Poem at Thirty-Nine Flashcards
what are the themes?
- childhood
- loss
- regret
- nostalgia
why is it written in free verse
shows her chain of memory and how she got lost in that memory
what quote is “IWHHNBST”
“i wish he had not been so tired”
analysis of “I wish he had not been so tired”
- personal pronouns - first person narrative - intimate poem
- enjambment - chain of thoughts/struggling to express
- “so tired” - implies he worked hard at a lot
what quote is “MHGHBTE”
“must have grieved him before the end”
analysis of “must have grieved him before the end”
- “must have grieved” - implies conflict, but they still had a good relationship
- “the end” - euphemism - difficulty in coming to terms with his death
what quote is “HIMMF”
“how i miss my father!”
analysis of “how i miss my father!”
- there is a volta, changes the poem to a happier tone
- exclamation mark mirrors how greatly she misses him
- repeated from the first line of the poem, shows the extent of how much she misses him
what quote is “SNOMLTSWT”
“seasoning none of my life the same way twice”
analysis of “seasoning none of my life the same way twice”
- metaphor - she escaped the “life he knew”
- enjoys her life now, just as he wanted her to
who is the poet?
Alice Walker
writers intention
to reflect on her childhood and the relationship she had with her father in order to gain a deeper understanding of the woman she is today
reader reaction
allows readers to relate to the poet and grow appreciative for their childhood
