With Close reference to at least two poems, examine how the poets have explored the theme of parent-child separation.

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Amy Burns

With Close reference to at least two poems, examine how the poets have explored the theme of parent-child separation.

In your response you should deal with

  • The contexts of the poems.
  • The contrasts and similarities in the poet’s methods and approaches.
  • The use of language.
  • You personal reaction to the poems including your preference.

Many poems have been written on the basic theme of parent-child separation.  I have chosen to write about two poems. The first of these is “The Slave Mother” written by Frances E.W. Harper, written in the mid 1800’s. It explores the idea of a black slave mother having her son stolen from her.  The second poem I will study is “Walking Away” by C. Day Lewis.  Both show the difficulties of Parent-Child separation. However “The Slave Mother” is much more violent and disturbing as oppose to “Walking Away” where there is no mention of violence at all.

Frances E. W Harper wrote “The Slave Mother” at a time when blacks were being severely discriminated against. Society and American Law at the time promoted slavery. She was orphaned as a child and therefore has some background on parent-child separation as, similarly to “Walking Away”, it is an experience she has gone through.  Harper was totally against this and therefore used a polemical style of writing, as she wanted to point out this controversial issue to the public and to persuade people against it. Harper had a pioneering spirit and was prepared to be the first of a kind. She was an active part in the anti-slavery movement and used various poems including “The Slave Mother” to get her point across.  When she was speaking up for what she believed her poetry became part of her efforts to campaign against slavery. “The Slave Mother” is written in ballad form. Harper may have used this form of writing to get her point across quickly to her listeners the evil of slavery and the outcomes from it. She has also written it in an abcb rhyme scheme. This would help people who were listening to her remember the poem easier and therefore would have a greater effect on them.  C. Day Lewis wrote about a personal experience- when his son left home to move on, a she grew up.  He is able to write clearly about parent-child separation as it is something that he has experienced. We can see that this event has made lasting effect on the poet as he is actually dedicating this poem to his son. This also helps to show the personal issue in it between the father and child.

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In each poem the poets have used different methods to explore the theme of Parent-Child separation.  From the title of “the Slave Mother” we can see that this is going to be a saddening poem.  Harper sues paradoxes, repetition and her use of moving language to explore the theme of Parent-Child separation.  Another technique she uses is to make the first and last stanzas quite similar with a few differences.  For example the first line of both talks about a “shriek”.  The last 3 lines of the verses both end with air, heart and despair.  However the main difference ...

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