Half past two Flashcards
Q: What is the main theme of Half-Past Two?
A: The poem explores themes of childhood innocence, time, authority, and the contrast between adult and child perspectives.
Q: How does the poem reflect a child’s perspective on time?
A: The child does not understand time as adults do, as seen in “He knew the clockface, the little eyes / And two long legs for walking,” showing how he perceives time in concrete, visual terms rather than abstract numbers.
Q: How does the poet use language to capture childhood innocence?
A: The use of non-standard capitalization (“Something Very Wrong”) mimics a child’s exaggerated perception of events, making everyday situations feel dramatic and important.
Q: How does the poet use structure to emphasize the child’s confusion?
A: The poem lacks strict punctuation and follows a fragmented, free-flowing structure, reflecting the child’s lack of understanding of conventional time.
Q: What is the significance of the phrase “half-past two”?
A: The title and repeated phrase symbolize the adult world’s rigid concept of time, which contrasts with the child’s timeless experience when left alone.
Q: How does the poem criticize authority figures?
A: The teacher’s actions seem careless as she forgets about the child, showing how adults impose rules without considering a child’s perspective: “She said he’d done / Something Very Wrong, and must / Stay in the schoolroom till half-past two.”
Q: How does Fanthorpe use contrast in the poem?
A: The child’s perception of time as immeasurable is contrasted with the teacher’s strict scheduling, highlighting the disconnect between adults and children.
Q: What does the phrase “He did Something Very Wrong” reveal about the child’s mindset?
A: The capitalization exaggerates the phrase, showing how children internalize adult authority without understanding the real meaning behind punishments.
Q: What is the effect of the imagery “into the silent noise his hangnail made”?
A: This paradoxical phrase highlights the child’s heightened awareness in solitude, emphasizing how time feels stretched in his isolated moment.
Q: How does Fanthorpe present the idea of timelessness in the poem?
A: The child enters a dream-like state beyond measurable time, as seen in “He was too scared of being wicked to remind her.”
Q: What role does repetition play in the poem?
A: Phrases like “Half-past two” and “Something Very Wrong” mimic a child’s repetitive thought process, reinforcing the theme of confusion and innocence.
Q: How does the poem conclude, and what does it suggest?
A: The poem ends with the child being released from his timeless experience, but the reader is left questioning whether he has truly learned anything about time.
Q: How does Half-Past Two compare to If-?
A: While Half-Past Two focuses on a child’s struggle with time and authority, If- offers guidance on resilience and discipline, showing contrasting perspectives on personal growth.
