What Were They Like

Question 1

Who was the poet

Answer 1

Denise levertov

Question 2

Poem structure

Answer 2

2 stanzas
Question and answer format
2 personas / speakers
Volta between stanzas
Written in free verse

Question 3

Answer 2 to question 2
atcwktwnmb

Answer 3

“After their children were killed there were no more buds”

Metaphor - compares Vietnamese children to buds on plant. Society is doomed + no real future

Question 4

Answer 3 to question 3
“S,libthbm

Answer 4

“Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth”
Alliteration is explosive could suggest a bomb or explosion

Question 5

Question 5 answer
“Wbstmtwtots”

Answer 5

“When bombs smashed those mirrors there was time only to scream”
Violent imagery shows americas destruction
Mirrors - metaphor for the rice paddy’s full of water. Bomb breaks illusion of reflection and suggests the broken and uncomfortable feeling of Vietnam after USA.

Question 6

“Wcs?iisn”

Answer 6

“Who can say? it is silent now”

Caesura creates pause which puts emphasis on answer

Question is more impactful as it’s the only time the second speaker asks a question in the poem. This change could link to the change that has occurred in Vietnam

Silent - no voice , opinion , freedom as all are dead with a loss of culture

Question 7

“Iwrtsr/tfomim”

Answer 7

“It was reported their singing resembled/ the flights of moths in moonlight”

Alliteration - beautiful + peace
Reported - unseen as can’t remember due to destruction

Singing - togetherness

Resembled - embodies but not anymore

Flights - freedom no limit