Timothy winters Flashcards
Background
Written by a British poet. The poem revolves around a young boy and offers a social commentary on the hardships and struggles faced by underprivileged children.
Theme : Child Poverty and Neglect
In this poem he shows frustration towards the Welfare State’s negligence.
Mood
Suffering - constantly mentions deprivations such as clothing, bedding, family and welfare support that make Timothy underprivileged.
- Timothy Winters comes to school
Timothy winters: central character
- With eyes as wide as a football-pool,
Figurative meaning
SIMILE - eyes are compared to a “football-pool” to emphasize largeness his eyes, filled with curiosity.
- Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters:
Literal meaning
.”Ears like bombs” keen sense of hearing, and “teeth like splinters” implies that he may have dental problems.
Figurative meaning
SIMILE: ears compared to bombs and teeth to splinters
- A blitz of a boy is Timothy Winters.
“blitz” - a sudden, powerful attack, metaphor
Literal meaning
blitz: a sudden, powerful attack. Harsh circumstances that shaped his character.
Figurative meaning
b- :ALLITERATION
“blitz of a boy”.
METAPHOR: he is compared to a blitz.
ASSONANCE: ”Timothy Winters”: emphasizes his name.
“A BLITZ of a boy”
Line 4 suggests that Timothy is as shocking and overwhelming as a sudden, massive attack in wartime. He may be as violent as a blitz, himself the victim of blitz-like violence and abuse.
“Blitzkrieg”- The lightning war
The Blitz was a German bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, in 1940 and 1941, during the Second World War. The term was first used by the British press and originated from the term Blitzkrieg, the German word meaning ‘lightning war’. The sustained campaign of aerial bombing attacks on British towns and cities carried out by the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) from September 1940 until May 1941.
During the Blitz 7,736 children were killed and 7,622 seriously wounded. Many children were orphaned or lost brothers and sisters. As well as being victims of the raids, children were involved in relief efforts.
- His belly is white, his neck is dark,
Literal
5. Malnourishment and poor living conditions.
- And his hair is an exclamation-mark.
Literal:
6. A lack of proper grooming.
Figurative
. Metaphor – striking, stands out, unkempt, wild, reflecting his untamed spirit.
- His clothes are enough to scare a crow
Literal: 7. Like a scarecrow’s clothes.
Figurative
Hyperbole:
7. Raggedness, poor condition clothes; frightening even a crow
- And through his britches the blue winds blow.
Literal:
Wind blows through his torn pants. ‘britches’ are trousers.
- When teacher talks he won’t hear a word
Literal
9. Lack of attention, preoccupation with difficult life circumstances.
- And he shoots down dead the arithmetic-bird,
Figurative10. METAPHOR: he struggles with education, symbolizing difficulties with maths. He rejects the maths he’s been taught and shooting it down like a bird.
- He licks the pattern off his plate
Literal
He is so hungry that he eats every last bit of food on his plate; undernourished.
- Timothy Winters has bloody feet
Literal
13. Timothy might be doing physically demanding work - resulted in injuries.
- And he’s not even heard of the Welfare State.
Literal
He doesn’t know about the “Welfare State“; unaware of social support systems that could help children like him.
- And he lives in a house on Suez Street,
Figurative
Symbolizes a poverty-stricken area.
- He sleeps in a sack on the kitchen floor
Literal
Conveys the dire living conditions he endures.
- And they say there aren’t boys like him anymore.
Literal
These children facing extreme poverty are becoming rare.
Figurative
Irony – the opposite is true.
- Old Man Winters likes his beer
Literal
17. His alcoholic father- dysfunctional.
- And his missus ran off with a bombardier,
Literal
His mother left with a soldier - broken family.
- And Timothy’s dosed with an aspirin.
Literal
To alleviate physical discomfort.
Figurative
Inadequate access to proper medical care
- Grandma sits in the grate with a gin
Literal
Grandma drinks gin in front of fireplace.
Figurative
Symbolizes: coping with the harshness of life.
- So Timothy Winters drinks his cup
Drinking something to warm him. Seeks comfort in simple pleasures.
- The welfare Worker lies awake
Welfare worker can’t sleep.
- At Morning Prayers the Master helves
The Master refers to the school teacher.
“helve“: to handle or deal with.
- But the law’s as tricky as a ten-foot snake,
Legal system is too complicated to implement change.
Hyperbole/SimileThe law is compared to a ten-foot snake – difficult and challenging
- And slowly goes on growing up.
He grows up and continues to endure the hardships he faces.
- For children less fortunate than ourselves,
The Master prays for children who are less fortunate.
- Timothy Winters roars “Amen!”
He has a strong spirit and remains resilient.
- So come one angel, come on ten
. Plea for angels to come help them.
- Timothy Winters says “Amen Amen amen amen amen.”
Literal:
His unwavering faith, even in the face of adversity.
Figurative:
Repetition: emphasizes his faith.
In Summary
“Timothy Winters” is a poignant poem that sheds light on the hardships faced by underprivileged children, focusing on one young boy’s struggle with poverty, neglect, and difficult living conditions. The poet skillfully uses vivid imagery and metaphors to evoke empathy and compassion for Timothy and others in similar circumstances while encouraging reflection on societal issues.
What is the message of the poem?
A young boy feeling the burden of post-war deprivation but maintaining a bold and assertive presence in the world.
