Thirteen Flashcards
Who is the poet
Caleb Femi
Stanza 1 “wyacbao”
“When you are corned by an officer”
You - second person connotes that the poet is warning you about what may happen in the future
Cornered - verb suggests trapped , overpowering
White overpowering black?
Stanza 1 - “T,yth:yt.”
“Thirteen , you’ll tell him: you’re thirteen”
Repetition of thirteen and use of end stop puts emphasis on thirteen to show how young femi is
Thirteen - unlucky number , teenage prejudice
Stanza 2 - “ywas,/tbabs.” + “bls”
“You were all supernovas,/the biggest and brightest starts.”
“Being little stars”
Extended metaphor - compares children to space phenomenons. Shows they can be amazing and have lots of potential.
Supernovas - dying star so children will fade into maybe a threat.
End stop and repetition of star puts emphasis on it which further portrays the metaphor
Stanza 3 - “ywwtclfyo”
“You will watch the two men casts lots for your organs”
Biblical allusion - references the gospel of Jesus’s crucifixion (romans debating who gets his clothes). Which of the two officers will victimise this child. Which of the officers will get to have the organs of the 13 year old. Cannibalistic image.
Dehumanisation
Stanza 4 - “ds/otvobbh.”
“dying stars / on the verge of becoming black holes”
Extended metaphor - prejudice leads to consumption within society where you have no potential
Black holes - imagery suggests emptiness/ hopelessness
Juxtaposition (dying stars) - loss of hope due to changed attitudes
“Ybpotst,baf”
“You’ll be patted on the shoulder then, by another fed”
You’ll - second person suggests it will happen. Creates a sense of intimacy like a warning.
Patted on the shoulder - power imbalance , intimidation
Another - view him as a threat so have backup
Fed - slang word shows femis routes
