As the poem is written in free-verse, it follows no set rhyme scheme. A Sad Child Summary
English Notes Latest Questions
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The poem explores the themes of childhood and experiences. The themes revolve around the sadness and depression that a child feels. The poet highlights the depression that children go through and how it is hard for them to experience sadness. When they feel sad, that is all they feel. They start toRead more
The poem explores the themes of childhood and experiences. The themes revolve around the sadness and depression that a child feels. The poet highlights the depression that children go through and how it is hard for them to experience sadness. When they feel sad, that is all they feel. They start to forget every happy memory that they had. The poet taps on this and advises them that sadness is an emotion that everyone has to explore and handle. The children are advised to endure the sadness and come out stronger at the end.
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Alliteration - Alliteration is repetition of the same letter or sound in a line. In the poem alliteration occurs in the lines “see a shrink”, “blessings. Better”, “sulky with sugar”, etc. Simile- simile is used when the poet directly compares one thing to another by using the words “as” or “like”. IRead more
- Alliteration – Alliteration is repetition of the same letter or sound in a line. In the poem alliteration occurs in the lines “see a shrink”, “blessings. Better”, “sulky with sugar”, etc.
- Simile- simile is used when the poet directly compares one thing to another by using the words “as” or “like”. In this poem, the poet uses simile in the line “or hug your sadness like an eyeless doll”.
- Repetition- Repetition is a literary device in which a word, phrase, or line is repeated for emphasis or effect. The phrase “you’re sad” in the first line of the poem.
- Anaphora- anaphora is when a phrase is repeated in a stanza. In the poem, the word “it’s” is repeated in the second line of the poem.
- Metaphor- metaphor is used when the poet makes an undercut comparison between two things without using the words “like” or “as”. In the, the poet compares the anger of the child to “the red flame is seeping out of you”.
- Apostrophe- apostrophe is when the speaker in the poem directly addresses the listener or the reader. In the poem, the speaker is directly talking to the child and refers to them as “you” and “My darling”.
- Imagery- imagery is the use of words by a poet to paint a picture in the minds of the reader. Imagery can be of various types; tactile, olfactory, auditory, gustatory and visual. In the poem, the poet uses visual imagery to paint the scene of the party in the second stanza of the poem.2
- Rhetorical question- a rhetorical question is a question asked by the poet without the intention of getting an answer but to put stress on an idea. The first line of the 3rd stanza is a rhetorical question.
- Epigram- epigram is a short phrase or saying in the last lines of the poem which express the idea of the poem. The last line of the poem expresses the central concept of the poem, i.e. everyone is sad and they learn how to endure it.
The poem revolves around the central idea of childhood and the intense experiences tied to sadness and depression. It emphasizes the profound impact these emotions can have on children, making it challenging for them to see beyond their sorrow. The poet highlights the difficulty children face in navRead more
The poem revolves around the central idea of childhood and the intense experiences tied to sadness and depression. It emphasizes the profound impact these emotions can have on children, making it challenging for them to see beyond their sorrow. The poet highlights the difficulty children face in navigating sadness, often losing sight of happier memories. Despite this, the central idea is one of resilience and growth. The poem advises children to face and endure sadness as an inevitable emotion, suggesting that confronting it can lead to inner strength and eventual healing.
A Sad Child Summary
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