Poetry: Born Yesterday Flashcards
What is Born Yesterday?
A poem that is making a wish for a newborn baby, Sally Amis
What is the verse structure in Born Yesterday?
The first verse
The second verse
What does the first verse in Born Yesterday describe?
It describes the usual wishes people make when a new baby is born
What does the second verse in Born Yesterday tell us?
It tells us the wish that the speaker has chosen - that the baby will grow up to be ordinary
What is the theme of Born Yesterday?
Its theme is finding happiness through being ordinary
What is the setting of Born Yesterday?
A baby is born
What is the voice of Born Yesterday?
Colloquial but also thoughtful, addresses the baby
Quotations for Born Yesterday
1
20
21-23
23
24
‘If that is what a skilled,
Vigilant, flexible
Unemphasised, enthralled’
These syllables are associated with being ‘dull’, but the sound of the adjectives suggests much more exciting qualities - due to them being polysyllabic
‘enthralled’
An example of a consonance with ‘dull’ and ‘skilled’, and rhymes with called, which provides the closing sound
‘Tightly-folded bud’
Endearing address suggests affection. The “bud” metaphor also suggests the beginning of life and foreshadows a flowering
‘In fact, may you be dull -
If that is what a …’
The ‘ - ‘ creates a long pause after “dull” to allow us to reflect and take in the surprising nature of his wish
‘Catching of happiness is called.’
“Catching” is often associated with illness, which suggests that being happy will always rely on chance to some extent and that happiness is elusive.
What two poems can Born Yesterday be compared with?
Praise Song for My Mother
Nettles
Why can Nettles be compared with Born Yesterday?
Nettles is about a father protecting his son
