TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE
1 POETRY 1
2 ESSAY BASED ON THE NOVEL SMALL THINGS BY NTHIKENG MOHLELE 3
SOURCES CONSULTED 4
, 1
1 POETRY
1.1 In the first stanza the speaker is addressing her late sibling. The reader acknowledges
this through the dedication ‘’For Dowling (1953 – 2007)’’ and when the speaker says
‘’Dear companion of our youth’’(line1).
1.2 The denotation of the word immortal means to live forever. The poet uses this word
figuratively “When we were immortal’’ (line 1) to emphasize her expression of the
thought of never dying.
1.3 This stanza suggests her childhood life is pleasant, the words ‘’our happy shouts’’
(line 2) indicates to the reader the sense of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. This
stanza also suggests her family life is a shared feeling of interests and experiences, the
words ‘’always eight of us at home (line 4) and ‘’all of us playing ‘’ (line 9) indicates to the
reader the close bond and relationship shared with the family.
2. The poet uses enjambment or run on lines to speed up the rhythm of the poem. The words
‘’long dry grass’’ (line 7) and ‘’ dive-bombing four of us’’ (line 8) creates a sense of
excitement and a vibrant atmosphere created by the game being played in her childhood
with her family.
3. In stanza one, the poet uses assonance the repetition of vowel sounds ‘’gumtrees’’ (line 2)
and ‘’knees’’ (line 3) creates rhythm in the poem and emphasises the speaker’s feelings of
this memory. The poet also makes use of alliteration the consonant sounds, ‘’when we ‘’
(line 3) and ‘’when there were’’ (line 4) the w sound at the beginning of the words create
rhythm in the poem and highlights the speakers emotional state to immerse herself with
once what was.
4. In stanza 2, The image ‘’the love of homes’’ (line 10) suggests a household of intense
feeling of deep affection. Implying a significance to the poems over all meaning although
he is not alive anymore he knew the value of love and a home.
5. The poet makes use of uncomplicated and easy to understand diction to convey the
speakers setting. She achieves this by using words ‘’returning often ‘’ (line 11) and ‘’I’ve
been back there ‘’ (line 12) to indicate to the reader she is referring to her home where she
grew up once and returned at present time after his death. The poet also makes use of
punctuation, “saying:” (line 12) to slow down the pace of the poem. The use of the
punctuation forces the reader to pause and understand the meaning and highlight the
importance of the period in time.
6. In stanza one the repetition of the title, “Red rover, red rover, come over’’ (line 9) indicates
to the reader the happy childhood memory being portrayed. In stanza 4 the words, ‘’you’re
there now’’ (line 14) indicates the significance of the title to the reader as the title means a
1 POETRY 1
2 ESSAY BASED ON THE NOVEL SMALL THINGS BY NTHIKENG MOHLELE 3
SOURCES CONSULTED 4
, 1
1 POETRY
1.1 In the first stanza the speaker is addressing her late sibling. The reader acknowledges
this through the dedication ‘’For Dowling (1953 – 2007)’’ and when the speaker says
‘’Dear companion of our youth’’(line1).
1.2 The denotation of the word immortal means to live forever. The poet uses this word
figuratively “When we were immortal’’ (line 1) to emphasize her expression of the
thought of never dying.
1.3 This stanza suggests her childhood life is pleasant, the words ‘’our happy shouts’’
(line 2) indicates to the reader the sense of happy satisfaction and enjoyment. This
stanza also suggests her family life is a shared feeling of interests and experiences, the
words ‘’always eight of us at home (line 4) and ‘’all of us playing ‘’ (line 9) indicates to the
reader the close bond and relationship shared with the family.
2. The poet uses enjambment or run on lines to speed up the rhythm of the poem. The words
‘’long dry grass’’ (line 7) and ‘’ dive-bombing four of us’’ (line 8) creates a sense of
excitement and a vibrant atmosphere created by the game being played in her childhood
with her family.
3. In stanza one, the poet uses assonance the repetition of vowel sounds ‘’gumtrees’’ (line 2)
and ‘’knees’’ (line 3) creates rhythm in the poem and emphasises the speaker’s feelings of
this memory. The poet also makes use of alliteration the consonant sounds, ‘’when we ‘’
(line 3) and ‘’when there were’’ (line 4) the w sound at the beginning of the words create
rhythm in the poem and highlights the speakers emotional state to immerse herself with
once what was.
4. In stanza 2, The image ‘’the love of homes’’ (line 10) suggests a household of intense
feeling of deep affection. Implying a significance to the poems over all meaning although
he is not alive anymore he knew the value of love and a home.
5. The poet makes use of uncomplicated and easy to understand diction to convey the
speakers setting. She achieves this by using words ‘’returning often ‘’ (line 11) and ‘’I’ve
been back there ‘’ (line 12) to indicate to the reader she is referring to her home where she
grew up once and returned at present time after his death. The poet also makes use of
punctuation, “saying:” (line 12) to slow down the pace of the poem. The use of the
punctuation forces the reader to pause and understand the meaning and highlight the
importance of the period in time.
6. In stanza one the repetition of the title, “Red rover, red rover, come over’’ (line 9) indicates
to the reader the happy childhood memory being portrayed. In stanza 4 the words, ‘’you’re
there now’’ (line 14) indicates the significance of the title to the reader as the title means a
