Analysis Of Whatif By Shel Silverstein

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Recommended: Nature and value of childrens literature

David Tice
30 November 2015
ENG 1123
Mrs. Gambill
Literary Analysis – “Whatif”
“Whatif” is a poem by Shel Silverstein. Shel Silverstein is a songwriter, poet, and author who was born on September 25th in 1930 (bio.com). He is most known for his poetry including his widely accredited work, The Giving Tree. He also wrote songs for Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn, including Cash’s song “A Boy Named Sue” and Lynn’s song “One’s on the Way” (bio.com) Poets can be notorious on writing one thing and meaning another, or meaning something literally. Questions usually get asked as to why the writer said that certain thing or described something a certain way or put a punctuation mark where it’s not needed. “Whatif” is a very interesting …show more content…

These lines all start out with the same word, “Whatif”. These lines are interesting because it gives a small look into the mind of Shel Silverstein. “Whatif I'm dumb in school?/Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?/Whatif I get beat up?/Whatif there's poison in my cup?” (Silverstein, 5-8) These lines could be interpreted rather easily as they are straight to the point. It seems as though the speaker is a child is young and worried about childlike things such as school, bullies, and the swimming pool in the summer. It also seems like the speaker is even pessimistic enough to be worried about being poisoned. “Whatif I start to cry?/Whatif I get sick and die?/Whatif I flunk that test?/Whatif green hair grows on my chest?” (Silverstein, 9-12) These lines make the speaker sound a little bit older, as in a teenager who is really worried about serious things in life like dying or tests or physical appearances or crying like a child. “Whatif nobody likes me?/Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?/Whatif I don't grow taller?/Whatif my head starts getting smaller?” (Silverstein, 13-16) Again it sounds like this is an older child who is worried about physical appearances and the more serious matter in life. “Whatif the fish won't bite?/Whatif the wind tears up my kite?/Whatif they start a war?/Whatif my parents get divorced?” (Silverstein, 17-20) These lines are kind of confusing, because

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