This is a free verse poem with no strict rhyme or meter. Hanging Fire Summary
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This poem was written from the viewpoint of a little girl. She starts worrying when she considers how she seems, what people may think of her, and how she feels about her mother. She also considers her impending early death, peer pressure, the immature manner of the guy of her dreams, and her currenRead more
This poem was written from the viewpoint of a little girl. She starts worrying when she considers how she seems, what people may think of her, and how she feels about her mother. She also considers her impending early death, peer pressure, the immature manner of the guy of her dreams, and her current residence. The poem also addresses teen-related topics including wearing braces to conform to social norms of attractiveness and receiving higher grades. The girl laments that nobody, not even her mother, is there to guide her along the proper road.
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Enjambment: This is when a line of poetry continues to the next line without a pause or break, creating a sense of continuity and flow. In "Hanging Fire," Lorde uses enjambment throughout the poem to create a sense of urgency and momentum, as the speaker's thoughts and emotions spill over from one lRead more
- Enjambment: This is when a line of poetry continues to the next line without a pause or break, creating a sense of continuity and flow. In “Hanging Fire,” Lorde uses enjambment throughout the poem to create a sense of urgency and momentum, as the speaker’s thoughts and emotions spill over from one line to the next.
- Repetition: This is when a word or phrase is repeated multiple times throughout a poem for emphasis or effect. In “Hanging Fire,” Lorde uses repetition to create a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, as the speaker repeats the refrain “I am fourteen” several times throughout the poem.
- Imagery: This is when a poem uses vivid and descriptive language to create a sensory experience for the reader. In “Hanging Fire,” Lorde uses imagery to create a sense of the speaker’s surroundings, as well as her emotional state. For example, she describes the smell of cooking food, the sound of the radio, and the sensation of lying on a bed.
- Personification: This is when a poem assigns human qualities or characteristics to non-human objects or ideas. In “Hanging Fire,” Lorde uses personification to create a sense of the speaker’s isolation and disconnection from the world around her. For example, she describes the clock on the wall as “lonely” and the walls of the room as “gray.”
- Allusion: This is when a poem references a well-known person, place, or event from history or literature. In “Hanging Fire,” Lorde alludes to the biblical figure of Job, who is known for his suffering and endurance. By invoking this allusion, Lorde suggests that the speaker’s struggles are part of a larger, universal experience of human suffering.
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The primary themes of the poem are adolescence, death, and coming of age. It draws attention to the worries of a young woman who has begun a new chapter in her life at the age of 14. She feels abandoned since, unfortunately, no one is there to comfort or guide her during this difficult time in her lRead more
The primary themes of the poem are adolescence, death, and coming of age. It draws attention to the worries of a young woman who has begun a new chapter in her life at the age of 14. She feels abandoned since, unfortunately, no one is there to comfort or guide her during this difficult time in her life. Even the guy of her dreams is unable to comfort her, and her mother expresses little care. The author of this short poem wants to make the point that parents should be there for their kids when they leave behind a secure childhood and enter the most trying time of their life.
Hanging Fire Summary
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