Carol Ann Duffy and Sheenagh Pugh have both written a selection of poems about the topic of childhood and there are several techniques that are used by both poets which is what I am going to discuss in this essay. In the poem ‘In Mrs Tilschers Class’ Carol Ann Duffy, uses several themes with the deeper meaning of childhood, such as memories, school, growing up and losing innocence and she uses imagery and language involving the 5 senses throughout the poem which would help the reader create a vivid image in their head of how the author felt when she wrote this poem and could possibly evoke different memories of the reader themselves, taking them back to their childhood which is what makes this poem so effective. She uses the visual sense along with the tactile sense in the opening of the poem which immediately draws the reader in and allows them to feel the deep emotion within the poem. “You could travel up the Blue Nile with your finger, tracing the route” This could also be a metaphor for the transition of childhood through to adulthood and the loss of innocence along the way which is an important theme throughout the collection of poems that I will discuss in this essay. She also makes another visual reference when she says “Coloured shapes” and “A gold star” which could connote how happy and cheerful childhood is as colours are something that are being learnt at a young age and children familiarise objects, peoples and even personalities with a colour throughout their childhood. This also really helps to create a colourful image in the readers mind which creates the positive outlook over childhood. The poem ‘Quetzal’ by Sheenagh Pugh also uses colours to symbolise the child-like ness throughout the poem, for what I believe,... ... middle of paper ... ...shows that although she is missing home she also gets this new experience with the outside world and she feels more free than she was in the barriers of childhood. Furthermore. the form used in this language also draws attention on a single sentence just like how Pugh used the one word stanzas, however Duffy does this by putting a certain line at the end of stanza one in italics which draws attention to this line and really highlights that this is not her usual way of speaking and it quite out of the ordinary. In conclusion, the two poets have very similar styles to writing about the theme of childhood such as the use of imagery and the portraying the journey through life and childhood through to adolescence. And also the key highlighting in the structure of certain words or lines. This makes the poems very effective. Works Cited Carol Ann Duffy Sheenagh Pugh
But the ‘Nurses Song,’ form experience shows the reality of life: that it is hard, and people, like the nurse in the song aren’t happy and full of joy, like the memories of the old people in ‘The Echoing Green,’ and therefore, Blake’s poetry confirms the view that children are oppressed by
His poems are generally humorous and his images come from tiny things such as a piece of thread, tying his shoe, or looking at his earth. Child experiences of war, poverty, and hunger...
‘Some idea of a child or childhood motivates writers and determines both the form and content of what they write.’ -- Hunt The above statement is incomplete, as Hunt not only states that the writer has an idea of a child but in the concluding part, he states that the reader also has their own assumptions and perceptions of a child and childhood. Therefore, in order to consider Hunt’s statement, this essay will look at the different ideologies surrounding the concept of a child and childhood, the form and content in which writers inform the reader about their ideas of childhood concluding with what the selected set books state about childhood in particular gender. The set books used are Voices In The Park by Browne, Mortal Engines by Reeve and Little Women by Alcott to illustrate different formats, authorial craft and concepts about childhood. For clarity, the page numbers used in Voices In The Park are ordinal (1-30) starting at Voice 1.
Harwood wrote the poem with relatively simple composition techniques but it provides a rather big impact which helps to give an insight into the life of a mother or nurturer which bares the burdens of children.
In Gwen Harwood’s poetry, the changes in an individual’s perspective and attitudes towards situations, surroundings and, therefore transformations in themselves, are brought on by external influences, usually in the form of a person or an event. These changes are either results of a dramatic realisation, as seen with shattering of a child’s hopes in The Glass Jar, or a melancholy and gradual process, where a series of not so obvious discoveries produces similar reformation. An example of the later case would be Nightfall, the second section of Father and Child, where the persona refers to her forty years of life causing “maturation”. For the most part these changes are not narrated directly but are represented by using dynamic language techniques to illustrate constant change in the universe of the poem.
The poem ' In Mrs Tilscher's Class' written by Carol Ann Duffy, is written in free verse and includes four stanzas. The poem consists of metaphors, similies and the five senses. This essay will outline the areas in which Duffy uses diffrent literary terms to define the theme of growing up.
The poem uses many literary devices to enhance the meaning the words provide. The poem starts at the beginning of the story as the moon comes to visit the forge. The moon is said to be wearing “her skirt of white, fragrant flowers” (Lorca 2) as its bright light penetrates the scene. The poem states “the young boy watches her, watches. / The young boy is watching her” (3-4). The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the young boy’s infatuation with the moon. The scene is set with intensity by the phrase “electrified air” (5) and a tense feeling is brought into the poem. As “the moon moves her arms” (6), she is given traits of being alive and having her own human qualities. Personification of the moon into a woman exemplifies the desire that the child would have for the woman, and creates a more appealing form for the moon to appear as. The child cries, “flee, moon, moon, moon” (9) with urgency, showing his concern for her. He warns her “they would make with your heart / white necklaces and rings” (11-12). This refers back to the metaphor that the moon is made of hard tin, but still personifies her by giving her a heart. The moon is additionally personified when she says “ young boy, leave me to dance”(13). She has now taken the form of a sensual and erotic gypsy dancer furthering the desire of the young boy. This brings Spanish culture to the poem because gypsies are known to travel throughout Spain. The mo...
The author uses imagery, contrasting diction, tones, and symbols in the poem to show two very different sides of the parent-child relationship. The poem’s theme is that even though parents and teenagers may have their disagreements, there is still an underlying love that binds the family together and helps them bridge their gap that is between them.
Although this section is the easiest to read, it sets up the action and requires the most "reading between the lines" to follow along with the quick and meaningful happenings. Millay begins her poem by describing, in first person, the limitations of her world as a child. She links herself to these nature images and wonders about what the world is like beyond the islands and mountains. The initial language and writing style hint at a child-like theme used in this section. This device invites the reader to sit back and enjoy the poem without the pressure to understand complex words and structure.
The theme of unconditional love is expressed through the two poems. The poet proclaims his affection for her by telling his "love" that he will give her anything in the world if she would
This paper focuses on two poems, “Medusa” and the “Little Red Cap”, to study how Duffy’s representations go beyond two dimensional representations to provide readers
“The Little Black Boy” is a seven stanza poem with an ABABCDCD rhyme scheme. It is about a ...
...ast each other well. Both poems use imagery, repetition, alliteration and rhyming and both have many biblical references and rhetorical questions. Although each poem is different in its structure, theme and the way it is written.
In the poetry of William Blake and William Wordsworth, this difference between children and adults and their respective states of mind is articulated and developed. As a person ages, they move undeniably from childhood to adulthood, and their mentality moves with them. On the backs of Blake and Wordsworth, the reader is taken along this journey.
Childhood is the most unforgettable period of my life. Everyone has childhood memories. My childhood memories took place in Eritrea. These memories that are happiest and saddest memories are still in my mind. Sometimes I remember things that have happened in my childhood period and they just make me laugh. Childhood memories can be bad or good, but we can’t forget them. For these reasons, childhood memories are the most important parts of my life. Specifically, also I have some good memories of childhood.