Matric Poetry 2022 summary and analysis - "Assassination"
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Course
English Home Language
Institution
12th Grade
Don't have time to make notes but still want to get good marks? This will help you achieve both. Poem no.11 of the IEB Matric Poetry Set. A summary and line-by-line analysis of "Assassination" by Don L Lee. With a particular focus on poet background information, typography, irony, meaning, context...
‘Assassination’
By Don L Lee
Structure: Typography (shape of the poem) – reflects disjointedness, chaos, and confusion
within the poem.
Poet:
(non-examinable – only intended to give more understanding / context to the poem)
- American who grew up in Detroit (a rough place)
- Became apart of the Black Arts Movement (combining arts and activism – against
racism | for pride & identity)
- Moved to Africa 1974 – changed his name to Haki R Madhubuti
About: A poem about an assassination, and begins amidst the chaos and confusion, from a
first-hand account or recollection of events. Even though, it isn’t certain, there are clues that
suggest the poem is about Martin Luther King’s assassination.
Intention: Emphasise the uncertainty and chaos from assassinations.
Tone: Urgency
Who Is Martin Luther King?
- Leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the USA
- Known for his “I have a dream” speech
- Assassinated
Important Poetic Elements/Figures of Speech/Punctuation:
Alliteration Repetition of a consonant for a desired effect.
(Aspirated sounds)
Parenthesis A word or phrase inserted as an explanation,
(Brackets) afterthought or important information into a
passage which is grammatically complete
without it, in writing usually marked off by
brackets, dashes, or commas.
1|Page Created by Jaimie Morgan
, Ampersand A symbol representing the conjunction “and”
(&)
Enjambement The continuation of a sentence without a pause
beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza due
to a lack of punctuation.
Repetition Repetition of a line, word or stanza used to
emphasize a feeling or idea, create rhythm,
and/or develop a sense of urgency.
Irony Using language that signifies the opposite of its
usually meaning, for humorous or emphatic
effect.
Definite Article Used before a noun to indicate that the
(The) identity of the noun is known to the reader.
Title:
‘Assassination’
- Assassinations are usually associated with political leaders
- Are motivated by political reasons
Part One:
it was wild. Lowercase: coming into action midway, we
don’t know what “it” is.
the
bullet hit high. “was” – suggest the speaker was there
(the throat-neck)
“wild” (exciting connotations)
– we assume the speaker will say
something positive (not).
-Could refer to Black Consciousness
Movement & Hippies during this era.
[.] Full stops – speaker is talking in phrase,
emphasises tension
“throat-neck” – bullet hit vulnerable area
Parathesis/brackets () – holds vital info
rather than extra info
2|Page Created by Jaimie Morgan
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