WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO LULU

BY CHARLES CAUSLEY
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?
There's nothing in her bed but an old rag-doll
And by its side a shoe.

Who is the poet?

What is the poem mainly about?

What does the persona notice about the

bed in Lulus room?

In your opinion, how do you think Lulu

escaped from the house? State the
evidence for our answer.

Would you say the persona is observant?

Why?

Why would mother shake her head?

Explain her feelings.

What do you think is written on the note?

Why does mother try to divert the

personas attention from the things he
heard?

Based on the poem, do you think the

persona
and
Lulu
have
a
good
relationship? Give a reason for your
answer.

1
0

What does the words a circle on te dusty

shelf indicate?

Why is her window wide, mother,

The curtain flapping free,
And only a circle on the dusty shelf
Where her money-box used to be?
Why do you turn your head, mother,
And why do tear drops fall?
And why do you crumple that note on the fire
And say it is nothing at all?
I woke to voices late last night,
I heard an engine roar.
Why do you tell me the things I heard
Were a dream and nothing more?
I heard somebody cry, mother,
In anger or in pain,
But now I ask you why, mother,
You say it was a gust of rain.
Why do you wander about as though
You don't know what to do?
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?

Stanza 1
The persona is questioning her mother about the
mysterious and sudden disappearance of Lulu. An old
rag doll and a shoe was left behind.
Stanza 2
The persona saw that the windows are wide opened
and the curtains are "flapping free" in the wind. The
persona also notice her money-box on the dusty shelf
is gone.
Stanza 3
The persona asks the mother why she is hiding her
tears. The mother crumples up a note (most probably
from Lulu) and throws it into the fire. Mother then tells
her child that it is nothing at all. The persona does not
believe her.
Stanza 4
The persona tells that she was awakened by "voices
late last night" and heard the sounds of an "engine
roar", probably a car starting up and being driven away.
The mother lies that the child was only dreaming.
Stanza 5
The persona insists that she had heard someone cry
"in anger or in pain". The mother says it was just "a
gust of rain".
Stanza 6
Puzzled about the mother's distraught behavior, the
narrator wants to know why the mother is pacing
about, uncertain what to do. The use of "Lu" is an
affectionate shortened form of "Lulu