Perspectives

To gain a deeper insight into the poem’s theme and message, as well as the author’s style, we encourage you to put “Tich Miller” by Wendy Cope into perspective by looking at current issues, literary movement, and similar works.

Current issues

Although the poem was published thirty years ago (1986), its theme and message are still relevant in today’s society. Schoolchildren nowadays are still vulnerable to bullying or engage in bullying activities which affect their development negatively. Those who are bullied either develop to be shy and unsociable or turn into bullies themselves, perpetuating this vicious circle. Furthermore, in some extreme cases, bullying can even lead to depression and suicide. What is different today from the time the poem was written is that bullying has diversified; nowadays, children are not only bullied at school but also over the internet, on social networks.

We recommend you take time and reflect on this issue considering your own experiences with bullying and possible solutions to it.

Literary period

Wendy Cope is a contemporary...