Prayer before birth Flashcards
Who is the author of ‘Prayer before birth’?
Louis MacNeice
What form does the poem take?
A dramatic monologue
True or False: The poem is written from the perspective of an unborn child.
True
What is the primary theme of ‘Prayer before birth’?
The fear of the world and the desire for protection
The poem expresses a pleas for ………from the unborn child.
guidance and protection
one concern expressed in the poem.
The violence and cruelty of the world
What literary device is mostly used in ‘Prayer before birth’?
Imagery
What does the speaker ask for in the poem?
To be shielded from evil and suffering
What does the unborn child wish to avoid in life according to the poem?
Despair and hatred
What tone is established throughout the poem?
A tone of desperation and vulnerability
What role does the concept of innocence play in the poem?
It highlights the contrast between the purity of the unborn child and the harshness of the world.
What is a recurring motif in ‘Prayer before birth’?
Light, Darkness, Nature, War
What does the speaker request to be spared from ?
The evils of society
Which emotion is mostly felt by the speaker?
Fear
True or False: The poem includes references to specific historical events.
True
What does the phrase ‘let me not be born’ signify in the poem?
A wish to avoid the suffering that life entails.
The poet criticises ………. in society.
human nature
What is the significance of the poem’s structure?
It enhances the urgency and emotional weight of the speaker’s plea.
What does the speaker associate with the concept of life in the poem?
Conflict and suffering
What is the effect of using first-person perspective in the poem?
It creates a personal and intimate connection with the reader.
What does the speaker wish to retain from their unborn state?
Purity and innocence
How does the poem address the idea of parental responsibility?
It emphasizes the need for parents to protect their children from the world’s evils.
What is one of the final requests made by the speaker?
To be free from the burdens of existence.
