My Polish Teacher’s Tie
The title
• ‘My’- possessive pronoun implies a close
relationship , ownership, sense of pride
• Alliteration – makes it sound a little like a
riddle, a nonsense phrase?
• However, it is not a riddle -the tie is symbolic of what?
• Polish – adjective to define the teacher.
Theme of identity and exclusion
Who is the single main character?
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Carla Carter
Lunchtime assistant
Half-Polish
Insecure about her own status – does not reveal she is not
a teacher
Proud of family – tells Steve about Jade
Curious about her Polish heritage
Private – does not tell the head about letters sent
Perceptive – sees through Valerie Kenward
Brave – introduces herself
Desires more optimism, hope, sincerity in her life ‘ I like
your tie’
Characterisation
• First person narration
• Carla confides in the reader ‘ I am half-Polish . They don’t
know that here’ ‘I felt terrible’ ‘I said it to myself in my
head’
• Direct speech is very restrained and clipped ‘ I’d like to
write to a Polish teacher’ ‘ Just a letter.’
• Her actions show inner strength ‘ pushing forward’ to speak
to the Head.
• ‘I tore it open’ excitement at letter revealed through
actions.
• Writer uses her narration to reveal her character. Direct
speech conceals her character. Actions reveal the extent of
her feelings that she only partially reveals herself.
Who tells the story
• Carla in the 1st person
Where does the action take place
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Staff meeting
Carla’s home
Within the letters
School canteen
• Internal (within Carla’s head and her feelings)
and external drama (actions) – at the end
Carla publically introduces herself.
How much time does the story cover?
• Not made explicit. But over the course of
several months...
• This enables a meaningful relationship to be
forged between Carla and Steve- so we care
that they do actually meet.
How does the story get started?
• In the form of a first person monologue. Carla
speaks to the reader in an informal style
describing in the present tense her job at the
school canteen revealing what she does and
how she feels about it.
Rising action of the story- A event or
set of circumstances that add interest
Carla and Stefan begin writing to one another.
Carla doesn’t tell him that her job is but writes
about not remembering Polish and he writes a
poem about it. The Head announces Stefan’s
visit.
Climax
• Carla worries about how Stefan will react
when he finds out she is not a teacher. She
overhears Valerie Kenward being rude about
him then sees him for the first time. She
understands that he feels out of place.
Denouement
• Carla introduces herself to Stefan and sees
that he doesn’t care about her job. He takes
her hand and sings a Polish song from her
childhood and she remembers the words for
the first time
Specific mood the story creates
• Resentment – at teachers
• Division and isolation – between hierarchy of
staff
• Intimacy – letter writing
• Anxiety – fear of being exposed as non-teaching
member of staff
• Scorn and cruelty – Valerie’s comments on her
guest
• Pride and friendship – Carla meeting Steve
Is the story realistic?
• Day to day life in canteen- realistically
presented
• Nature of staff relationships is real?
Naturalistically drawn?
• Recognisable characters – Valerie as scornful
bigot?
Themes
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Belonging and identity
Power and status
Sincerity and insincerity
Friendship
Did you identify with any character?
Was there a villain? Was there a hero?
• Villain – to an extent this is Valerie Kenward. A
hypocrite, complaining, melodramatic,
judgemental, lacking empathy, bigoted,
impatient
• Hero – to an extent this is Carla. Reveals
herself despite insecurities, offers friendship
and an ally to Steve
Figurative language
• ‘He [ headteacher] stitched a nice smile on his
face’ the metaphor ‘stitched’ conveys Carla’s
view that the head teacher is artificial and forced
in his polite greeting
• There is little figurative/ poetic language; the
story instead uses prosaic conversational
language in the first person as well as action and
direct speech.
• The tie becomes a symbol – of what?
• The poem of the bird in the mine is a symbol – of
what?
Key personality traits
• Carla Carter – insecure, dissatisfied, lonely,
curious, brave, determined
• Stefan Jeziorny (Steve) – open, self-assured,
proud, curious, friendly
• Valerie Kenward – judgemental, hypocritical,
scathing, impatient
• Other ideas?
My overall opinion of this story
• I loved the uplifting denouement- the allegiance
formed between Carla and Stefan offers a warmth and
sincerity otherwise absent in the story – particularly
lacking in Valerie, the school and Carla’s personal life.
• The hierarchy and power dynamics within the school
(unfortunately) are well observed – at least for some
staff in some schools.
• The themes of belonging and identity are movingly
portrayed – Stefan is able to tap into her earliest
memories of Polish songs and at that moment a part of
her returns
How effective is the ending?
• Effectively reinforces the writer’s message:
A celebration of personal identity and global
friendships.
A criticism of intolerance and ignorance – whether
that be within the immediate community of the
school or the global community.
The reader’s wish for a resolution is satisfied – Carla
introduces herself to Steve. However, there is no
indication that any wider learning has taken place
for any other characters.