I have my father\'s voice PDF

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Summary

An analysis of this South African poem written during apartheid and the value of a voice....

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Date: 7 September 2020 English: poetry- I have my father’s voice analysis About the author:    

Born in Soweto 1957-2014. Family was forced to move due to Group Areas Act. Tyranny of apartheid. Grew up in Riverlea. Used writing to explain the ills of apartheid in a gentle way and often humorous.

Analysis of poem: Terminology: 1. Alliteration- repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Highlights expression of movement. 2. Allusion- direct or indirect referral to a particular aspect. 3. Anagrams- a word or phrase or name formed by rearranging the letters to form a new word. 4. Assonance- repetition of vowel sounds. Short sounds- mood of speed, joy, vitality or suspense. Long- slow down pace. 5. Repetition- repeating or reinforcing a certain idea. 6. Synecdoche- a part is used for a whole, or a whole is used for a part. Example: My heart grieved when my puppy died. 7. Tenses- method used to refer to past, present or future. Examining the poem: S- who is the speaker of the poem? o- what is the occasion which is time and setting? a-who is the intended audience? p-what is the purpose of the poem? s-what is the subject or general topic Tone-what is the author’s tone to subject? The title of the poem It is a statement/ declarative sentence which implies that the speaker has inherited a character trait or has a physical connection to his father. Poem could be about identity, sense of self an exploration of father son relationship. Linguistic feature of the poem 

In the first stanza and including the heading the verbs are in the present tense. Most verbs are proceeded by personal pronoun “I”. Focus is now on speaker which is the son.

Stanza 1

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The poem is autobiographical. The speaker reflects on the way his childhood moulded him. He acknowledges the similarities between father and self. The 2 men have same the same mannerisms.: the way they sit with elbows on the table, the way they throw their heads back when they laugh even tone of laugh. Guffaw- loud, raucous. Despite being from different generations the 2 occupy the same spaces, same air. The reflection engages the senses of sound, sight and touch. It is a visceral response to the memories. The register is colloquial. Structure is disorganized hence random memory recollection. Lack of rhyme scheme and rhythm contributes to the sense of fragmented memories.

Stanza 2    

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The tense is now past tense as speaker remembers childhood. The repetition of the infinitive form of verbs serve to create a list of orders or instructions issued by the father Pigeon-toed boy and matric boy scribbling through work is light-hearted and meant to create humour. Speaker remembers being ordered to bed, do homework and go to shop. These memories are self-depricating as the speaker portrays himself as an awkward child with mediocre marks. Accounts for normal families filled with chores. Tone is light-hearted.

Stanza 3      

The tense is in the past tense. Infinitive form is for the father’s reactions for when the children are noisy or slip up with responsibilities. The father blusters. More bark than bite. Development- father reacts to events that a more serious vs mundane house routine. Tone is nostalgic. Memories are of a comical man rather than a scary man. Harsher things- politics? Apartheid? Influence on family dynamics.

Stanza 4       

There is an immediacy where tense is present. Strong verbs are used to show anger. Tone: frustration. Father is late for work many mornings- irony when son comes home late. Alliteration of mmh and shh emphasize the frantic mornings. Basket- Bermuda triangle. Father is angry as he has to search in dirty clothes. The shirts are shoutingpersonification- to emphasize the chaos.

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Deliberate ambiguity with the word angry- is it father or sock? Jack and Beanstalk- allusion. FIFO refers to the F-bombs dropped. Son watches and learns from father’s actions.

Stanza 5   

Recognizes he is like father: short-tempered and use voice. Theme of the poem. Did he find his voice through writing?

Stanza 6  

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Starts with a conjunction- shows a contrast or change to follow. Speaker says his words spew from his mouth hence he has no control. Speaker does not use expletives but assonance and alliteration to express himself. Both are angry but express it differently.

Stanza 7      

He owes his father for things that are instilled in him such as anger. His father exposed him to raw emotions which he can capture in writing. Father’s voice is a gift to the son. Poem is a tribute to his father. Taught him to use emotions. Both sympathy and respect for father. Discipline is required to write- simple and uncluttered.

R- restate the question A-answer the question C-cite the source E-explain...