Half past two

Question 1

Once upon a school time

Answer 1

Fairytale opening, appropriate for primary school age and setting- but in poem there is no fairytale happy ending- implied villain in this story is teacher

Question 2

Something very wrong, and must

Answer 2

Must being on the end of the line break- structurally this emphasises the modal verb- child has no choice but to obey teacher’s instructions, IMPLIED criticism of teachers abuse of power, punishment instead of explaining

Question 3

(I forget what it was)

Answer 3

Parenthesis- the child’s behaviour couldn’t of been that serious as it’s been forgotten, implies that punishment is too harsh should of been dealt with in a different way- with more compassion and understanding

Question 4

And knew he’d escaped ‘forever’

Answer 4

Verb- child feels imprisonment like he is in solitary confinement he escapes in his imagination which is no restricted by time, time seems to be infinite to the child, he escapes the routine of his normal environment

Question 5

Into the smell of old chrysanthemums on Her desk

Answer 5

Sensory imagery, the buys heightens senses alone in the room, slows pace, calms atmosphere in contrast to teacher being cross as the beginning of poem, how alone but is, provokes sympathy

Question 6

Beginning of like 19-21 ‘into’ begins the line

Answer 6

Anaphora, preposition emphasises the fact he’s fallen into another work of his imagination

Question 7

So she ‘slotted’ him back into school time

Answer 7

Like he’s an object not an individual to her, implies teachers lack of emotional intelligence and sensitivity, kids must fit into the school systems routines