Prayer before birth

Question 1

‘I am not yet born’

Answer 1

Narrative perspective

Question 2

‘Console me’

Answer 2

Asking for help

Question 3

‘I am not yet born’

Answer 3

Repetition

Question 4

‘A white light… to guide me’

Answer 4

God/holy soul

Question 5

‘Forgive me’

Answer 5

the baby seems responsible

Question 6

‘Rehearse me’

Answer 6

Theatre/artificial

Question 7

Cues I ‘must’ take

Answer 7

Imperative

Question 8

‘Man who is beast or who thinks he is God’

Answer 8

Juxtaposition- the speaker wants to avoid both since they’re both presented as potential dangers/corrupting influences. written during ww2 so could be implying reference to hitler

Question 9

‘Hear me’

Answer 9

Imperative - repetition of the plea to be heard

Question 10

‘freeze my humanity’

Answer 10

verb freeze - the unborn child feels threatened by what lies ahead

Question 11

‘fill me’

Answer 11

Imperative- prepare me so I am strong

Question 12

‘lethal automaton’ ‘cog in a machine’

Answer 12

Noun phrases- the child is scared of becoming an automated bring with no soul. Functional. Robotic. No individual identity

Question 13

‘let them not make me into a stone’

Answer 13

Imperative- a final plea

Question 14

‘Otherwise kill me’

Answer 14

Short line- child would rather be dead than become something automated without a soul

Question 15

Every stanza ends with ‘me’

Answer 15

Epistrophe- could be read like a prayer