How do the writers present aspects of childhood in the three poems Piano, My parents kept me from children who were rough and Half past two.

Essay by HMSJunior High, 9th gradeB+, April 2008

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Within all of the three poems we have studied, UA Fanthorpe’s half past two, DH lawrence’s Piano and Stephen Spenders, there are aspects of childhood being described and conveyed. However each poem conveys them in a different manner, but there are some similarities as well.

Firstly I will talk about what each poem is about and what attitude and themes they possess compared to the other two.

In the poem half past two by UA fanthorpe a boy is given detention for an unspecified misdemeanour, and is later on forgotten by his teacher. The boy however has no concept of proper time, and therefore drifts off into a sort of daydream. This is hinted in stanza 7, which says“Into the smell of old chrysanthemums on her desk,Into the silent noise his hangnail madeInto the air outside the window into ever”The attitude expressed by this poem is a light one and the theme of childlike ignorance, innocence and punishment is quite prominent.

This is effectively shown as UA Fanthorpe relies on her experience as a teacher to describe the whole poem through the eyes of the boy, and not from an adult. Which helps give you hands on experience of what is happening in the poem.

The theme of childlike ignorance and innocence is further carried on due to quotes such as“He was too scared of being wicked to remind her.” Which portray how scared children normal are when they get into some sort of trouble.

And“he knew getting uptime, time you were offtime, time to go home, now time and TVtime” This shows his childlike characteristics, as there are many comma’s putting forth a list like effect, and also he uses enjambment as an effective tool.

In Piano by DH Lawrence the theme is a little different to that...