A Child To His Sick Grandfather Flashcards
Structure
Caesura “with glittering words - you nod I think” child is being forced into new unsettling experiences. Sense of reality and death
Constant use of exclamation marks and question marks emphasising the child’s youth as aspects of change and senility seem awkward “dad?”
Language
“Bended corse” he is no longer suffering with an injury this metaphor of sleep shows the the beauty of life and death
“You used to smile and stroke my head” imagery of frailty and nostalgia show his inactivity.
Verbs “nod” and “wink” show a euphemism as the child believes he is falling asleep
Form
AABBCC rhyme scheme showing changing state of both the child and his grandfather
Context
Joanna’s father died at the age when she was 16
Heavily influenced by religion (Protestant)
The role of children “honour thy father and thy mother
Links
My father would not show us
