The right word
Identify the 6 different names attributed to the boy in the poem. Match each name to a word from the following list: taking shelter, lost, watchful, waiting, lurking defying
Lurking-terrorist, defying-martyr, waiting-militant, watchful-guerilla warrior, lost-child, taking shelter-freedom-fighter
The names/words freedom fighter and terrorist carry very different connotations. Explain each by choosing words from the following list: willing to die, willing to kill, brave, imtimidating, sacrificial, fearful, violent, principled.
Terrorist- willing to kill; intimidating; violent; fearful
Freedom fighter
Brave; sacrificial; fearful; principled; willing to die
How does the word lurking (line 2) create an ominous atmosphere?
Lurking creates on omnious atmosphere because it suggests, secrecy , danger and something hidden. Implying that the boy is involved in something dark or threatening.
What is the purpose of the rhetorical question in line 4?
It serves to challenge the assumptions or judgements of boy. It makes the reader think about the complexity and labels of the boy.
What is it that the poet has not got right line 8?
As to who can be standing outside the door. Referring to the difficulty to finding the correct of fair way to describe is shows the poet's struggle to articulate the words accuratley.
Discuss the effectiveness of the alliteration in lines 11-12.
Mimics the hestitation or wavering in the poet's thoughts.
Comment on the use of the word "your" in line 13.
The use of your in line 13, makes the adress more personal. Drawing the readers attention to the responsibility of language in shaping identity.
Why does the poet mention God in line 16?
The mention of God highlights the moral/ spiritual dimension of the situation it reflects the idea of a higher authority, possibly questioning whether the boy's actions are justified in divine terms.
Who is the speaker adresssing line 24?
The speaker is likely addressing on outsider someone who likely may not know the complexity of the situation and labels placed on them.
The word outside is used 7 times in first 7 stanzas. In the last 2 stanzas the word in is used. What does this show us about the poet's change in thinking?
The poet views the subject no longer s a threat implying that the actual desciption and perspective of the person is better than the poet expected ( their perspective is wrong) They alsoo are more open to the subject.
Why does the child remove his shoes when he enters the poet's house? What does this symbolise?
As a sign of respect and humility, it symbolizes the boy's vulnerability and the cultural gesture of shedding the outside world before entering a space of safety.
Explain the image of the door in the poem and how it relates to words.
It serves as barrier between the outside world and the poet's inner space symbolising a boundary between two different perspectives and reflecting a point of transition.
Discuss the context of what was taking place in the world at the time the poem was written.
It was written 5 years after the terrorist attack in the USA. For some people the perpetrators were fighting oppression but others are murders. So the words used in that time culd have caused friction or healing.