The persona notices changes in their home that suggest something has happened to their older sister Lulu. Lulu's bed is empty except for an old rag doll, her window is open, and her money box is missing. When the persona asks their mother what happened, the mother acts strangely - turning away crying, crumpling a note and throwing it in the fire. The persona then hears noises in the night that the mother dismisses as dreams. The mother now wanders around anxiously. The persona wants to know what has happened to Lulu.

1. What has happened to Lulu
by Charles Causley

2. STANZA 1
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
(line 1)
• The persona asking her mother
about her older sister ,Lulu
What has happened to Lu? (line 2) • The persona repeat it again but using
the name Lu
There's nothing in her bed but an old
rag-doll (line 3)
• Lulu is not on her bed but just her old
rag doll
And by its side a shoe. (line 4) • There Lulu’s shoe by the side of her
bed

3. STANZA 2
Why is her window wide, mother, (line 1) The persona saw that the windows are
wide opened
The curtain flapping free, (line 2) the curtains are "flapping free" in the
wind.
And only a circle on the dusty shelf (line 3)
The persona also notice her money-box
on the dusty shelf is gone.
Where her money-box used to be? (line 4)

4. STANZA 3
Why do you turn your head, mother,
(line 1)
The persona asks his mother why she is
turning her head away and crying.And why do the tear-drops fall? (line 2)
And why do you crumple that note on
the fire (line 3)
He asks her again why she crumples and
throws the note into the fire
And say it is nothing at all? (line 4) Mother then tells the persona that it is
nothing at all

5. STANZA 4
I woke to voices late last night, (line 1) The persona tells that she/he was
awakened by voices
I heard an engine roar. (line 2) • heard the sounds of an "engine roar”,
• probably a car starting up and being
driven away
Why do you tell me the things I heard
(line 3) • The persona asking why her/his
mother says that the sounds he/she
heard was only in his/her dream
• The mother lies that the child was
only dreaming.
Were a dream and nothing more? (line 4)

6. STANZA 5
I heard somebody cry, mother, (line 1)
The persona heard somebody cry in pain
or anger
In anger or in pain, (line 2)
But now I ask you why, mother, (line 3)
but his mother tells him that it is just the
sound ofwind.
You say it was a gust of rain. (line 4)

7. STANZA 6
Why do you wander about as though
(line 1)
• The persona asking his/her mother
why she is moving aimlessly
• as if she nervous or panicked about
something
You don't know what to do? (line 2)
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
(line 3)
The persona wants his mother to explain
what has happened to his older sister,
Lulu.What has happened to Lulu? (line 4)

8. • flapping- making something move from side to side
or up and down often making a noise
• crumple- crush something into folds
• roar- make a very loud, deep sound
• gust- a sudden strong rush of wind
• wander- walk slowly around without any sense of
purpose or direction

9. CHARACTERS
LULU PERSONA MOTHER

10. TONE AND MOOD
SADNESS
CONFUSIONIRONY

11. THEME
The end of
childhood
and the loss
of innocence
Grief
Parent-child
relationship

12. MORAL VALUE
Concerned
Honesty
Freedom and
responsibility
Obedience and
respect
Love and
appreciation

13. QUESTION
1.In stanza 6,how does the
persona’s mother feel?
.

14. QUEESTION
2. In your opinion,why do
you think teenagers run
away? Give TWO reasons.
• .

15. • They are influenced by the wrong company of friends
• They want to get away from overprotective parents
• They want to be free
• Peer pressure
• Parental neglect
• Personal problems
• Teen pregnancy
• Drug addiction
• Abused by parents / siblings