Welcome to "Giuseppe" by Roderick Ford

In this lesson, we are exploring one of the most chilling and thought-provoking poems in your anthology. "Giuseppe" is a narrative poem—it tells a story. On the surface, it is a dark fairy tale about a mermaid, but underneath, it explores deep questions about humanity, guilt, and how people behave during the horrors of war.

Don’t worry if the poem feels a bit "weird" or disturbing at first. That is exactly the reaction Roderick Ford wants you to have! By the end of these notes, you will understand how Ford uses simple, flat language to describe a very complex moral situation.

The Story: A Secret from the Past

The poem is framed as a story being told to the speaker by his Uncle Giuseppe. The setting is Sicily during World War II, a time of extreme hunger and desperation. The "story" involves the capture and killing of a mermaid to feed the starving people. However, the poem leaves us with a haunting question: Was she really a mermaid, or was she a human woman whom the villagers chose to see as a fish so they could justify killing her?

Key Features to Study

To succeed in your Unit 1 Section A exam, you need to focus on how Ford uses Form, Structure, Language, and Tone to create meaning (AO2).

1. Form and Structure

Ford uses Free Verse for this poem. This means there is no regular rhyme scheme or steady rhythm. This is a deliberate choice:

  • Natural Speech: The irregular structure makes it feel like a real conversation. It sounds like an old man reluctantly sharing a dark secret with his nephew.
  • Fragmentation: The poem is broken into stanzas of different lengths. This can represent the "broken" morality of the characters or the way memories are often told in bits and pieces.
  • Caesura: Look for the pauses (periods or commas) in the middle of lines. For example, in the line describing the mermaid as "a fish, but she had a fish's tail," the pause emphasizes the attempt to define her as non-human.

2. Language and Imagery

The language in "Giuseppe" is surprisingly flat and clinical. It reads like a list of facts, which makes the violence feel even more shocking.

  • Dehumanization: Notice how the men in the poem try to prove the mermaid isn't human. They focus on her "tail" and her "dry stone" heart. By calling her a "creature" or "the fish," they make it easier to commit the act.
  • The "Scream": One of the most disturbing moments is when the mermaid "screamed like a woman in terrible fear." This breaks the illusion that she is just a fish. It reminds the reader (and the characters) of her humanity.
  • The Wedding Ring: When the "butcher" finds a wedding ring, it is a powerful symbol of her human life and social connections. The fact that they still eat her after finding it shows how far their morality has fallen.
  • Similes: Ford uses simple similes, like "ripeness of a gooseberry," to describe her eyes. This domestic, everyday language makes the surreal horror feel grounded and "real."

3. Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is detached and objective. The narrator doesn't tell us how to feel; he simply reports what Uncle Giuseppe said. This detachment creates a mood of unease and horror. The lack of emotion from the men who killed her—the doctor, the fishmonger, and the priest—is the most frightening part of the poem.

Quick Review: Why did the men bring a doctor and a priest to the killing? It was to give the act a "professional" and "moral" seal of approval, even though they were doing something monstrous.

Connections to Other Poems (AO4)

In your exam, you will need to compare "Giuseppe" to another poem from the Poems of the Decade anthology. Here are some great links to get you started:

  • "The Deliverer" by Tishani Doshi: Both poems deal with the "disposal" of bodies and how society treats those it deems "lesser" or "other." Both use flat, journalistic language to describe shocking events.
  • "The Lammas Hireling" by Ian Duhig: Both poems feature a narrator who may be unreliable and involve the killing of a "magical" or "different" being. Both explore themes of guilt and the weight of secrets.
  • "The Gun" by Vicki Feaver: You could compare how both poems explore the dark, violent side of human nature and how we justify the act of killing.

Key Takeaways

1. Dehumanization: The poem shows how people use language to strip others of their humanity so they can justify violence.

2. Guilt: Uncle Giuseppe cannot look his nephew in the eye at the end. This "confession" shows that the guilt of the past never truly goes away.

3. Narrative Perspective: The poem moves from a "mythical" story to a very human tragedy, making us question the "official" versions of history.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't get distracted by the "Mermaid": Students often spend too much time arguing about whether she was a real mermaid. For your A Level, it doesn't matter! What matters is that the characters tried to pretend she wasn't human to ease their consciences.

Check your terminology: Instead of saying "the poem has no rhyme," use the term Free Verse. Instead of saying "the poem tells a story," use Narrative Poem. This helps you hit those AO1 marks!

Did you know? Roderick Ford often writes about the "other" and those who are marginalized by society. In this poem, the mermaid represents anyone who is treated as "different" during times of conflict.

Don't worry if this poem feels heavy. Its power lies in its silence and what it doesn't say. Keep focusing on those specific word choices and you'll do great!