Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Annuitants Answer" is a poem by the Scottish writer Robert Chambers. It is written in Scots dialect and presents a narrative where the speaker, an elderly woman, complains about the exploitative intentions of a man of law who hoped to benefit from her death due to an annuity agreement.

Provenance and Context:

Robert Chambers(1802-1871) was a Scottish author and publisher known for his work on Scottish culture and history. This poem appears to originate from that era, though I don't have a specific date of its publication.

Theme and Analysis:

The poem uses humor and irony to criticize exploitation and deceit in financial transactions. It tells the story of an elderly woman who entered an annuity contract with a man of law. This arrangement involves the man paying the woman a fixed sum annually for her lifetime, anticipating that she will die soon and he will profit. However, the woman proves to be more resilient than he expected, outliving his expectations and thereby causing him financial loss.

The man's deceptive and harmful intentions are evident in his attempts to poison the woman and strangle her, in a desperate bid to end her life and his financial obligation. Yet, the woman remains resilient, humorously chiding him for his foolishness and alerting authorities about his actions.

The poem reflects societal concerns of the time related to financial exploitation, particularly of the elderly. It uses a lighthearted, humorous tone to critique these serious issues, effectively using irony to underscore the man's greed and the woman's tenacity.

Poetic Devices:

Rhyme: The poem follows a regular ABAB rhyme scheme, which gives it a rhythmic, musical quality. .

Dialect Language: The use of Scottish dialect throughout the poem adds a layer of authenticity and cultural specificity to the work. It also helps create character and a sense of place.

Metaphor: The poem uses metaphor to express its themes and ideas. For example, "His arms he ance flang round my neck -- / I thought it was to show respeck; / He only meant to gie a check, / Not for, but to, the annuity." Here, the metaphor of "flinging arms around the neck" is used to represent false friendship or false respect, used to achieve one's goals.

Irony: The entire poem carries a sense of irony. The speaker is an elderly person who has become a burden because they have outlived the expectations of the person who arranged for their annuity. This creates a darkly humorous and ironic tone.

Repetition: The poem uses repetition to emphasize the central concern of the speaker - the annuity. The word "annuity" is repeated in the last line of almost every stanza, stressing its importance in the speaker's life and in the theme of the poem.

In conclusion, "The Annuitants Answer" by Robert Chambers provides a humorous yet biting critique of financial exploitation. Using humor, irony, and vivid language, Chambers highlights the resilience of the elderly woman, thereby drawing attention to the serious issue of financial deceit.

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