In order to answer an essay question on any poem, it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining James Berry’s intention and message
“On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955" in a nutshell
“On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955" is written by the poet James Berry, a Jamaican poet who was part of the Windrush Generation who settled in England in the 1940s. Berry explores individuals’ lives and relationships in 1950s England by depicting a conversation on a train.
“On an Afternoon Train from Purley to Victoria, 1955" breakdown
Lines 1–2
“Hello, she said, and startled me.
Nice day. Nice day I agreed.”
Translation
- The lines introduce a conversation between two individuals on a train
- The pair greet each other and discuss the weather
Berry’s intention
- Berry introduces a polite meeting between two strangers on the train
- He presents typical English small talk to represent cultural traditions
Lines 3–6
“I am a Quaker she said and Sunday
I was moved in silence
to speak a poem loudly
for racial brotherhood.”
Translation
- The poem introduces the first speaker as a quaker, a member of a religious group
- The speaker refers to church on Sunday and how they were emotionally stirred
Berry’s intention
- Berry introduces ideas about differences in individuals’ lives
- The speaker is a Quaker (a form of protestantism which began in England in the 17th century):
- They alludes to Christian values about “brotherhood” and equality
Lines 7–10
“I was thoughtful, then said
what poem came on like that?
One the moment inspired she said.
I was again thoughtful.”
Translation
- The second speaker, the narrator, replies after some thought
- They ask the woman what poem she recited
- The woman, however, does not name a poem:
- She says that it was “one” that she was inspired to recite
- This leads the narrator to further reflect
Berry’s intention
- Berry’s speaker is a thoughtful listener, implying his intelligence
- The woman’s vague reply seems dubiousto the narrator:
- Berry suggests the woman may not have recited a poem or, at least, cannot remember it enough to discuss it properly
Lines 11–15
“Inexplicably I saw
empty city streets lit dimly
in a day’s first hours.
Alongside in darkness
was my father’s big banana field.”
Translation
- The speaker is not sure why but they turn introspective , imagining two contrasting scenes
- They see the streets of England as well as a banana field from their childhood
Berry’s intention
- Berry highlights the different lives of the narrator and the woman
- He contrasts a rural and urban environment to show how the narrator notices stark differences between their childhood home and this one
Lines 16–17
“Where are you from? she said.
Jamaica I said.”
Translation
- The narrator is asked a question about his heritage
- He replies that he is originally from Jamaica
Berry’s intention
- Berry draws attention to the way natives are motivated to ask where migrants are from
- Berry hints at the way this draws attention to differences, which is Ironic having just mentioned “racial brotherhood”
- It is implied the woman asks the question based on the colour of the narrator’s skin:
- This is made clearer by the similar language of the narrator and woman
Lines 18–19
“What part of Africa is Jamaica? she said.
Where Ireland is near Lapland I said.”
Translation
- The woman asks the narrator a question about their homeland:
- The woman makes a mistake, showing a lack of knowledge about other parts of the world
- The narrator replies with sarcasm : they allude to the way Lapland may share similarities with Ireland although they are different countries
Berry’s intention
- Berry implies the narrator’s superior knowledge about the world
- Berry draws attention to the narrator’s bitter tone, implying their frustration at the unintentional discrimination
Lines 20–22
“Hard to see why you leave
such sunny country she said.
Snow falls elsewhere I said.”
Translation
- The woman makes a vague comment about the warmer climate of the narrator’s homeland
- The narrator’s reply informs the woman that snow falls in other countries too
Berry’s intention
- Berry’s conversation is presented as a typical conversation on a train:
- The narrator’s lack of emotion as they give the woman information implies this is a predictable conversation
- Berry presents a native’s ignorance about the world outside as pervasive
- Berry draws attention to the woman’s thoughtless comment about the motives of migrants, as well as a lack of knowledge about other climates:
- He shows the migrant’s superior knowledge about the world
Lines 23–24
“So sincere she was beautiful
as people sat down around us.”
Translation
- The narrator comments on how he sees that the woman thinks she has been sincere:
- Perhaps she smiles as she sits down next to them, which makes her “beautiful”
- The poem ends suggesting the conversation and small talk is over when other people sit down
Berry’s intention
- Berry’s narrator notices how everyday conversations may leave a native feeling Virtuous yet none the wiser
- He highlights the sense of frustration an individual feels when their heritage is misunderstood