The Place’s Fault
By Phillip Hobsbawm
Another afternoon, after a rotten day at school
Hating this place, hating them, and feeling like a fool
Sweat on my fingers, pages dirty with smears
I stumbled up the street, still swallowing my tears
Held my head high in pride, I walked on the hot concrete
I blinked out to the sunlight, exhausted from the heat
At the gate they stood. Same old looks, thinking I chose to stay
I looked back with disgust, shouted swear words and walked away
They called me a name, and yelled “Freak!”
It hurt and I did not understand. I tried to keep it inside as hard as I could
I did not want to seem weak, but anger started to build up
I thought I was right, yet I was punished when I tried to make it stop
That is when I realized that only I could take care of myself, but others did not notice
More anger and violence, no other choice
The place’s fault for all this pain
Time could not fix that, nothing could make these wounds heal
That is how they damaged me, my innocence was taken
There was nothing there for me. Nothing I had not learned
Nothing I would want to teach. A childhood lost with no return.
Summary of The Place’s Fault
- Overview: This poem is presented in free verse and explores the loss of innocence that follows a difficult day at school. It was first published in 1964 in the collection *The Place’s Fault, and Other Poems*. The poem’s appeal lies in its candid depiction of youthful frustration and the lasting effects of early hardships.
- Representing Childhood Innocence: The poem follows the speaker from a moment of anger to a painful confrontation. Despite attempts to mask vulnerability, the speaker’s frustration intensifies, culminating in the conviction that the environment—the “place”—bears responsibility for the pain. The closing lines convey an irreversible loss and a resigned acceptance of a childhood forever altered.
- Major Themes: At its core the poem examines lost innocence, the lasting impact of childhood experiences, and the search for agency amid adversity. It also touches on frustration, alienation, and the difficulty of reconciling personal feelings with societal expectations. The speaker’s inability to find resolution leaves lasting emotional scars that comment on the formative power of early life.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Place’s Fault
Phillip Hobsbawm skillfully employs a variety of poetic devices to enhance the emotional impact and thematic resonance of “The Place’s Fault.” Let us explore some of the key techniques at play.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain emotions. For example, the short ‘a’ sound in “Another afternoon, after a rotten day at school” mirrors the speaker’s monotony and dissatisfaction.
- Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words adds rhythm and emphasis. Note the use of the ‘s’ sound in “still swallowing” and “Shouted swear words,” which creates a sense of urgency.
- Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses emphasizes a particular idea. The poem uses this technique with the repetition of “Nothing I…” in the final lines, underscoring the speaker’s sense of loss and resignation.
- Consonance: This involves the repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within words. Notice the repetition of ‘t’ and ‘l’ sounds in “Hating this place, hating them, and feeling like a fool.” This creates a sense of unease and reinforces negative emotions.
- Enjambment: This technique involves continuing a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, creating momentum and flow. For instance:
Time could not fix that, nothing could make these wounds heal
That is how they damaged me, my innocence was taken
There was nothing there for me. Nothing I had not learned.The unbroken flow emphasizes the lasting impact of the painful experience.
- Imagery: Hobsbawm uses vivid imagery to engage the reader’s senses. Phrases such as “Sweat on my fingers, pages dirty with smears” and “I blinked out to the sunlight, exhausted from the heat” create a visceral experience of the speaker’s physical and emotional state.
- Personification: While subtle, the poem attributes blame to “the place,” implying it caused the speaker’s distress and emphasizing the environment’s perceived negativity.
- Metaphor: The “rotten day” is a metaphor for a negative emotional state, and the tears are used metaphorically as something difficult to swallow, representing suppressed emotion.
- Simile: The phrase “And feeling like a fool” is a direct simile, comparing the speaker’s emotional state to the experience of foolishness.
Analysis of Poetic Form and Techniques
Beyond individual devices, understanding the poem’s form and broader techniques reveals additional layers of meaning.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem attempts an ABAB rhyme scheme, though the pattern is not consistently maintained throughout.
- Heroic Couplet: Certain sections lean toward heroic couplets, pairs of rhyming lines that lend a sense of finality and emphasis.
- Repetition: The strategic use of repetition—of words like “hating” and phrases describing physical sensations—reinforces key emotions and highlights the speaker’s cyclical thought patterns.
Key Quotes for Discussion
These lines from “The Place’s Fault” are particularly impactful and suitable for exploring the poem’s themes in a classroom or analytical setting.
That is how they damaged me, my innocence was taken
There was nothing there for me. Nothing I had not learned.
Nothing I would want to teach. A childhood lost with no return.
These lines encapsulate the poem’s central message: the lasting scars of childhood experiences and the irrevocable loss of innocence. They invite reflection on the formative power of early life and the enduring impact of trauma.
Through careful analysis of poetic devices, form, and key quotes, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex emotions and profound themes explored in Phillip Hobsbawm’s “The Place’s Fault.” This poem remains a poignant and relatable exploration of childhood, loss, and the search for meaning in the face of adversity.