TPCASTT: “In the Secular Night” by Margaret Atwood

"In the Secular Night"

Title - It makes the reader wonder what “secular night” means. There isn't much clue that
the title gives about the poem.

Paraphrase -
1st stanza: The story is a reminiscent that talks about the speaker’s sixteenth birthday. The setting is given in the first two lines. It is two thirty in the night and the speaker is alone in the house because everyone left, leaving her behind. Although it is her year of life, she has to babysit alone in the house. She then devours all kinds of sweets: grape juice, ice cream and ginger ale. She also lights a cigarette and dances by herself. These actions can be seen as her ways of getting rid of stress and loneliness.

2nd stanza: The speaker is now back into present and she says that “things have changed” however, only thing that changed from her is the food that she eats. She still feels lonely and there is no one around her. She now eats lima beans that are mixed with cream and pepper; then she takes big scoops. Although she is forty six years old, she cannot escape from solitude and she still search for a way to get rid of it. However, in the last sentence it seems as if she has lost her hope.

3rd stanza: The loneliness that the speaker is now unbearable that she blames God; a sign that tells she have thrown away all her expectations. However, by losing such hopes, she also realizes that probably she is not the only person who is in such situation.

Connotations:
1st stanza: A clear use of imagery to illustrate the situation of the speaker. Assonance of “circled” and “purple” to emphasize the loneliness of the speaker and alliterations on “glass with grape juice and ginger ale and, put on Glenn Miller” the continuous sound of “g” is to underscore her ways of releasing stress and loneliness.

2nd stanza: There is a shift from reminiscent to her present. The alliteration on “baby lima beans” with “b” sound, underlines the fact that only the food that she eats has changed from her life. Another clear imagery is described to emphasize the useless attempts for the speaker to get rid of her solitude.

Attitude:
The attitude of the speaker or Atwood in this poem can be described as regretful and somewhat angry that she cannot escape from the imprisonment of the strong loneliness.

Shift:
There is a shift in second stanza where the speaker is back to present and her reminiscent of past stops. The shift allows the readers to compare the speaker’s life of childhood and the life that she has right now.

Title:
Now the readers understand why the title is “In the Secular Night”. The speaker does not expect anything from God and her belief and trust has been lost.

Theme:
The theme of this poem, “In the Secular Night” by Margaret Atwood, states that people who are in a great depression or loneliness often lose their principles and beliefs; eventually pulling themselves further away from their faith.