Essay Quotes

Question 1

Quote 1

Answer 1

Outside the door,
lurking in the shadows,
is a terrorist.

Question 2

Paragraph 1

Answer 2

•Introduces Structure
•Reader considers differences and connotations of words
•Introduces barrier between speaker + child (door)
•Certain at first of terrorist, changes next stanza to freedom fighter

Question 3

Quote 2

Answer 3

Are words no more
than waving, wavering flags?
Outside your door,
watchful in the shadows,
is a guerilla warrior.

Question 4

Paragraph 2

Answer 4

•Reader more skeptical
•Guerilla warrior similar to freedom fighter, some sort of vigilante, expert trained, cold + calculated
•Only use of imagery in poem
•Words can change meaning like flags, e.g. during war
•Poem reaches turning point next stanza

Question 5

Quote 3

Answer 5

No words can help me now.
Just outside that door,
lost in shadows,
is a child who looks like mine

Question 6

Paragraph 3

Answer 6

•Speaker stops describing child as someone who intends to cause harm
•”Child who looks like mine”- speaker realises child is not unlike them, worried of who could be behind the door
•Lost in shadows instead of lurking

Question 7

Quote 4

Answer 7

One word for you.
Outside my door,
his hand too steady,
his eyes too hard,
is a boy who looks like your son too.

Question 8

Paragraph 3 (Continued)

Answer 8

•More detail about child- now know he’s male
•”Boy who looks like your son too”- Involves reader and makes them consider if it was their child
•Creates sympathy for child
•”hand too steady… eyes too hard”- Makes reader wonder what happened to the boy

Question 9

Quote 5

Answer 9

The child steps in
and carefully, at my door,
takes off his shoes

Question 10

Paragraph 4

Answer 10

•In the eight stanza, speaker invites boy into home
•Ninth & final stanza boy accepts
•Stepping could imply caution or respect
•Taking off shoes shoes further respect
•Child appreciates invitation despite reader’s assumptions, shows boy is able to forgive and forget

Question 11

Conclusion

Answer 11

•Speaker describes child in a memorable way by at first not describing him at all
•Allows reader to assume who he is before finally revealing just a child after many unflattering assumptions
•This makes unassuming description of child behind door memorable
•Dharker invokes reader response by making reader feel sympathy for child by describing him as the reader’s son
•Creates sense of relief after child is finally welcomed in