Prayer Before Birth

Question 1

‘O hear me’

Answer 1

Use of imperative - implies he needs them to hear

Question 2

‘I am not yet born’

Answer 2

Repeated several times (repetition) - it also gives a narrative perspective. Creates emotional impact

Question 3

‘Provide me with water to dandle me’

Answer 3

Natural imagery and personification - expresses hope that the world is going to be kind with him

Question 4

‘A thing with one face, a thing’

Answer 4

Repetition of ‘thing’ - Depersonalised

Question 5

‘Blow me like thistledown hither and thither or hither and thither’

Answer 5

Repetition

Question 6

‘Voice of a kindly god’

Answer 6

Religious belief/hope - water is a gift from god

Question 7

‘Bloodsucking bat or the rat’

Answer 7

Metaphorical- evil presences in fairy tails

Question 8

‘I must take when old men lecture me’

Answer 8

Imperative
Shows no change (old men)

Question 9

‘Let not the man who is beast or who thinks he is God’

Answer 9

Beast- bad / hellis
Implies he is a good arrogant

Question 10

‘Automaton’

Answer 10

Implies he is seen as a robot