A Contemplation Upon Flowers - Literature Notes

A Contemplation Upon Flowers - Literature Notes
The physical structure of this poem has been

altered from the original layout in the text.
This is the OPINION of one individual,
Brave flowers, 1.that I could 5.gallant it like which might not coincide with the views of
you, and be as little vain; others.
You come abroad and make a 6.harmless show,
And to your beds of earth again; LITERAL MEANING
You are not proud, you know your birth, The persona wishes that he could be as brave
For your embroidered garments are from earth. as the flowers, who are aware of
their allegiance to the earth. They know their
You do obey your months and times, but I place and obey the order, or cycle, of life and
would have it ever spring; death. The persona wishes that he could be this
My fate would know no winter, never die, nor way because he is the opposite, he wants to live
think of such a thing; forever. The persona wants the flowers to teach
Oh that I could 2.my bed of earth but view, him NOT to fear death, but to accept it.
1.and smile and look as cheerfully as you.
Oh teach me to see death and not to fear,

But rather to take truce; LITERARY DEVICES
3.How often have I seen you at a 6.bier, 1. SIMILE
And there look fresh and spruce;
You fragrant flowers then 7.teach me that my  Stanza 1, line: The persona is wishing
breath like yours may sweeten and perfume my that he could be as brave as the
death. flower. This implies that the persona
does not think that he is brave, but a
Berry, J. 'A Contemplation Upon Flowers' in A coward in the face of death.
World of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and
Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson
Education Ltd, 2005.
 Stanza 2, line 14: This is another comparison between the persona and the plant. The
persona wishes that he could look death in the face and be cheerful, like the plant. Again,
this emphasizes that he fears death.
2. EUPHEMISM
This phrase is a replacement for the word death. It softens death and makes it appear welcoming
and pleasant.
3. IRONY
It is ironic that the flowers look so fresh and alive, when they are facing their very mortality, on
the top of a casket. Death is a sad affair, yet the flowers are at their best when ushering people
back to the earth.
4. PERSONIFICATION
The persona is speaking directly to the flowers and giving them human qualities, therefore, the
whole poem is an example of the use of personification at its best. He even goes as far as to
ask the flowers to teach him things that will allow him to acquire their qualities.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

5. 'galant'
This word literally means brave or heroic. The word, however, also brings to mind adjectives
such as charming and attentive, like a knight would be in olden days. So the plants are not simply
brave in their acceptance of death, but they are also gracious.
6. 'harmless show'
The word harmless sticks out in this phrase because it implies that the flowers are demure and
quiet in their beauty.
7. 'bier'
This is a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before a burial or cremation, or
on which they are carried to the grave.
8. 'teach me that my breath like yours may sweeten and perfume my death'
This implies that if death is not feared, then the person will go into death's arms joyfully, without
any sorrow, remorse or bitterness.
TONE
The tone of the poem is admiration, because the persona literally admires the flowers for its
accepting attitude towards death.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood, or atmosphere of the poem is a pensive one. The persona is thinking about death, how
he relates to it versus how others relate to it.
CONTRAST
A contrast in this poem is the persona's fear of death, versus the flowers' acceptance of it.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death, nature,
O'l Higue - Literature Notes
The physical structure of this poem has

been altered from the original layout in the
text.
You think I like this 5.stupidness! -
which might not coincide with the views of
6.gallivanting all night without skin,
others.
1.burning myself out like cane-fire
2.to frighten the foolish?
LITERAL MEANING
2.And for what? A few drops of baby blood?
In this poem, the Ol' Higue / soucouyant tells
2.You think I wouldn't rather
of her frustration with her lifestyle. She does
take my blood seasoned in fat
not like the fact that she sometimes has to
black-pudding, like everyone
parade around, in the form of a fireball,
else?
without her skin at night. She explains that
And don't even talk 'bout the pain of salt
she has to do this in order to scare people, as
and having to bend these old bones down
well as to acquire baby blood. She explains
to count a thousand grains of rice!
that she would rather acquire this blood via
cooked food, like every-one else. Her worst
If only babies didn't smell so nice!
complaint is the pain of salt, as well as
And if I could only stop
having to count rice grains. She exhibits
hearing 3.the soft, soft call
some regret for her lifestyle but implies that
of that 7.pure blood running in new veins,
she cannot resist a baby's smell, as well as it's
4.singing the sweet song of life
pure blood. The 'newness' of the baby tempts
tempting an old, dry-up woman who been
the Ol' Higue, and she cannot resist because
8.holding her final note for years and years,
she is an old woman who fears death, which
afraid of the dying hum ...
can only be avoided by consuming the baby's
blood. She affirms her usefulness in the
Then again, if I didn't fly and come
scheme of things, however, by claiming that
to that 9.fresh pulse in the middle of the
she provides mothers with a name for their
night, 2.how would you, mother,
fears (this being the death of a child), as well
name your ancient dread?
as some-one to blame when the evil that they
2.And who to blame
wish for their child, in moments of tired
for the murder inside your head ...?
frustration, is realized. She implies that she
Believe me -
will never die, so long as women keep having
As long as it have women giving birth
babies.
a poor ol' higue like me can never
dead.
McWatt, M. 'Ol' Higue' in A World of

Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel
Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education
Ltd, 2005.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
Cane-fire has a very distinct quality. It burns very quickly and its presence is felt through it's
pungent smell. Therefore, when the Ol' Higue compares herself to cane fire in her fireball state, it
implies that she uses a lot of energy quickly, and is very visible.
2. RHETORICAL QUESTION
 Stanza 1,line 4: This rhetorical question highlights the scant regard that the Higue has
for the average person. She is thoroughly annoyed that she has to literally waste her
energy on them.
 Stanza 1, line 5: This highlights the fact that, again, she is annoyed that she has to
expend so much energy to obtain a few drops of baby blood.
 Stanza 1, lines 6-8: The Ol' Higue is emphasizing the fact that regular people ingest blood
too, just in a more palatable manner. She would not mind if she could ingest it in the
same manner as well.
 Stanza 3, lines 22-23: At this point the Ol' Higue is making excuses for her presence,
claiming that she serves an actual purpose in the scheme of life. If a child dies of
unknown causes, she can be scapegoated for it.
 Stanza 3, lines 24-25: 'The murder inside your head' refers to the moments, when out of
pure frustration and tiredness, a mother might wish ill on her child. The Ol' Higue is
implying that, again, she can be used as a scapegoat if something unfortunate happens
to the child. The mother is relieved of bearing the burden of guilt.
3. REPETITION
The repetition of the word 'soft' emphasizes the fact that the call of the child's blood has captured
and beguiled the Ol' Higue'. She implies that she cannot resist that call.
4. ALLITERATION
This device emphasizes the Ol' Higue's dependence, even addiction, to the sweet blood of the
baby.

5. 'stupidness!'
This is a distinctly Caribbean phrase that highlights frustration or scorn. Therefore, it highlights
the Ol' Higue's frustration with her lack of self control.
6. 'gallivanting'
This term refers to some one 'playing around', having fun. The Ol' Higue is being sarcastic at this
point. She is expressing displeasure at having to fly around to seek prey.
7. 'pure blood running in new veins'
Babies are often associated with purity, this is what is emphasized here. The Ol' Higue simply
cannot resist the lure of new and pure blood.
8. 'holding her final note for years and years, afraid of the dying hum ...'
This tells us that the Ol'Higue has been living this desperate existence for a long time. It also
implies that she will keep hanging on, despite her frustration. The final line confirms this
point: 'As long as it have women giving birth a poor Ol' Higue like me can never dead'
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective.
TONE
The tone of the poem is slightly bitter and resigned. She accepts that the cycle of her life cannot
change.
THEMATIC CATEGORIZATION
Supernatural
A Stone's Throw - Literature Notes

The physical structure of this poem has which might not coincide with the views of
been altered from the original layout in the others.
text.
LITERAL MEANING
5.We shouted out A crowd has caught a woman. The persona
'We've got her! Here she is! implies to the reader that the woman is not
It's her all right '. decent. She was beautiful, but scared because
We caught her. she had gotten 'roughed up' a little by the
There she was - crowd. The persona states that the woman has
experienced men's hands on her body before,
1.A decent-looking woman, you'd have said, but this crowd's hands were virtuous.
(6.They often are) He also makes a proviso that if this crowd
Beautiful, but 7.dead scared, bruises her, it cannot be compared to what
8.Tousled - we roughed her up she has experienced before. The persona also
A little, 9.nothing much speaks about a last assault and battery to
come. He justifies this last assault by calling
And not the first time it justice, and it is justice that feels not only
By any means right, but good. The crowd's 'justice' is placed
She'd felt men's hands on hold by the interruption of a preacher,
Greedy over her body - who stops to talk to the lady. He squats on
10.But ours were virtuous, the ground and writes something that the
Of course. crowd cannot see. Essentially, the preacher
judges them, thereby allowing the lady to
And if our fingers bruised also judge the crowd, leading to the crowd
Her shuddering skin, inevitably judging itself. The crowd walks
These were love-bites, compared away from the lady, still holding stones
To the 2.hail of kisses of stone, [which can be seen as a metaphor for
The last assault judgments] that can be thrown another day.
And 11.battery, frigid rape,
3.To come
12.Of right.
LITERARY DEVICES
For justice must be done 1. SARCASM
Specially when The persona is making the point that the lady
It 13.tastes so good. was in fact NOT decent looking.
And then - 14.this guru, 2. PERSONIFICATION

Preacher, God-merchant, God-knows-what - This device is particularly effective because
Spoilt the whole thing, the word 'kisses' is used. Kiss implies
Speaking to her something pleasant, but it is
15.(Should never speak to them) actually utilized to emphasize something
Squatting on the ground - her level, painful that has happened to the lady; she was
Writing in the dust stoned.
Something we couldn't read.
16. And saw in her 3. PUN
Something we couldn't see
At least until  Title: The title of the poem is itself a
17. He turned his eyes on us, pun on two levels. A stone's throw is
Her eyes on us, used by many people in the
Our eyes upon ourselves. Caribbean to describe a close
distance. eg. "She lives a stone's
18. We walked away throw away". The other use of the
Still holding stones title is to highlight the content of the
That we may throw poem. It is a figurative stoning, or
Another day judging, of a woman.
Given the urge.
Mitchel, E. 'A Stone's Throw' in A World of

Ltd, 2005.
 Line 23: There is a play on the word 'come'. The persona is telling the reader that the
crowd is planning to rape the lady. This act is to come, or occur, in the near future. Come,
in this context, also means to ejaculate, the culmination of the act of sex. The rapists in
the crowd also plan to 'come'.
4. ALLUSION (biblical)
The content of the poem alludes to the story of Mary Magdalene in the Christian Bible. See John
8 v 5-7.

5. 'we'
This immediately tells the reader that the persona is in a crowd, which highlights to us that the
mob mentality exists in this context. The crowd acts as one entity.
6. 'they'
The use of this word immediately alienates the lady and places her in the scornful realm of the
'other'.
7. 'dead scared'
The use of the term 'dead' to describe the lady's emotional state of fearfulness implies that she is
extremely frightened, it is beyond regular fear.
8. 'tousled'
This word means to be handled roughly and, as a result, to look disorderly and disheveled. It is
the perfect word to use in this context because it adds to the sexual innuendo that exists
throughout the poem.
9. 'nothing much'
The persona disregards the damage that they have done to the lady. He admits to the rough
treatment, but tries to make himself, and the crowd, look favourable despite their wrong doings.
10. 'But ours were virtuous, Of course'
This is almost like a tongue in cheek admittance that their touch was actually the opposite of
virtuous. The use of the term 'of course' highlights this interpretation.
11. 'battery'
In the Caribbean context, battery refers to the slang term for the rape of an individual, conducted
by several people in succession. Therefore, the persona is pointing out the intent of the crowd,
or some people in the crowd.
12. 'Of right'
This is a clear indication, from the persona, that he believes that he and the mob are in the right.
13. 'tastes so good'
'Taste', to a lot of individuals, is one of the higher senses. Therefore, when the persona uses
this word, he is highlighting the intense pleasure that he anticipates from meting out this
'justice'.
14. 'this guru, Preacher, God-merchant, God-knows-what'
The persona's annoyance at this individual for disrupting his fun comes out in this statement. The
persona is deliberately being disrespectful.
15. '(Should never speak to them)'
This particular line speaks to the alienation that the lady faces. She is scornfully grouped as
'them'.
16. 'And saw in her something we couldn't see'
The intruder saw value in the lady, something that the crowd did not see.
17. 'He turned his eyes on us, Her eyes on us, Her eyes upon ourselves.'
This speaks to the fact that the preacher and the lady judge the crowd, and, more importantly, the
crowd judges itself. The preacher's act of kindness sheds light on the cruelty that is inflicted on
the lady by the crowd.
18. 'We walked away Still holding stones'
This implies that the crowd still plans to keep judging, and acting on their judgments, as they see
fit.
TONE
The tone of the poem is mixed. At times it is almost braggadocious, then it becomes sarcastic,
moving to scornful.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Discrimination, religion, survival, hypocrasy, oppression, alienation.
Dreaming Black Boy - Literature Notes
1.I wish my teacher's eyes wouldn't

go past me today. Wish he'd know
it's okay to hug me when I kick This is the OPINION of one individual,
a goal.1.Wish I myself wouldn't which might not coincide with the views of
hold back when an answer comes. others.
2.I'm no woodchopper now
like all ancestor's. LITERAL MEANING
The poem is about a black boy who wishes
1.I wish I could be educated that he could have regular things in life.
to the best of tune up, and earn Things such as a congratulatory hug, to be
good money and 3.not sink to lick educated to the highest level and to travel
boots.1.I wish I could go on every without harassment. The persona yearns to
crisscross way of the globe stop fighting for the basic right to be
and no persons or powers or successful and to rise above societal
hotel keepers would make it a waste. expectations.
1.I wish life wouldn't spend me out

opposing.1.Wish same way creation
would have me stand it would have me stretch, LITERARY DEVICES
and hold high, 2.my voice 1. REPETITION:
Paul Robeson's, my 4.inside eye The constant repetition of the phrase 'I wish'
a sun. Nobody wants to say points to a yearning, a desperation even, for the
hello to nasty answers. basic things that life has to offer.
The repetition gives credence to the idea that
1.I wish 2.torch throwers of night the persona might believe that his wishes are
would burn lights for decent times. actually dreams that might not come true.
1.Wish 2.plotters in pyjamas would pray
for themselves. Wish people wouldn't 2. ALLUSION:
talk as if I dropped from Mars
 Stanza 1, lines 6 and 7, alludes to
1.I wish only boys were scared slavery, the state of lacking control over
behind bravados, for I could suffer. one's own life and destiny. The fact that
I could suffer a big big lot. reference is made to this hints to how
1.I wish nobody would want to earn the persona feels about his life. He does
the terrible burden I can suffer. not feel as if he has control over it.
King, H. 'Dreaming Black Boy' in A World of

Simmond-McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd,
2005.
 Stanza 3, lines 19 to 20, alludes to Paul Robeson, a black intellectual, who attained
success despite difficult circumstances. The persona yearns to be like this person.
He wants room to stretch intellectually.
 Stanza 4, lines 22 to 25, alludes to the klu klux klan. Burning lights refers to the burning
of crosses and the pyjamas alludes to their white outfits that look like pyjamas. The
persona wants them to leave him alone, find something else to do other than make his life
difficult by contributing to his wishes remaining in the realm of the dreams.
IMPORTANT WORDS / PHRASE

3. 'not sink to lick boots'
This refers to the concept of being subservient. To have no choice but to kowtow to people in
order to get ahead.
4. 'Inside eye a sun'
This refers to the persona's mind. He wants to show how intelligent he is without fear. He wants
his mind to be a sun. Sun represents brightness and light, that is how he wants his intelligence
to shine.
TONE
The tone/mood of the poem is one of sadness. The persona is thinking about how he is treated
and he reacts to this in a sad way. He keeps wishing that things were different.
THEMATIC CATEGORY:
Racism, survival, oppression, desire/dreams.
Dulce et Decorum Est - Literature Notes
The physical structure of this poem has This is the OPINION of one individual,
been altered from the original layout in the which might not coincide with the views of
text. others.
3.Bent double, 1.like old beggars under LITERAL MEANING

sacks Knock-kneed, 1.coughing like hags, Wilfred Owen, the poet, tells of his first hand
we cursed through sludge, experience in war. He tells the tale of tired
Till on the 4.haunting flares we turned our and wounded soldiers walking through dirt
backs and sludge. Suddenly, there is a warning
And towards our distant rest began to trudge. about gas, which the soldiers hurriedly
2.Men marched asleep. 2.Many had lost and awkwardly heed by donning their
their boots helmets. Unfortunately, one soldier is too late
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; in donning the helmet and his companions
all blind; watch him 'drowning' in the gas. The
Drunk with fatigue; 5.deaf even to the hoots unfortunate soldier was thrown in the back of
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped a wagon, where it is implied that he was left
behind. to die. The persona points out that if you (the
reader/ listener) could have witnessed these
Gas! Gas! Quick boys! - 6.An ecstasy of events, then you would not tell children the
fumbling, old lie: dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; (It is sweet and honourable to die for one's
But someone still was yelling out and country).
stumbling,
And 1.flound'ring like a man in fire or lime ... LITERARY DEVICES
7.Dim, through the misty panes and thick 1.SIMILE
green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.  Stanza 1, line 1: This simile
introduces the exhaustion of the
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, soldiers.
8.He plunges at me, guttering, choking,  Stanza 1, line 2: This emphasizes not
drowning. only the tiredness of the soldiers, but
the fact that they might be sick as
If in some smothering dreams you too could well.
pace  Stanza 2, line 19: This device gives a
Behind the 9.wagon that we flung him in, visual image of how the soldier
2.And watch the white eyes writhing in his physically reacted to the gas.
face, Floundering implies flopping about,
1.His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; therefore, the soldier was flopping
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood about violently. We know it was
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted violent because fire and lime illicit
lungs, excruciating pain.
1.Obscene as cancer, 1.bitter as the cud  Stanza 4, line 39: This device gives a
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,- visual image of the expression on the
My friend, you would not tell with such a soldier's face. This is a particularly
high zest grotesque image that highlights the
To children ardent for some desperate glory, soldier in the throes of death.
The old Lie: 10.Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
Owen, W. 'Dulceet Decorum Est' in A World

of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel
Ltd, 2005.
 Stanza 4, line 39: Cancer is a horrible disease that takes many lives on a daily basis.
Therefore, to compare this dying soldiers face to this disease is to emphasize the
agony that the soldier was going through, which was reflected on his face.
 Stanza 4, lines 39-40: This is another graphic comparison that compares the soldier's
face to incurable sores. 'Sores' is a disgusting visual image of degradation which, in turn,
highlights the soldier in the throes of death.
ALLITERATION
 Stanza 1, line 7: This device points to the level of fatigue that the soldiers were
undergoing.
 Stanza 1, lines 7-9: This highlights not only the fatigue that the soldiers were feeling,
but the fact that they were injured as well.
 Stanza 4, lines 29-30: This device highlights a visually graphic death mask. The soldier is
in the throes of impending death.

3. 'Bent double'
The soldiers are bent over with fatigue. It is very significant that the poet/ persona initiates the
poem by highlighting the exhaustion of the soldiers. He is trying to emphasize the harsh realities
of war.
4. 'haunting flares'
Flares are typically used to signal distress. The flare is fired from a flare gun, in the air, where
rescue crafts, at sea or in the air, can have a general idea of the location of the soldiers who are in
distress. Therefore, to describe the flares as haunting implies that the soldiers are severly
distressed by their situation.
5. 'deaf even to the hoots of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.'
Five-nines are German 5.9 artillery shells. This means that bullets were firing around them while
they were walking. The extent of the soldiers' tiredness is also emphasized at this point because
the soldiers do not hear the shells going off around them.
6. 'An ecstasy of fumbling'
The word ecstasy, that is used to describe the fumbling, implies the level of panic that this one
word (gas) elicits. The soldiers' were so tired that they could not even hear the five nines, but this
one word immediately wakes them up.
7. 'Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, as under a green sea, I saw him
drowning.' This describes exactly what the outside world looks like through the lens of a gas
mask. The effect of the gas is seen in the mention of the word 'drown'. It implies that the
unfortunate soldier could not breathe.
8. 'He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.'
This is the very graphic result of breathing in the gas. It is a very violent reaction, as seen in the
word 'plunge'. The dying soldier did not simply reach for the persona/poet, but he did so in
a desperate manner, while all the time being unable to breathe.
9.'wagon that we flung him in'
The statement implies that the soldier was left for dead in a wagon. No regard was shown to him,
through the use of the word 'flung'. This implies that war is heartless and tragic.
10.'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.'
This statement literally means it is sweet and honourable to die for one's country. The persona/
poet clearly does NOT believe this to be the case.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona/ poet is thinking about his experiences in WW1.
TONE
The general tone of the poem is both sarcastic and ironic. The persona/ poet tries to present a
visual of the realities of war while using the haunting words that contradict that reality. It is, in
fact, NOT sweet and honourable to die for one's country.
War, death, survival, oppression, patriotism
Epitaph - Literature Notes

text.
They hanged him on a 4.clement morning,
5.swung
others.
between the falling sunlight and the
women's breathing, 1.like a black apostrophe
LITERAL MEANING
to pain. All morning while the children
The poem is an epitaph to a slave that was
2.hushed their hopscotch joy and 6.the cane
hung in the past. The first stanza explains that
kept growing
the nameless slave was hung in the morning,
3.he hung there sweet and low.
and while some respect was paid to his
At least that's how
memory, in the form of the children's actions,
they tell it. It was long ago
life essentially went on. In stanza two, the
and 7.what can we recall of a dead slave or
persona makes it clear that this slave's death
two
has little relevance in the present, except as a
except when we 8.punctuate our island tale
passing memory when islanders think about
1.they swing like sighs across 9.the brutal
what has influenced their lives up to the
sentences, and 10.anger pauses
present.
till they pass away.
Scott, Dennis. 'Epitaph' in A World of Prose.

Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel
Ltd, 2005.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
 Stanza 1, line 4: The swinging body of the slave is compared with an apostrophe to pain.
This comparison is very powerful because, in English grammar, an apostrophe
represents ownership. Therefore, it is implying that the pain of the black race is so
palpable that it is almost something that they own. It emphasizes the painful nature of
their history.
 Stanza 2, line 14: The dead slave's body's swing is compared to sighs. A sigh is an
exhalation of breathe that can signal many feelings; relief, agitation, joy, etc., with the
major quality being brevity. Therefore, the emphasis is not necessarily on the feeling
that the dead slave elicits, upon being remembered, but the brevity with which he is
remembered.
2. METAPHOR
This metaphor emphasizes the fun that the children paused, out of respect for the swinging body
of the dead slave.
3. ALLUSION
This line alludes to the Negro Spiritual 'Swing Low'. This spiritual speaks of an individual's
journey to heaven. This relates to this poem because it carries the implication that the slave's soul
has gone to heaven. He hung 'sweet and low' and the chariot came for him, his soul is at rest.

4.'clement morning'
The slave was hung on a clear, mild and pleasant morning. This highlights the fact that there is
no regard for this human being and emphasizes the sadness of this fact. Not even nature cares to
coincide with the sadness of this hanging.
5.'swung'
'This is a visual image of the hanging slave. One can literally see the slave swinging.
6.'the cane kept growing'
Despite the death of this slave, life literally went on, as chronicled by the growth of the cane.
7.'what can we recall of a dead slave or two'
This highlights the disregard shown towards the slave. This line also contributes to the sarcastic
tone of the poem.
8. 'punctuate our island tale'
To punctuate a sentence is to insert commas, full stops etc, in order for the sentence to make
sense. Therefore, in this context, when the slave is inserted, or acknowledged in the island's
history, it implies that he has an important place in it.
9. 'the brutal sentences
'This refers to the actual history of the island.
10.'anger pauses till they pass away.'
The reaction to the recollection of the dead slave and his contribution to the island's history is
anger. However, this anger is put on hold until the memory of the slave passes away.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective
TONE
The tone of the poem is reflective and slightly sarcastic.
Death, racism, desires and dreams
Forgive My Guilt - Literature Notes
Not always sure what things called sins may

be, I am sure of one sin I have done.
It was years ago, and I was a boy,
others.
I lay in the 1.frost flowers with a gun,
2.the air ran blue as the flowers; I held my
LITERAL MEANING
breath, 2.two birds on golden legs slim as
An adult is reminiscing about a traumatic
dream things 2.ran like quick silver on the
childhood experience. The persona went
1.golden sand, my gun went off, they ran with
hunting and shot two birds, plovers. He suffers
broken wings into the sea, I ran to fetch them
extreme guilt about this action in adulthood.
in, but they swam with their heads high out to
The poem describes the event, the actions of
sea, They cried like two sorrowful high flutes,
the bird, how he reacts, and, by the last line,
With 1.jagged ivory bones where wings should
asks the birds to forgive his guilt.
be. For days I heard them when I walked that
headland, crying out to their kind 4.in the
blue, The other plovers were going over south
on silver wings leaving these broken two. The LITERARY DEVICES
cries went out one day; but I still hear them 1.METAPHOR
over all the sounds of sorrow 5.in war or
peace I ever have heard, time cannot 6.drown  Line 4: The nature of frost is that it
them, 1.Those slender flutes of sorrow never covers everything in its path, therefore,
cease, 3.Two airy things forever denied the when the flowers are compared to
air! I never knew how their lives at last were frost, it implies that there were a lot of
split, but I have hoped for years all that is wild, flowers, enough to hide the boy from
Airy, and beautiful will forgive my guilt. the birds.
Coffin, R.P.T. 'Forgive My Guilt' in A World
Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd,
2005.
 Line 8: The sand is being compared to gold, the colour. It is emphasizing how beautiful
the setting was.
 Line 12: This metaphor emphasizes the injuries that the birds sustained. The bones are
compared to jagged ivory, which is a direct contrast to the smooth feathers that existed
before the injury.
 Lines 20-21: The birds are compared to a flute, an instrument that plays beautiful music.
This emphasizes the sadness that is related to their death.
2. SIMILE
 Line 5: The air and the flowers are being compared, both are blue.
 Lines 6-7: This simile offers a beautiful visual image of the birds. Dreams are
beautiful, and the birds are compared to this.
 Line 7: The speed of the birds is being highlighted, while also maintaining that
beautiful visual imagery.
3. PUN
The pun is between the words 'airy' and 'air'. 'Airy' means light and beautiful, while 'air' refers to
the sky and flying. The poet is lamenting that these light and beautiful things can no longer fly
and feel the pleasure of air rushing past them.

4. 'the blue'
This literally translates to the sky. The birds were crying out to the other birds that were flying
away.
5. 'in war or peace'
This phrase highlights the fact that the persona feels extremely guilty about killing the birds, so
much so that he thinks about it all the time. Their cries went out for literally one day, but he
thinks about the birds all the time.
6. 'drown'
It is important that the poet chooses to use the word drown, because it means death. He cannot
get rid of the sounds of sorrow that the birds made while they were dying.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is nostalgia and guilt.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sad. The poet's response to his guilt is sadness.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death, childhood experiences, nature, guilt, loss of innocence, desire/dreams.
God's Grandeur - Literature Notes
text. others.
The world is 7.charged with the 8.grandeur of LITERAL MEANING

God. The poet expresses that the world is full of
1.It will flame out, like shining from shook God's glory and greatness. This greatness,
foil: however, will burn out in a dramatic manner
1.It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil because of man who smears, smudges and
Crushed. 2.Why do men then now not reck pollutes everything without consciousness.
3.his rod? Nature is resilient, however, and will
4. Generations have trod, have trod, have persevere from deep in the earth and burst
trod; 9.And all is seared with trade; bleared, forth, counteracting all of man's ill.
smeared with toil;
5. And wears man's smudge and shares man's
smell: the soil
is bare now, 10.nor can foot feel, being shod. LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
And for all this, nature is never spent;
5.There lives the dearest freshness deep  Line 3: This line indicates that the
down things; world will burn out in a brilliant way.
And though the last lights off the black West Think of how shiny and reflective foil
went can be, that is the brilliance with
Oh, morning, 5.at the brown brink eastward, which the earth will temporarily burn
springs - out.
Because the 11.Holy Ghost over the bent  Line 4: Think of the manner in which
6.World broods with warm breast and with oil slowly spreads across water,
ah! bright wings. eventually taking over as much of the
surface as possible. That is the way in
Hopkins, G.M 'God's Grandeur' in A World which the world gathers to a
of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel greatness.
Ltd, 2005.
2. RHETORICAL QUESTION
The persona questions why men do not care about God's wrath. He implies that this wrath is sure
because the Earth is charged, or commanded with the grandeur of God.
This 'rod' refers to the rod of correction that is found in the Christian Bible. See 2 Samuel 7:14.
This line implies that God will punish man for being reckless with the world.
4. REPETITION
This device highlights the damage that man has done to the world. Trodding implies that one
walks, or tramples, in order to crush or injure.
5. ALLITERATION
 Lines 10-11: This device emphasizes the impact that man has had on his environment.
He has impacted every crevice of the world in some negative way, as implied by words
such as 'smudge'.
 Lines 14-15: This device clarifies that the Earth is resilient, no matter what man does
to harm it, it will bounce back.
 Lines 18-19: This device simply re-iterates the resilience of the Earth, we can actually
visualize the sun rising.
6. PERSONIFICATION
When one broods, they are pondering on something. Therefore, the world ponders, but in a
positive way, with warm breasts. This implies that it feels good because it has persevered despite
of man's interference.

7. 'charged'
This word implies intensity, impassioned. Therefore, the world has been gifted with intensity of
the greatness of God.
8. 'grandeur'
This implies that something is awesome, or awe inspiring. Therefore, the world is infused with
the 'greatness' of God.
9. 'And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
Everything in the world is tainted and influenced by man's
presence.
10. 'nor can foot feel, being shod'
This means that man is blind to the damage that he has caused. If one is wearing shoes, it
protects them from stones etc, therefore, man's consciousness is deadened by his inability to see
the damage that he has caused.
11. 'Holy Ghost over the bent'
This can be interpreted to mean that salvation is on its way, it also implies that salvation is sure
because when one is bent on something, it implies a strong determination.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive because the persona is reflecting on man's influence on the
world.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of confidence and formality.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Nature, religion
It is the Constant Image of your Face - Literature Notes

text.
It is the 3.constant image of your face

framed in my hands as you knelt before my This is the OPINION of one individual,
chair which might not coincide with the views of
the 4.grave attention of 1.your eyes others.
surveying me amid my 5.world of knives
that stays with me, 1.perennially accuses LITERAL MEANING
and convicts me of 2.heart's-treachery: The persona reflects on the image of some-
and neither you nor I can plead excuses one he cares for. This love interest accused
for you, you know, can claim no loyalty - him, with their eyes, of breaking their heart.
my land takes precedence of all my loves. The persona admits that both of them (he and
the love interest) can make no excuses for his
Yet I beg mitigation, pleading guilty behaviour because the love interest does not
for you, my dear, accomplice of my heart take precedence over his land, or country.
made, without words, 6.such blackmail with Despite this fact, the persona begs for mercy,
your beauty pleading guilty for being seduced by his love
and proffered me such dear protectiveness interest's beauty. This person protects him
that I confess without remorse or shame dearly and he admits that, as a result of this,
my still-fresh treason to1.my country he has committed treason against his country.
and hope that she, my other, dearest love He hopes that his country, his other dearest
will pardon freely, not attaching blame love, will pardon him because he loves both
being your mistress (or your match) in his country and his love interest.
tenderness.
Brutus, D. 'It is the Constant Image of your

Face' in A World of Prose. Edited by Mark
McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald.
Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
 Lines 4, 6-7: The love interest's eyes constantly accuses and convicts the persona. This
device highlights the extent to which the persona has hurt this person.
 Lines 18-20: The persona hopes that his country, his other dearest love, will forgive him
for the treasonous act of loving another. This highlights the patriotism that defines the
persona's relationship to his country.
2. OXYMORON
The term heart's-treachery implies that the heart, something so vital and indicative of love, has
committed a terrible crime. It highlights the heartbreak that the persona has caused his love
interest.
IMPORTANT WORD/ PHRASES

3. 'constant image'
This implies that the persona constantly, or always, remembers his love interest's face. It
emphasizes the guilt he feels in relation to this person.
4. 'grave attention'
The love interest's eyes display grave attention. The word grave implies intensely serious, so this
person is truly hurt.
5. 'world of knives'
A knife inflicts pain and destroys. The persona, therefore, is identifying his world with causing
pain.
6. 'such blackmail with your beauty'
To blackmail someone is to have something over them that puts their will in your control. The
love interest's beauty has captivated the persona in such a way that he betrays his country with
this person.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona is thinking about his two loves and how he
is torn between them.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sadness and guilt. The persona is guilt ridden over this love triangle and
sadness permeates the words that he uses to describe it.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Love, guilt, patriotism, places, desires/ dreams
Le Loupgarou - Literature Notes
text.
A 5.curious 1.tale that threaded through town

Through greying women sewing under eaves,
Was how his greed had brought old Le Brun This is the OPINION of one individual,
down, 1.greeted by slowly shutting jalouses which might not coincide with the views of
When he approached them in 6.white linen- others.
linen suit,
Pink glasses, cork hat and 2.tap-tapping cane, LITERAL MEANING
3.A dying man licensed to sell sick fruit, This poem tells the tale of old LeBrun, a man
Ruined by fiends with whom he'd made a that was rumoured by the townspeople to be
bargain. a loupgarou. Old women would relax under
It seems one night, these 4.Christian witches eaves and gossip about Le Brun, while
said, literally shutting him out of their lives with
He changed himself into an 7.Alsatian their closing windows. The prevailing gossip,
hound, A slathering lycenthrope, hot on a in this poem, is that he transformed into a
scent, 1.But his own watchman dealt the hound one night, but was dealt a wound by
thing a wound his own watchman. He then lugged his
Which howled and lugged its entrails, trailing entrails back to his doorstep, almost dead.
wet
With blood back to its doorstep, almost dead.
Walcott, D. 'Le Loupgarou' in A World of

Ltd, 2005.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. ALLITERATION
 Lines 1-3: This alliteration gives the reader a visual imagery of the manner in which
the gossip about Le Brun spread. A thread is thin and fine and can weave itself in any
crevice, sometimes in a very non-linear and sinuous manner. This describes the way in
which the gossip spread. It managed to touch the whole village in an almost insiduous,
and complete, manner.
 Line 5: This literary device speaks to the results of the gossip. Le Brun is alienated from
the people of the town. Their fascination with him, however, is evident by the fact that
they slowly shut their jalouses/windows. The lack of speed implies that they are watching
him, while also alienating him.
 Lines 17-21: This alliteration highlights the severity of the loupgarou's injuries. You
can almost see and hear the wetness of the blood, as well as see the entrails trailing wet
through the use of this device.
2. ONOMATOPOEIA
The tap-tapping cane is a part of Le Brun's physical description. He appears to stand out, in terms
of his physical appearance, down to the use of his cane.
3. PARADOX
This statement appears nonsensical at first, but actually makes sense in the long run. The
loupgarou is, in fact, a man who is leading a half life as man and beast, so he is not really 'living'.
The fact that he can pass on the 'gift' of becoming a werewolf clarifies the fact that Le Brun is
actually 'licensed to sell sick fruit', or pass on his sick 'gift'.
4. OXYMORON
The words 'Christian' and 'witches', placed together, emphasizes the dual nature of the women
in the village. They are good Christian women who mean no harm, but their fear of the
'difference' that they sense in Le Brun (contributed by his mode of dress), leads them to react in
an unchristian manner, like witches, in dealing with him.
* IRONY
It is ironic that Le Brun's own watchman dealt him a lethal blow.

5.curious
This word emphasizes the strangeness of the story that is circulated about Le Brun.
6.white linen-linen suit, pink glasses, cork hat (and cane)

This outfit would let anyone be seen in a crowd, or other wise. It emphasizes Le Brun's
difference , hence, one of the reasons that he would be the focus of gossip. Imagine an
individual dressed in the combination below:
7.Alsatian hound, a slathering lycenthrope

This description of Le Brun displays the distaste that is felt towards him in his animal form.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective.
TONE
The tone of the poem is calm and reflective. The persona appears to be simply recounting a piece
of gossip.
Supernatural
Once Upon A Time - Literature Notes.
The physical structure of this poem has been This is the OPINION of one individual,
altered from the original layout in the text. which might not coincide with the views of
others.
3.Once upon a time, son,
they used to laugh with their hearts LITERAL MEANING
and laugh with their eyes; A father is talking to his son and telling him
but now 4.they only laugh with their teeth, how things used to be. The father tells his son
while 1.their ice-block eyes that people used to be sincere, but are now
5.search behind my shadow. superficial and seek only to take from others.
The persona tells his son that he has learnt to
There was a time indeed be just like these people, but he does not want
they used to 6.shake hands with their hearts; to be. He wants to be as sincere as his son.
but that's gone, son.
Now they shake hands without hearts
while their left 7.hands search
my empty pockets. LITERARY DEVICES
1. METAPHOR
'Feel at home'! 'Come again' ; The people's eyes are as cold as ice. This
they say, and when I come means that there is no warmth or real feeling in
again and feel the words that they say, or how they
at home, once, twice behave.This metaphor literally allows you to
there will be no thrice - visualize a block of ice, cold and
for then I find doors shut on me. unwelcoming.
So I have learnt many things, son. 2. SIMILE

2.I have learnt to wear many faces
like dresses - homeface,  Stanza 4, lines 20-21 emphasizes the
officeface, streetface, hostface constant changes in the persona's face.
cocktail face, with all their 2.conforming If you think of how often a woman
smiles like a fixed portrait smile. changes her dress, then that is how
often the persona adjusts his personality
And I have learned, too. to suit the people around him. The list
to laugh with only my teeth of faces that follow this line emphasizes
and shake hands without my heart this point.
I have also learnt to say, 'Goodbye',  Stanza 4, lines 23-24 compares people's
when I mean 'Good-riddance' ; faces to smiles in a portrait. If you
to say 'Glad to meet you', think about a portrait, it is usually very
without being glad; and to say 'It's been formal and stiff, even uncomfortable.
nice talking to you', after being bored. Therefore, the implication is that the
smiles are actually fake and stiff. They
But believe me, son. are conforming, or trying to fit, to a
I want to be what I used to be preconceived mold that is set up by
when I was like you. I want societal expectations.
8.unlearn all these muting things.
Most of all, I want to relearn
how to laugh, for 2.my laugh in the mirror
shows only my teeth like a snake's bare fangs!
So show me, son,

how to laugh; show me how
I used to laugh and smile
3. once upon a time when I was like you.
Okara, G. 'Once Upon A Time' in A World of

2005.
 Stanza 6, lines 38-40 compares the persona's laugh to a snakes. When you think of a
snake, words such as sneaky and deceitful come to mind. Therefore, the implication is
that the persona is fake, just like the people he despises.
3. REPETITION
This phrase is repeated at the beginning and the end of the poem. This usually signals the
beginning of a fairy tale. Therefore, it is implied that the persona is nostalgic about the past.

4.'they only laugh with their teeth'
This emphasizes the insincerity of the people around the persona. To laugh with your teeth
means that only the bottom half of your face is engaged, the laugh does not reach the eyes.
5. 'shake hands with their heart'
To shake hands with your heart implies a strong handshake that is sincere, this is the opposite of
what now occurs between people.
6. 'search behind my shadow'
This implies that the person cannot look the persona in the eye, they are looking everywhere
but there. Looking someone in the eye during a conversation implies that one is sincerely
interested in what you have to say. Not being able to do so implies shiftiness.
7. 'hands search my empty pockets'
People are only 'seemingly' nice to get something from you. So, they smile with you, but it is
not sincere, they are seeking to get something from you.
8. 'unlearn all these muting things'
The word mute means silence, think of what happens when you press the mute button on the TV
remote. Therefore, there is an implication that the insincere actions that the persona describes
are muting, they block, or silence, good intentions. Hence, the persona wants to 'unlearn' these
habits.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is nostalgic. The persona is remembering how things used to be when he
was young and innocent, like his son.
TONE
The tone of the poem is sad. The poet's response to his nostalgia is sadness.
Death, childhood experiences, hypocrasy, loss of innocence, desire/dreams.
* It is IRONIC that the persona is behaving in the exact way that he despises. However, and
there is an implication that things cannot go back to what he remembers, due to the influence
of societal expectations.
Orchids - Literature Notes

I leave this house

3.box pieces of the five week life I've gathered.
I'll send them on This is the OPINION of one individual,

to fill spaces in my future life. which might not coincide with the views of
others.
One thing is left
a spray of orchid someone gave LITERAL MEANING
4.from bouquet one who The persona is moving from a house that she
makes a ritual of flower-giving sent. has occupied for five weeks. She has sent her
belongings to her future home, but one item
The orchids have no fragrance remains in her old space, an orchid. The
but purple petals draw you persona clarifies that she was given the orchid
to look at the 2.purple heart. as a gift, but implies that it holds no value
because the gifting of orchids is habitual for the
I watered them once person who gave her. She describes the flower
when 1.the blossoms were full blown as odourless, but attractive. She watered the
like polished poems. orchid once, expecting it to die, but it survived.
I was sure they'd wilt It not only survived, but bloomed. The persona
and I would toss them out with the five week contemplates plucking the bloom and pressing
litter. it between the pages of a book. The purpose of
this is to allow her to appreciate the flower.
They were stubborn.
I starved them.
They would not die.
LITERARY DEVICES
This morning the bud at the stalk's tip 1. SIMILE
5.unfurled. The orchid's full blown blossoms are being
compared to a polished poem. The word
I think I'll pluck the 6.full-blown blooms polished in this comparison implies perfection,
press them between 7.pages of memory. shiny and pleasant to read.
Perhaps in their thin dried transparency
I'll discover their 8.peculiar poetry.
Simmonds-McDonald, H. 'Orchids' in A World

2005.
2. PUN
The purple heart literally refers to the splash of color in the center of the orchid's bloom, but it
could also refer to the bravery of the flower. This is so because a purple heart, in the army, is
a medal that a soldier receives for bravery.

3. 'box pieces'
This phrase implies that the persona's life is literally in boxes, all her belongings are stored and
ready to be moved.
4. 'from a bouquet one who makes a ritual of flower-giving sent.'
This phrase implies that the persona places no value in the orchid because its giver gifted it
without any sentiment attached.
5. 'unfurled'
This word literally means to open. Therefore, despite the persona's attempts at killing the orchid,
through starvation, it not only survived but flourished.
6. 'full-blown blooms'
These full-blown blooms represent the flower at its peak, where it is most full of life, as well as
where it is most usually appreciated.
7. 'pages of memory'
This refers to the practice of placing a flower between the pages of a book, thereby drying, or
killing the flower. The purpose of this act is to keep the flower for nostalgic reasons.
8. 'peculiar poetry'
This phrase highlights the persona's desire to discover the value in the flower. It is very IRONIC,
however, that she would choose to kill it in order to achieve this goal. Usually people place
value in a living flower that can give pleasure through its beauty.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive, or thoughtful. The persona is thinking about the lack of value
that she places in the orchid.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of almost bored musing.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death, nature, survival, desire/ dreams.
Sonnet Composed Upon A Westminster Bridge, September
3, 1802

Earth has not anything to show more 4.fair:

Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its 5.majesty: This is the OPINION of one individual,
1.This City now doth, like a garment, wear which might not coincide with the views of
The beauty of the morning; silent, bare, others.
Ships, towers, domes, theatres and temples Lie
open upon the fields, and to the sky; LITERAL MEANING
The persona in this poem is reflecting on the
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air.
perfection of the city. He believes that there is
2.Never did sun more beautifully 6.steep
nothing on Earth so beautiful as the city in the
In his first splendour, valley, rock, or hill;
morning. Only a dull person would not
Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep!
appreciate such a majestic sight. He is awed by
3.The river glideth at his own steep will:
the calm of the city.
Dear God! 4.the very houses seem asleep;
And all that mighty heart is lying still!
Wordsworth, W. 'Sonnet Composed Upon A

Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802' in A
LITERARY DEVICES
1. SIMILE
The persona compares the manner in which the beauty of the morning settles over the city, to
that of a garment on a body. This emphasizes the perfection of the beauty of the morning, just as
a garment flows smoothly over a body.
2. PERSONIFICATION
 Lines 9-10: The sun is referred to as a male who rises sharply and beautifully. This
emphasizes the beauty of the city in the morning. The use of this personification also
helps the reader to personalize this beauty.
 Line 12: Like the sun, the river is personalized as well. This allows the reader to see
the river as real, instead of a thing. It comes alive and we can visualize it's movement,
gliding, as beautiful.
 Line 13: When some-one is asleep, they are usually peaceful. Therefore, when the
persona describes the houses as sleeping, he is emphasizing the peace that exists in the
city in the morning. The inhabitants of the houses are asleep, therefore the houses are
quiet and peaceful.

4. 'fair'
The word fair, in this context, literally means beautiful. The persona is setting the stage for the
reader, introducing the fact that the city is beautiful.
5. 'majesty'
This word implies that the city is regal in it's splendour. Therefore, it is beyond beautiful and has
become stately.
6. 'steep'
This word describes the way in which the sun ascends into the sky. It is stressed that it does so in
a beautiful manner.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is pensive, or thoughtful. The persona is expressing his thoughts, and
reaction to, the city in the morning.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of awe.
Nature, places.
South - Literature Notes
text. others.
1.But today I 4.recapture the islands LITERAL MEANING

bright beaches: blue mist from the ocean The persona speaks about the fact that today
rolling into the fishermen's houses. he is recapturing the beauty of the island of
1.By these shores I was born: sound of the sea his birth. He reflects on the fact that he has
came in at my window,2. life heaved and travelled to the lands of the north, which
breathed in me then appeared to be the very opposite of his island.
with the strength of that turbulent soil. The persona appeared, at that point, to be
homesick for his island and resented the ease
5. Since then I have travelled: moved far and comfort that the Northerners' felt towards
from the beaches: their land. He then shifts back to the present
6. sojourned in stoniest cities, walking where he appreciates certain features of the
the lands of the north island, particularly those that remind him of
1.In sharp, slanting sleet and the hail, his past on the island.
crossed countless saltless savannas and
come to this house in the forest 2.where the
shadows oppress me
and the only water is rain and the tepid taste LITERARY DEVICES
of the river. 1. ALLITERATION
7. We who are born of the ocean can  Stanza 1, lines 1-2: The sound that the
never seek solace alliteration illicits, when spoken, is a
in rivers: 3.their flowing runs on like our positive one. This is the case because
longing, the alliteration forces the reader to
8. reproves us our lack of endeavour sound cheerful, thereby facilitating the
and purpose, interpretation that the persona is
9. proves that our striving will founder on happy to be home.
that. We resent them this wisdom, this  Stanza 1, lines 4-5: This alliteration,
freedom: passing us again, draws the reader through the
toiling, waiting and watching their cunning sound that it illicits. One can almost
declensions down to the sea. hear the sound that the sea makes
through the repetition of the 's' sound.
Bright waves splash up from the rocks to It emphasizes the joy that the persona
refresh us, feels to be home.
1.blue sea-shells shift in their wake  Stanza 2, lines 13-14: This
and 10.there is the thatch of the fishermen's alliteration, when spoken, is staccato.
houses, the path It literally emphasizes the persona's
made of pebbles, 11.and look! discomfort, and dislike, of the new
Small urchins combing the beaches context that he is faced with. It is
look up from their traps to salute us: alien to him, as seen when contrasted
with
they remember us just as we left them. the scene that he describes in the first
stanza.
The fisherman, hawking the surf on this side
of the reef, stands up in his boat
and halloos us: a starfish lies in its pool.
1.And gulls, white sails slanted seaward,
fly into limitless morning before us.
Brathwaite, K. 'South' in A World of Prose.

Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel
Ltd, 2005.
 Stanza 4, line 33: This device gives the reader a visual image of the scene. It is simple
image that highlights the persona's excitement at being home and seeing scenes, even
seemingly inconsequential ones, that he knows and loves.
 Stanza 5, line 43: This alliteration gives the reader a visual of what the persona sees
as pleasant and calming, as opposed to the alliteration in stanza 2. The sound that the
alliteration illicits is a calm one, implying that the persona is at peace.
2. PERSONIFICATION
 Stanza 1, lines 6-7: This device gives a beautiful impression of the effect that the
island had on the persona. He felt whole when he was there, at peace.
 Stanza 2, lines 16-17: The shadows, in this context, represents his past life and
experiences on the island. The memories of his island illicits feelings of sadness,
even homesickness. These memories cast an oppressive shadow over his life in the
north.
3. SIMILE
The persona compares the flowing of the rivers, which represents the north, to his longing for his
island home. This comparison indicates that his longing is an intense one, he is homesick.

4. 'recapture'
The word capture means to take possession of something or someone. Therefore, when the
persona says that he is recapturing his island, it implies that he is taking back possession of what
he once owned.
5. 'Since then I have travelled'
This line indicates that the persona did not remain on the island of his birth.
6.'sojourned in stoniest cities'
This highlights a contrast between the persona's island and the cities that he visited. His island
has beaches and oceans, while the cities that he visited were concrete jungles made of stone.
7.'We who are born of the ocean can never seek solace in rivers'
The persona refers to the north, and its populace, as rivers, while the south, and his island, is the
ocean. This line highlights the persona's discontent in the north.
8.'reproves us our lack of endeavour and purpose'
Reprove is to reprimand. Therefore, the line is saying that the flowing river, the north,
reprimands the ocean, the south, for its lack of effort and resolve. This implies that the persona
might be homesick and, therefore, not functioning at full capacity in the new northern
environment. 9.'proves that our striving will founder on that.'
The term founder literally means the owner or operator of a foundry. This has little to do with the
context of the poem, therefore, it can be assumed that poetic license was utilized at this point.
Contextually, the line can be interpreted as meaning that the persona's subsequent striving, or
efforts, will be founded on the reprimand made by the river, or the north.
10. 'there'
The emphasis placed on this word, through the use of italics, highlights the fact that the persona
is both happy and excited to be home.
11. 'and look!'
The exclamation mark emphasizes the persona's enthusiasm, and excitement, when he identifies
a scene that is reminiscent of his past.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona is thinking about his island home, as well as
places that he has visited in the north.
TONE
The tone of the poem goes from being reflective, to being elated.
Patriotism, places, desires and dreams
Test Match Sabina Park - Literature
Notes

text.
Proudly wearing the 4.rosette of my skin This is the OPINION of one individual,
I 5.strut into Sabina which might not coincide with the views of
3.England boycotting excitement bravely, others.
6.something badly amiss.
The persona, a white male, proudly enters
Cricket. Not the game they play at Lords, Sabina Park to watch a cricket match between
the crowd - 1.whoever saw a crowd England and the West Indies. The persona
at a cricket match? - are caged notices that the game is slow and that the
7. vociferous partisans, quick to take offence. crowd is not reacting well. He is, in fact,
initially shocked that there is a crowd at all
8. England sixty eight for none at because this is usually not the case at Lords.
lunch. 1.'What sort o battin dat man? By lunch, England is sixty eight for none, and
dem kaaan play cricket again, the crowd gets abusive. They even state that
praps dem should-a-borrow 2.Lawrence maybe they should borrow Lawrence Rowe.
Rowe!' The persona tries to explain the reason behind
the slow pace of the British side, but fails to
And on it goes, 9.the wicket slow convince even himself. His embarrassment at
as the batting and the crowd restless. England's performance has him eventually
1.'Eh white bwoy, how you brudders skulking out of the venue.
dem does sen we sleep so? Me a pay
monies fe watch dis foolishness? Cho!
So I try to explain in my Hampshire drawl LITERARY DEVICES

about conditions in Kent, 1. RHETORICAL QUESTION
about 10.sticky wickets and muggy days
and the monsoon season in Manchester  Stanza 2, lines 6-7: This question
but fail to convince even myself. reveals that, despite the fact that
cricket is a popular sport in England,
The crowd's 11.loud 'busin drives me out the venues for the matches are not
12.skulking behind a tarnished rosette crowded. This question could also
somewhat frayed now but unable, quite, point to the fact that Sabina Park
to conceal a 13.blushing nationality. was very crowded.
Brown, S. 'Test Match Sabina Park' in A

 Stanza 3, line 10: This question represents the general frustration of the West Indians
in the crowd. They are annoyed that the cricket match is progressing so slowly.
 Stanza 4, lines 16-18: These questions imply that the West Indian crowd's level of
frustration has escalated.
2. ALLUSION
The allusion to Lawrence Rowe, a very colourful and successful West Indian cricketer,
emphasizes the fact that the match is slow and boring.
3. SARCASM
To 'boycott' is to abstain from, or to stop, doing something. Therefore, the persona is being
sarcastic because excitement is a good thing. People usually boycott for something negative,
therefore the persona is, again, highlighting the slow and boring pace of the cricket match.

4.'rosette of my skin'
Rosette implies a reddish colour, or tint, to the skin, that sometimes resembles a rose. This
description immediately identifies the race of the persona as caucasian. The persona is proud of
his race, as he enters Sabina Park.
5.'strut
'This word means to walk proudly. It emphasizes the fact that the persona is proudly walking into
Sabina Park.
6.'something badly amiss'
The persona is jolted by the fact that the match is going slowly. The word 'amiss' implies wrong,
the game should not be going so slowly.
7.'vociferous partisans'
Vociferous means to be very noisy and clamorous, while patisan is a person who shows biased,
emotional allegiance. Therefore, the West Indian crowd was extremely noisy in their support
of their team. They were also very unappreciative of the slow pace of the match.
8.'England sixty eight for none at lunch'
While this is a good score, it never-the-less highlights the slowness of the match, hence the fact
that the experience, for the crowd, was far from exciting.
9.'the wicket slow'
The purpose of the wicket is to 'out' the opposing side. Therefore, no 'outing' is occurring, the
wickets are standing. Everything about the match is going slowly.
10.'sticky wickets'
This implies a sticky, or awkward situation. It highlights England's situation.
11.'loud 'busin'
The English team was being loudly abused.
12.'skulking behind a tarnished rosette'
Skulking implies hiding in shame, and tarnished means tainted. Therefore, the proud Englishman
is now embarrassed, and the rosette of his skin is making him stand out. Initially this was a very
good thing, but now it is a disadvantage.
13.'blushing nationality'.
At this point, the Englishman admits to being embarrassed for his team, as well as himself.
*There is a distinct CONTRAST between the beginning of the poem when the persona is proud,
and 'struts'. However, by the end of the poem, he is embarrassed and 'skulking'
VOICES
There are two distinct voices in this poem. The English man's and the West Indian's.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is tense.
TONE
The tone of the poem is one of frustration (West Indian) and embarrassment (English man).
Discrimination, places, culture and sports
The Woman Speaks to the Man Who Has Employed Her
Son
text. others.
Her son was first known to her LITERAL MEANING

as a sense of unease, 5.a need to cry The persona in this poem is telling the story
for little reasons and a metallic tide of a mother who loved her son. The mother
rising in her mouth each morning. became aware of the child's presence when
Such signs made her know she experienced morning sickness. She
that she was not alone in her body. placed all her hopes in the child and raised
She carried him 6.full term him as a single parent because his father was
7.tight up under her heart. indifferent to the child's existence. The
mother had set no barriers on what the child
1.She carried him like the poor could become, but is told that he has an
carry hope, hope you get a break employer who values him so much that he is
or a visa, hope one child go through given his own submarine gun. The son tells
and remember you. He had no father. his mother that his employer is like a father
The man she made him with had more to him, but the mother wonders at the father
like him, 2.he was fair-minded figure who purposefully endangers his child.
he treated all his children She prepares for her son's death by going
with equal and unbiased indifference. downtown to buy funeral apparel. The mother
feels powerless, so she prays for her child and
She raised him twice, once as mother says protective psalms for him. On the other
then as father, 8.set no ceiling hand, she reads psalms of retribution for the
on what he could be doctor employer and weeps for her son. Her situation
earth healer, pilot take wings. does not look good and is likened to a partner
But now he tells her is working system in which she draws both the first and
for you, 3.that you value him so much the last hand.
you give him one whole submachine gun
for him alone.
He says 1.you are like a father to him LITERARY DEVICES

she is wondering what kind of father 1. SIMILE
would 4.give a son hot and exploding
death, when he asks him for bread.  Lines 1-2: The persona emphasizes
She went downtown and bought that the mother placed all her hopes in
three and one-third yard of black her son. When you are poor,
cloth generally, you have no prospects, you
and a deep crowned and veiled hat only dream and hope. Therefore, the
for the day he draw 9.his bloody salary. persona uses this metaphor to
emphasize the mother's dependence
She has no power over you and this
at 10.the level of earth, what she has on her son's success.
are prayers and a mother's tears  Line 17: The employer is being
and at 11.knee city she uses them. compared to a father figure. This
4.She says psalms for him implies that this person fills a gap
she reads psalms for you in the son's life.
she weeps for his soul
her 12.eyewater covers you.
She is throwing a 13.partner

with 4.Judas Iscariot's mother
the thief on the left hand side
of the cross, his mother is the 14.banker,
15.her draw though
is first and last for she still throwing two
hands as mother and father.
She is prepared, she is done.4.Absalom.
Goodison, L. 'The Woman Speaks to the Man

Who Has Employed Her Son' in A World of
Ltd, 2005
2. SARCASM
The persona appears to praise the child's father by referring to him as 'fair-minded'. She is,
however, chastising him for not only ignoring his son, but all of his other children.
3. IRONY (situational)
The son innocently tells his mother that his employer values him so much that he gave him a
whole submachine gun for himself. The irony in this situation is that if you really care about
someone, you do NOT give them a gun due to the negative results that are bound to occur.
 Lines 28-29: This line alludes to a particular verse in the Christian Bible, Luke 11 vs 11.
The verse questions what the actions of a good father should be.
 Lines 38-39: Psalms is a particular chapter in the Christian Bible. In this chapter there
are verses for protection, the mother uses those for her son, as well as verses for
retribution and rebuking. It is implied that the mother chooses those for the employer.
 Lines 43-45: In the Christian Bible, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. Therefore, it does not
bode well for the mother if she is in a 'partnership' with this person's mother because she
might also be betrayed. The banker in the 'partnership' also happens to be the thief on
the left hand side of the cross' mother. This also does not bode well for the mother if the
apple does not fall far from the tree.
 Line 49: Absalom is the son of David, in the Christian Bible. Absalom betrayed his
father, which implies that the mother feels betrayed by her son because she has placed
all her hopes in him.

5. 'a need to cry for little reasons and a metallic tide rising in her mouth each morning.'
These two symptoms are early signs of pregnancy. The metallic tide refers to vomiting.
These signs usually occur in the first trimester of pregnancy.
6. 'full term'
This means that the mother carried her son for the full nine months that a pregnancy should last.
7. 'tight up under her heart'
This hints at the love that the mother harbours for her child. He was not simply 'close to her
heart', but 'tight up' under it. It implies that the son holds a special place in her heart.
8. 'set no ceiling'
A ceiling is something that blocks you in, you cannot get past it. The mother set no limits on her
son, he could be anything he wanted to be.
9. 'his bloody salary'
This implies that the mother believes that the result of the son's 'job' will be death.
10. 'the level of earth'
The mother has no power to change her son's situation. Earth is used to emphasize her
powerlessness on this level, the realm of 'reality'.
11. 'knee city'
This refers to the fact that the mother constantly prayed for her child.
12. 'eye water covers you'
This implies that the mother cried constantly for the plight of her son. The fact that it 'covers him'
speaks to the high quantity of tears that were shed.
13. 'partner'
This is an informal saving scheme set up with a specific number of individuals for the duration
of a specific time span. Each person agrees to pay a designated figure on a monthly basis. The
'draws' are decided, meaning who gets the money first, second, third etc, on a monthly basis.The
banker then collects the money and gives the monthly pool to the person who is to receive their
'draw'. Therefore, a 'partnership' is dependent upon the honesty of the banker, who could
abscond with the money, as well as the honesty of the members of the savings scheme, who
could decide NOT to pay after they have received their draw.
14. 'banker'
The banker, or financial controller, of this partnership is the mother of a thief. This does not bode
well for the mother if the thief on the cross learnt it from his mother.
15. 'her draw though is first and last for she still throwing two hands as mother and father'.
This statement implies that though the mother has the advantage of first draw as mother, she
loses that advantage because she also has the role of father. Mothers cannot father sons. The fact
that the son has found a father figure proves this to be true. Therefore, she has the last draw,
which carries with it the disadvantage of not receiving a full 'draw'. The longer one waits for a
draw is the more likely that dishonesty will come into play on the part of the participants.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is reflective. The persona is thinking about a mother's response to her
son's life choices.
TONE
The tone of the poem is pragmatic and pessimistic. The persona is telling the tale as it is, with no
positive energy.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death, love, survival, desires/ dreams, childhood experiences.
Theme For English B - Literature Notes
text. others.
The instructor said, LITERAL MEANING

The persona's lecturer gave him an
Go home and write assignment to write a page that reflects 'him',
a page tonight. or his character. The persona wonders if this
And let that page come out of you - is a simple task, and begins to think about his
Then it will be true. life. Things like his age, place of birth, race
and place of residence. Based on these
1.I wonder if it's that simple? musings, he surmises that he is confused due
I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston- to his youth. He guesses that he is what he
Salem. feels, sees and hears, which is Harlem, New
3.I went to school there, then Durham, then York. He continues his musing about what he
here to this college on the hill above Harlem. likes, and concludes that he likes the same
I am the only colored student in the class. things that people of other races like. On this
The steps from the hill lead down into basis, he questions whether or not his page
Harlem, through a park, then I cross St. will be influenced by race. He concludes that
Nicholas, Eighth Avenue, Seventh, and I it will not be white. He admits that his
come to the Y, the Harlem Branch Y, where instructor, as well as the fact that this
I take the elevator up to my room, sit down, instructor is white, will have some influence
and write this page: on his page. He states that they both
influence each other, that is what being
It's not easy to know what is true for you or American is about. He believes that both of
me them might not want to influence each other,
at twenty-two, my age. But I guess I'm what but it cannot be helped. He concludes that
I feel and see and hear, Harlem, 2.I hear both of them will learn from each other,
you: hear you, hear me - we too - you, me, despite the fact that the instructor has the
talk on this page. advantage of being older, white and 'more
(I hear New York, too.) 1.Me - who? free'. All of these musings and conclusions
become his page for English B.
Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in
love.
I like to work, read, learn, and understand
life.
I like a pipe for a Christmas present, LITERARY DEVICES
or records - Bessie, bop, or Bach.
I guess being colored doesn't make me not 1.RHETORICAL QUESTION
like the same things other folks like who are
other races.  Stanza 2, line 6: The persona ponders
1.So will my page be colored that I write? the ease of what he is asked to do.
Being me, it will not be white. This question, in turn, actually
4. But it will be highlights the difficult nature of the
a part of you, instructor. task.
You are white -  Stanza 3, line24: This question
yet a part of me, as I am a part of you. highlights the persona's confusion as
That's American. to who he is, or his character. He is
Sometimes perhaps you don't want to be a unsure.
part of me.  Stanza 4, line 32: The persona is
Nor do I often want to be a part of you. wondering whether his race will
But we are, that's true! affect what he writes on the page.
5. As I learn from you, This is despite the fact that he
I guess you learn from me - concludes that race does not hinder
although you're older - and white - people, in general, liking the same
and somewhat more free. things.
This is my page for English B.
Hughs, L. 'Theme For English B' in A World

Ltd, 2005.
2. REPETITION
This repetition emphasizes the profound impact that Harlem, New York, has had on the
personality of the persona.

4. 'But it will be a part of you, instructor. You are white - yet a part of me, as I am a part of
you.That's American.'
This statement reveals the fact that America is viewed as a melting pot by the persona. He
believes that different races and cultures influence each other, thereby forming the term
'American'
5. As I learn from you, I guess you learn from me - although you're older - and white -
and somewhat more free.
This statement, by the persona, repeats his belief that the American society is a melting pot. It
also, however, states that not every-one is equal within this society.
* It is interesting to note that the persona's 'page for English B' becomes a journey of
self discovery that actually does not end. He forms no conclusion as to who he is
because his personality is still 'in process'
MOOD/ ATMOSPHEREThe mood of the poem is reflective.
TONE
The tone of the poem is also reflective.
Racism, places
West Indies, U.S.A - Literature Notes

altered from the original layout in the text. This is the OPINION of one individual,
Cruising at thirty thousand feet above the others.
endless green 1.the island seems like dice
tossed on a casino's baize, some come up LITERAL MEANING
lucky, others not. Puerto Rico takes the pot, The persona is travelling in a plane, looking
2.the Dallas of the West Indies, 2.silver linings down at San Juan, Puerto Rico, as the plane
on the clouds as we descend are hall-marked, descends. He is saying that this island is the
1.San Juan glitters like a maverick's gold ring. wealthiest in the Caribbean because it has won
All across the Caribbean the jackpot, it has come up lucky. He then
we'd collected terminals - 1.airports are like points out that he, and others, had travelled to
calling cards, cultural fingerprints; the hand many Caribbean islands and received a hint of
written signs at Port-au-Prince, Piarco's sleazy the flavour of each island through it's calling
tourist art, the lethargic contempt of the card, - its airport - all of which fail when
baggage boys at 'Vere Bird' in St. Johns .... compared to plush San Juan. As they land, they
And now for 4.plush San Juan. are instructed to stay on the plane if their
But the pilot's bland destination is not San Juan. The persona takes
you're safe in my hands drawl crackles as we offence and states that America does not want
land, 'US regulations demand all passengers blacks in San Juan, implying that they might be
not disembarking at San Juan stay on the a disruptive force. He notes the efficiency with
plane, I repeat, stay on the plane.' 3.Subtle which things flow, enabling them to take to the
Uncle Sam, afraid too many 5.desperate blacks skies once more. During the ascent, the persona
might re-enslave this Island of the free, might notes the contrast between the influences of the
jump the barbed Caribbean and America. He likens San-Juan to
electric fence around a broken TV, it Iooks good on the outside, but
6.'America's back yard' and claim that broken on the inside.
vaunted sanctuary ..... 3. 'give me your poor '
Through toughened, tinted glass 7.the
contrasts tantalise; US patrol cars glide across
the shimmering tarmac, containered baggage LITERARY DEVICES
trucks unload with 8.fierce efficiency. So soon 1. SIMILE
we're climbing,
low above the pulsing  Line 2: Puerto Rico is compared to dice
city streets; galvanized shanties overseen by that is tossed on a casino's baize, it can
condominiums polished Cadillacs shimmying either come up with winning numbers,
with pushcarts and as we climb, San-Juan's or losing numbers. Puerto Rico comes
9.fools-glitter calls to mind the shattered up with winning numbers in the game
innards of a TV set that's fallen off the back of chance, as reflected in its wealthy
of a lorry, all painted valves and circuits 1.the exterior, which is supported by
road like twisted wires, America.
the bright cars, micro-
chips. 10.It's sharp and jagged and dangerous,
and belonged to some-one else.
Brown, S. 'West Indies, U.S.A' in A World of

2005.
 Lines 7-8: San Juan's glitter is compared to a maverick's gold ring. The word maverick
implies non-conformist, an individualist. This implies that San Juan, Puerto Rico is in
the Caribbean, but not a part of the Caribbean. It belongs to America.
 Lines 10-11: Airports are compared to calling cards. This means that, like a calling
card, the quality of the airport gives you an idea of the island's economic status. The
airport is also compared to a cultural fingerprint. A fingerprint is an individual thing,
therefore the airport gives the traveler an idea of the island's cultural landscape.
 Line 39: The road is compared to twisted wires. This means that the roads, from
above, look both plentiful and curvy. This does not carry a positive connotation, but
implies confusion.
2. ALLUSION
 Line 5: Dallas is an oil rich state in America. Therefore, many of its inhabitants are
wealthy, and the state itself, is wealthy. By stating that San Juan is the Dallas of the West
Indies, it implies that it is a wealthy island in the West Indies.
 Lines 5-7: An allusion is being made to the well known cliche; 'every cloud has a silver
lining'. It means that behind everything that is seemingly bad, there is good. In the
context of this poem, it means that the good, the silver lining, has a mark, or stamp, that
authenticates its good quality; it is hallmarked. This implies that it will always have its
silver lining showing.
3. SARCASM
 Line 20: This statement means the exact opposite of what is stated. The persona is
disgusted that Uncle Sam (America) would have such a regulation. This regulation bars
anyone from stepping a toe on Puerto Rican soil, if it is not your intended destination.
You just have to remain in the air craft, no matter the waiting period, until it is time for
takeoff. The persona believes that the Americans are being blatantly discriminatory,
and are attempting to camouflage it through the use of regulations. He does not believe
that they have achieved their goal of subtlety.
 Line 26: The persona implies that America is all talk and no action. They really do not
want the poor because they bar them from entering and expediently sends them on their
way when they enter their airport. The statement is sarcastic because it is loaded with
an alternate meaning, due to the contrast in statement and action.
4. 'plush'
This word implies soft, like a teddy bear. It also implies luxury. So San Juan is all of these
things.
5.'desperate blacks might re-enslave this Island of the free'
These 'desperate blacks' to whom the persona is referring are the poor people of the Caribbean. If
they converge on the glistening San Juan, sucking up its resources, then it might become re-
enslaved by poverty.
6.'America's back yard'
A backyard means one of two things for people. It is a haven where you relax, therefore you
decorate it and invest time and money in it. Or, you ignore it and spend all your time indoors, not
investing any time, energy or money in it. America viewed Puerto Rico as the latter, a prize in
which it saw value. Therefore, when the persona uses this phrase, he is implying that while it is
valued, it is still at the back. Slight sarcasm is being used here.
7.'the contrasts tantalise'
When something, or someone, is tantalising, it implies that it is intriguing. The persona, by using
this phrase, is trying to draw the readers attention to to the jarring contrasts by stating that he
finds them intriguing.
8.'fierce efficiency'
The word fierce, used to describe the level of efficiency with which the people worked to get the
plane off the ground, shows the extent to which they were not wanted on the island.
9.'fools-glitter'
This implies that the flashiness of San Juan was not authentic.
10.'It's sharp and jagged and dangerous, and belonged to some-one else.'
This implies that San Juan is not safe. The cultures are not melding, but jarring against each
other. The reason for this is because it belongs to someone else.
CONTRAST
The contrast in this poem is found in stanza 5. The American cars etc, against the pushcarts. The
American culture versus the Puerto Rican culture.
MOOD/ ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is sarcastic.
TONE
The tone of the poem is slightly bitter, which is fueled by the sarcastic atmosphere.
Discrimination, oppression, places, culture.
Ballad of Birmingham - Literature Notes
'Mother dear, may I go downtown
instead of out to play,
others.
1.and march the streets of Birmingham
in a freedom march today? LITERAL MEANING
The poem is about about a mother who loses
1.'No, baby, no, you may not go, her child. The child made a request to attend a
for the dogs are fierce and wild, freedom march through the streets of
and clubs and hoses, guns and jails Birmingham, but the mother said no. She
ain't good for a little child.' feared the many violent things that could befall
her child in this setting. She, however, agreed
'But mother, I won't be alone. that the child could attend church. She was
Other children will go with me, content with the knowledge that her child was
1.and march the streets of Birmingham safely at church, until an explosion saw her
to make our country free.' racing through the streets of Birmingham to
find her child. She did not find her, but
1.'No baby, no, you may not go, instead, found a foot of shoe in the rubble.
for I fear those guns will fire.
But you may go to church instead, LITERARY DEVICES
and sing in the children's choir.' 1. REPETITION
She has combed and brushed 2. her night dark  The purpose of the child's repetition of
hair, and 2. bathed rose petal sweet, where she wants to go and why, is to
and drawn white gloves on her small brown contextualize the poem. The reader is
hands, and white shoes on her feet. made aware that the poem is set in
Birmingham during the civil rights
The mother smiled to know her child movement. The repetition is for
was in the sacred place, emphasis of this fact.
but that smile was the last smile  The mothers repetition of no, highlights
to come upon her face. her fear of the harmful things that could
happen to her child. Note that after each
For when she heard the explosion, no, she lists possible harmful things that
her eyes grew 4.wet and wild. could occur if the child goes on the
She 5.raced through the streets of Birmingham freedom march.
calling for her child.
2. METAPHOR
She 6. clawed through bits of glass and brick,
then lifted out a shoe.
 The comparison of the darkness of the
'O, here's the shoe my baby wore,
child's hair to night is purely to
but, baby, where are you?
emphasize how black the persona's
daughters hair is.
Dudley Randall, A World of Poetry (2005)
 The comparison of her sweet
smell, after her bath, emphasizes the
care that went into preparing the child
for church. She did not send her child
out into the world with an uncaring
touch.
3. IRONY (situational)
The overwhelming irony that exists in this poem is the fact that the mother was so adamant
about NOT sending her child to the freedom march, because she considered it to be so
dangerous. Yet it is while in church, the place that she thought was sacred and safe, that the child
got killed.
IMPORTANT WORDS / PHRASES

4. wet and wild:
This tells the readers that the mother was crying when she heard the explosion, while the term
wild points to the panic that overtakes the mother. Her love for her child is emphasized in these
two words.
5. raced:
The mother ran very quickly down the streets of Birmingham. This emphasizes her panic, and in
turn, the great love that she felt for her child.
6. clawed:
This word is striking in its intensity. It means that she did not simply remove the rubble, but did
so with a desperation that highlights the love that she has for her child.
THEME
Death is the overwhelming theme in this poem. A mother's over protectiveness does not, and
seemingly cannot, prevent this tragic event from occurring.
The Lynching - Literature Notes
others.
LITERAL MEANING
His spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven.
The poem is about a black male who has been
1.His father, by the cruellest way of pain,
lynched. The morning brings with it spectators
Had bidden him to his bosom once again;
that have come to see the body. These are
The 3.awful sin remained still unforgiven.
women and children who show no remorse for
1.All night a bright and solitary star
the scene before them.
(Perchance the one that ever guided him,
Yet gave him up at last to Fate's wild whim)
LITERARY DEVICES
Hung pitifully o'er the swinging 4.char.
1. ALLUSION
Day dawned, and soon the 5.mixed crowds
came to view
 This alludes to the death of the
The 6.ghastly body swaying in the sun:
individual, presumably a Black person,
The women thronged to look, but never a one
who is now in heaven. This seen in the
2.Showed sorrow in her eyes of 7.steely blue;
reference to being bidden, or called, to
And little lads, lynchers that were to be,
his father's 'bosom'.
Danced round the dreadful thing in 8.fiendish
 This star alludes to the one that guided
glee.
the three wise men to baby Jesus. In
this context, it highlights that this star
Claude McKay, A World of Poetry (2005)
has, possibly, provided illumination in
the night for the victim of the
lynching, but also served to lead others
to him as
well.
2. ALLITERATION / METAPHOR
 The alliteration serves the purpose of drawing the readers' eye to this particular passage
in the poem. This line also doubles as a metaphor. In this case, the metaphor tells the
reader that the woman is white, because blue eyes are a feature of the Caucasian race. It
also highlights the level of racism in the society. This is the case because if women, who
are suppose to be nurturing and caring, show steel (unfeeling, clinical) in their eyes,
then it is an echo of the views of the society.
IMPORTANT WORDS / PHRASES

3. awful sin:
This 'awful sin' refers to the state of being Black. This term serves to highlight that racism was
the basis on which this individual was lynched. The use of the word awful also lends a sarcastic
edge to the tone of the persona because it implies that colour is something that can be controlled,
when that is not the case. people do awful acts, people cannot be awful based on race.
4. char
This word implies that the body was blackened on the outside. This highlights the horrific pain
that the person must have endured during the process of being lynched.
5. mixed crowds
This tells the reader that different races were present to view the body after the event.
6.ghastly
This word implies extreme disgust. The body is in a deplorable state that is not pleasing to the
eye. A few synonyms for this word are: horror, fear, frightful, macabre. This emphasizes, or
is the manifestation, of the level of hate that it takes to lynch some-one.
7. steely
The root word in this context is steel. Characteristics of steel are hard and impersonal. Therefore,
the eyes of the women, supposedly representative of soft and nurturing qualities, are, instead,
impersonal and cold.
8. fiendish
This literally means to be devilish, or intentionally cruel. The fact that children can dance around
in this type of glee implies that innocence is lost. They, like the women, are steeped in the racist
values of the society in which they live.
THEME
Racism
The poem confronts a time in history when Black people were not viewed as human. On this
premise, they could be lynched without it causing a ripple in the moral fiber of their society. The
fact that women and children could view the charred remains with little or no feeling speaks
volumes about the extent to which racist values were entrenched in the society.

A Contemplation Upon Flowers - Literature Notes

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Contemplation Upon Flowers - Literature Notes

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A Contemplation Upon Flowers - Literature Notes

The physical structure of this poem has been

Oh teach me to see death and not to fear,

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has

McWatt, M. 'Ol' Higue' in A World of

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

This is the OPINION of one individual,

And then - 14.this guru, 2. PERSONIFICATION

Mitchel, E. 'A Stone's Throw' in A World of

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

1.I wish my teacher's eyes wouldn't

1.I wish life wouldn't spend me out

King, H. 'Dreaming Black Boy' in A World of

IMPORTANT WORDS / PHRASE

3.Bent double, 1.like old beggars under LITERAL MEANING

Owen, W. 'Dulceet Decorum Est' in A World

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has

Scott, Dennis. 'Epitaph' in A World of Prose.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

Not always sure what things called sins may

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The world is 7.charged with the 8.grandeur of LITERAL MEANING

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has

It is the 3.constant image of your face

Brutus, D. 'It is the Constant Image of your

IMPORTANT WORD/ PHRASES

A 5.curious 1.tale that threaded through town

Walcott, D. 'Le Loupgarou' in A World of

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

6.white linen-linen suit, pink glasses, cork hat (and cane)

7.Alsatian hound, a slathering lycenthrope

So I have learnt many things, son. 2. SIMILE

So show me, son,

Okara, G. 'Once Upon A Time' in A World of

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has been

I leave this house

I'll send them on This is the OPINION of one individual,

Perhaps in their thin dried transparency

I'll discover their 8.peculiar poetry.

Simmonds-McDonald, H. 'Orchids' in A World

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has been

Earth has not anything to show more 4.fair:

Wordsworth, W. 'Sonnet Composed Upon A

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

1.But today I 4.recapture the islands LITERAL MEANING

Brathwaite, K. 'South' in A World of Prose.

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The physical structure of this poem has

So I try to explain in my Hampshire drawl LITERARY DEVICES

Brown, S. 'Test Match Sabina Park' in A

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

Her son was first known to her LITERAL MEANING

He says 1.you are like a father to him LITERARY DEVICES

She is throwing a 13.partner

Goodison, L. 'The Woman Speaks to the Man

IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES

The instructor said, LITERAL MEANING