For Oom Piet - seen poetry Flashcards
What does the title signify?
it’s an indication of a letter, a dedication or acknowledgement
What is the tone in paragraph one?
sincere (line 1)
What is the context of the poem?
A sort of autobiographical recount of when she needed to run away from society after a divorce
Who is speaking?
The poet speaker
What is the significance of the child’s actions in the first stanza?
- Child saves it by forcing connection despite the face that no connection had been made
- The child is curious (does not necessarily want to make the mother feel better — adults see divisions, separations)
- The child has will (indicated by purpose and lack of punctuation)
Comment on the use of pronouns in Stanza 2
- She speaks to Oom Piet (is it their name??) directly. -> For him/gift
- Intimate, personal, direct
(Relates to title)
Explain the effect of the first two lines of stanza 2
- Tautological
- He is gentle/warm/appreciates tranquility
3.lovingly spoken (when unwell)
Prove that they made connections from Stanza 2
- Converations were about non-dividing topics (poultry, flowers) They represent a return to simplicity for her
- «Foeitog « (shame) -> must have shared something other; confidance, vulnerability. Received comfort and understanding.
- «You guessed» -> intuitive. She was insecure/not wanting to be vulnerable. She didn’t want to tell him everything.
Describe the significance of «You told me I was beautiful in the courtly way of an old man»
- Dignified, pure respectful
- She isn’t used to men without hidden agendas/ that are gentleman like
3.She was in need of affimation
4.it must have been an acrimonious divorce (statement about men
Is Oom Piet generous? Prove it using Stanza 2 and 3
-> yes: generous through both affirmations (2) and physically (3)
What is the function of the double dashes in the thirds paragraph?
To parenthesis further information that is added to the sentence
Describe the use of «Oom»
It means uncle; can be a term of endearment or of respect
What is the purpose of the colon?
To introduce the «one thing» (provides insight)
Describe the impact of the last line
- Provides a sense of honesty & rescue
- Displays her gratefulness
What is the theme of the poem?
What we can do for each other when we allow for connections
What is the style?
Narrative
What is the mood of the poem?
Gentleness, softness
What is the tone of the poem?
A tone of sincerity/sensitivity/ APPRÉCIATION/GRATITUDE
What is the structure of the first 3 stanzas of the poem?
- 3 fairly similar non-old-world stanzas used to narrate the episode
- Enjambement used here to depict the beauty if humans -|. Uninterrupted flow leading to sense of harmony/melody + no punctuation -> eg road… to
What is the importance of the structure of the last stanza?
- The couplet was chosen with intention to break the pattern and isolate final thoughts
- she wanted to make it obvious it was no longer storytelling but the proverbial
(Wants him to know he healed her and that he was a blessing) - Because it’s much shorter, it stands out as a clear message
