicit description.
Symbolism: The poem is rich in symbolic meaning. The mundane objects and actions take on deeper significance.
- The coffee, milk, sugar, and cigarette: These items represent the routines and rituals of modern life. The man’s mechanical execution of tasks involving these items symbolizes a loss of genuine connection and emotional depth, reducing life to a series of unthinking habits.
- The rain: The rain, mentioned as the reason for the raincoat, can be seen as a symbol of sadness, gloom, or the external world mirroring the internal emotional climate of the speaker. It adds to the somber atmosphere of the departure.
Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a subtle musicality. While not overtly dominant, assonance contributes to the poem’s texture. For example, the repeated ‘o’ sound in “Without any word to me” or the ‘u’ sound in “Into the cup” can be observed, subtly linking words and phrases.
Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words creates a similar effect to assonance. Consider the pairing of “small spoon,” where the repeated ‘s’ sound creates a delicate auditory image. Another example is “He shook off the ash into the ashtray,” where the ‘s’ and ‘sh’ sounds create a subtle, almost hushed effect.
Consonance: This involves the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words. The repetition of the ‘t’ sound in “He put it into the cup” or the ‘d’ sound in “Without any word to me” contributes to the poem’s overall sonic texture, adding a quiet rhythm to the stark narrative.

Poetic Devices in “Breakfast”

While literary devices encompass broader techniques, certain elements are particularly prevalent in poetry. Here’s a closer examination of those employed in “Breakfast.”

Diction: Prévert’s choice of language is remarkably precise and concise. He avoids overly ornate or flowery language, opting instead for simple, direct words that convey maximum meaning with minimal embellishment. This contributes to the poem’s stark and emotionally resonant quality, making the actions and the resulting despair feel immediate and unvarnished.
Free Verse: “Breakfast” is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This allows Prévert to prioritize natural rhythm and flow, creating a conversational, almost reportorial tone that enhances the poem’s intimacy and emotional impact. The lack of formal structure mirrors the unconstrained, raw emotion of the speaker.
Stanza Structure: The poem consists of a single, unbroken stanza of thirty-five lines. This continuous structure reinforces the sense of a continuous, unfolding experience, mirroring the relentless passage of time and the speaker’s escalating despair. There are no breaks for reflection, only a steady, unyielding progression of events leading to the final, heartbreaking moment.
Tone: The poem’s tone shifts subtly throughout, beginning with a detached, observational quality as the speaker recounts the man’s actions. This detachment gradually gives way to a profound sense of sorrow and alienation, culminating in overwhelming despair. The final lines, with the speaker burying their face in their hands and weeping, evoke a sense of utter hopelessness and emotional devastation.

Jacques Prévert’s “Breakfast” is a masterwork of conciseness and emotional power. Through its stark depiction of a mundane morning routine, the poem brilliantly illuminates the profound themes of alienation, the monotony of modern life, and the silent suffering caused by emotional disconnection. Its enduring relevance lies in its ability to capture a universal human experience: the pain of being unseen and unheard, even in the closest of spaces. By understanding its structure, themes, and the subtle yet impactful literary and poetic devices at play, readers can fully appreciate the depth and resonance of this remarkable poem.