Baby Song Flashcards
What is their poem about
Experience emotions and thought of a baby before it is born
Portrays a different perspective
Structure and consistent rhyme scheme represents an innocent way of speaking restated to nursery rhymes
Baby’s words and thoughts emphasise the child’s uneasiness as they contrast the soothing rhyme scheme
What is the difference between the womb and room
The womb is secure and comfortable where the baby feels relaxed the comfort is disturbed by the outside world as the baby is forced to be born. The hospital is presented as harsh and violent and the lyrical voice expresses his desire to go back
How is the womb presented as being safe
The monosyllabic rhythm portrays the security of the womb and now he can’t go back so the baby can’t retrieve its happiness
The womb is described as deafening and happy and this emphasises the desire to go back
What does the baby realise
Time is inevitable and he has no control, the poem continues to depict the outside world with more dramatic images than the soft images portrayed by the womb.
His bond with his mother has been separated
The baby has future events and his time begins now
What’s the structure of the poem
A sonnet showing the baby’s love for the mother
Quote showing he’s life in the womb
“Private ease “
Quote showing a rhetorical question
“Where it is warm and water and black?”
Quote showing the hospital
“Lighted room”
Quote showing he loved the womb
“Perfect comfort”
Quote showing him now
“Raging, small and red”
Quote showing he is uncomfortable
“Rustling bed”
Quote showing time carries on
“All time roars “
Context on Thom Gunn
Associated with the movement Him mother killed herself Died of drug abuse Believed he remembered being born Parent divorced
