A young man's thougts before June 16
Identify three things that the poet knows he will have give his embarks in his journey of protest.
He will have to give up his family, (his heart aches as he has to leavve his mother behind), he will have to give up is youth (innocence) , as he remembers memories with his friend and the uprising, the implications of the uprising is violence and death meaning something that he was once shelteral from he will have to face. His life ultmately the poet throughout the poem, references themes of death. Time with friends and normal life.
Find an example of each of the following: enjambement, euphimism, alliteration
Alliteration of the letter 's' is in the line 12 ( so sing my sad song sing for me", An example of an euphimism is in line 13, ' for my sunset is drenched with red'/ An enjambement '" sung by a women with downturned eyes and strummed by an old man with a broken brow.
Discuss the context in which this poem was written.
The context was politcal unrest during apartheid. The conflict caused by the forceful enrollment of afrikaans in pulic schools. Learners rose up against the apartheid government on June 16th, a day which many casualties occur (violence, injures and eath). The symbols of this day is Sarafina.
Explain the meaning of the last two lines of the poem.
To sing a song of melancholy, referencing what is to come. This song can symbolise songs sung at funerals as the last line, illustrates that the end of the day of the poet is covered with violence and blood, this can imply that it is the loss of his life.
Summarise the message of he poem in a short sentence.
The children who went to the uprising had ro realise and carry the gravity that whenevr they come back, they wouldn't be same people (changed by violence or even killed). As they prepared for this march, they carried the melancholy of reliving what makes their life full of joy and worth living (memories and people they have to leave behind) as ell as the seriousness od the uprising and bravery to bar its consequences (spending time serenading themselves with funeral songs).
Comment on the effectiveness of the alliteratuon in the following lines:
a. The alliteration of the 'b' sound, mimicks loud relaxed atmosphere of social gathering. The alliteration envokes the casual nature of the gathering and its loudness. Showing that the people present are focused on enjoyment ignoring usual manners which help illustrate the unusual circumstances.
" a sad song sung by a woman"
The alliteration of the 's' sound, refers to the sound of tears falling or grunts made when crying. Indicates the melancholy and depressed mood of the gathering. This is not a joyful meet up, but one of final and urgent nature as the people present don't know if they will see each other again.
" strummed by an old man with a broken brow"
The alliteratio of the 'b' sound, describes the man's expression with broken brow implying that his brows are downtured and forehead wrinkled in focus of the strumming. This line is used to indicate the heavy nature of the oppression faced and how the man has a lost, the strength and energy of youth. This can symbolize that the battle has been previosly fought and it will be a long journey to freedom. It emphasies the worriness.
" o sing my sad song sing for me"
The alliteration of the "s" sound, reoccuringly references the humm of crying, the song of tars showing that the poet hmself is plaguedd by this melacholic feeling, he already in his courage is preparing himself for the heaviness of what is to come and he knows that his sad resign feeling, foreshados tomow's events.
Describe he structure of this poem (not what it is about ) and say whether you think it is effectve.
It is a free verse. It is effectives as it shows the loss of identity , the seriousness and the scramble of the thoughts of the poet clearing envoking the heaviness of the contents of the poet this shows how the poet is just sad, his poem is a memoir a dairy entry to his pain. It is personal and raw.
What is implied about the persona in the lines, ' i take with me only the sweet/ memories of my youth?"
It implies that the persona is leaving behind his carefree life and accepting he may not return.
From lines 8-12, the poet mentions adults and hat their response will be 'tomorrow'. In the context of the poem explain why the adults should sing and play a 'sad song'.
Wise community elderes can be the adult or friends parents. Essentially he tells them to sing a sad song as a dinal goobye to their youth as this may be the last interaction they have with them. Some may die, others injured, others into hiding they won't come back unchanged if they come back. This song can also foreshadow, the further songs to come its significane makes them a funeral song to innocence and naviety or physical death.
Do you find the last line a fitting ending to the poem? Expliain your answer,
Yes, With how much violence occured at the uprising, it can be used to reference tha actual consequences of the historical even itself conjoining ith the contents of the poem. Making the poem itself feel like a findal message from soemoen, their history. Humanizing te brutality of the violence that took place and the traumatic experience that they think more maturely at their age which they shouldn't have to.
Comment on the rich imahery used in the last line.
The last line describes the authors end of day filled wit blood or violence This can also signify his death and the tragic cost of resistance.
Refer to the title. Explain the sigificance of the date.
June 16th is a day students protested against the apartheaid government signifying the fight for freedom against oppression.
What is suggested about the road that "winds to the top of the hill (line 2)?
The long uncertain journey ahead and the courage the poet has for still taking the path anways Or an actual physical walk to the protest.
How does the poet create a sense of immediacy and realism? Qoute in support of your answer.
The lack of punctuation and capital lettes grants the poem its thought like sound. It makes the poem seem like a stream of thoughts and feelings. This is used to convey the ideas that the youth before 16th June thought of or experience. It makes them no longer distant figures but envoys empathy and understanding within us about them and their fight against oppression.
Identify the tone in the line 8-13. Refer to an image and the use of diction in support of your answer.
Melancholic, the poet is courageous but not hopeful believing that events of tomorrow will be filled witgh death, violence
Sunsets are often 'red'. Here, the poet suggests something more. Discuss.
Red symbolises blood or violence refers to the struggle and dath during the June 16 uprising.