boekmerk
Joubert, Marlise
Context
This poem is about a teacher's perspective on the children in her class. The
children have cheeks like sparrows. A sparrow is a bird with fat cheeks. The
sparrow is also a biblical (Christian Bible) image, because in Matthew 10:29 of the
Christian Bible it is said that everyone is important, even the sparrows.
Being a teacher can often be a negative experience because children are so
negative about school. However, it depends on one's own attitude about how nice
or how bad it is going to be.
Marlise Joubert was born on the 17 th of December 1945 in Elim, Limpopo. She
studied at the University of Pretoria and worked as a journalist and librarian, also
in a primary school. Her first collection of poems was published in 1970. She is
also a painter and is the webmaster of the website Versindaba.
Analysis:
alliterasie The same consonants are repeated shortly after each
(alliteration) other, for example: "dooie digters - dead poets" in
(line 18)
assonansie Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds shortly
(assonance) after each other. Remember, it's about sound, not
letters: "waar sy ook kon mor - wherever she could
murmur" (line 12). Here it's about the short o-sound
that forms part of the assonance.
enjambement One line passes to the next without a fullstop at the end
(enjambment) of the line. This makes the poem flow.
In this poem the enjambment is used efficiently to
represent the movement of the children.
herhaling Elements, words or phrases are repeated and bind the
(repetition) poem into a unit. It also emphasizes the thoughts of
those elements, words or phrases.
, "met wange soos mossies - with cheeks like
sparrows" (line 2) becomes "met wange soos
saldaatjies - with cheeks like soldiers" in line 26.
Words such as "why" is also often repeated in stanza 3.
It reminds one of the many questions that children of a
certain age ask.
intertekstualiteit Intertextuality is when a poem refers to texts that
(intertextuality) already exist. A poet can intentionally use parts of
another text or for example write over the same topic. In
this poem, the Christian Bible can be seen as an
intertext.
metafoor The poet uses the image directly. When the poet says
(metaphor) that the children's hands are like "woerende vlerke -
whirling wings" (line 3), then it is a metaphor and not
a comparison.
(Metaphor – a figure of speech that describes an object
or action in a way that isn’t literally true.)
oksimoron Two opposing concepts are directly linked to each other
(oxymoron) for effect. (Involves the use of two words which appear
to contradict each other.) For example "bittersweet"
personifikasie When a poet or writer imparts human qualities to a non-
(personification) human object (giving an object human qualities) for
example: "elke lyfie ‘n seilende gesang – every little
body a soaring hymm". (line 5)
progressive It is related to development and change. For example,
(progression) there can be development in the course of time and in
the chain of events.
vergelyking The poet forms a picture through the words. When the
(similie) poet says that the children have "cheeks like sparrows",
then one can see the image in front of you, Words like
‘soos’, ‘net soos’ and ‘nes’ is used.
Tema The influence of a teacher on learners in his or her
(Theme) class.
Stemming Positive and loving
(appearance)
Bou Intertextuality: The poem refers to a verse in the
(Structure) Christian Bible, namely Matthew 10:29. Sparrows were
considered unimportant birds. Yet, they are considered
important to God. In the same way, the children are also
important.
Joubert, Marlise
Context
This poem is about a teacher's perspective on the children in her class. The
children have cheeks like sparrows. A sparrow is a bird with fat cheeks. The
sparrow is also a biblical (Christian Bible) image, because in Matthew 10:29 of the
Christian Bible it is said that everyone is important, even the sparrows.
Being a teacher can often be a negative experience because children are so
negative about school. However, it depends on one's own attitude about how nice
or how bad it is going to be.
Marlise Joubert was born on the 17 th of December 1945 in Elim, Limpopo. She
studied at the University of Pretoria and worked as a journalist and librarian, also
in a primary school. Her first collection of poems was published in 1970. She is
also a painter and is the webmaster of the website Versindaba.
Analysis:
alliterasie The same consonants are repeated shortly after each
(alliteration) other, for example: "dooie digters - dead poets" in
(line 18)
assonansie Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds shortly
(assonance) after each other. Remember, it's about sound, not
letters: "waar sy ook kon mor - wherever she could
murmur" (line 12). Here it's about the short o-sound
that forms part of the assonance.
enjambement One line passes to the next without a fullstop at the end
(enjambment) of the line. This makes the poem flow.
In this poem the enjambment is used efficiently to
represent the movement of the children.
herhaling Elements, words or phrases are repeated and bind the
(repetition) poem into a unit. It also emphasizes the thoughts of
those elements, words or phrases.
, "met wange soos mossies - with cheeks like
sparrows" (line 2) becomes "met wange soos
saldaatjies - with cheeks like soldiers" in line 26.
Words such as "why" is also often repeated in stanza 3.
It reminds one of the many questions that children of a
certain age ask.
intertekstualiteit Intertextuality is when a poem refers to texts that
(intertextuality) already exist. A poet can intentionally use parts of
another text or for example write over the same topic. In
this poem, the Christian Bible can be seen as an
intertext.
metafoor The poet uses the image directly. When the poet says
(metaphor) that the children's hands are like "woerende vlerke -
whirling wings" (line 3), then it is a metaphor and not
a comparison.
(Metaphor – a figure of speech that describes an object
or action in a way that isn’t literally true.)
oksimoron Two opposing concepts are directly linked to each other
(oxymoron) for effect. (Involves the use of two words which appear
to contradict each other.) For example "bittersweet"
personifikasie When a poet or writer imparts human qualities to a non-
(personification) human object (giving an object human qualities) for
example: "elke lyfie ‘n seilende gesang – every little
body a soaring hymm". (line 5)
progressive It is related to development and change. For example,
(progression) there can be development in the course of time and in
the chain of events.
vergelyking The poet forms a picture through the words. When the
(similie) poet says that the children have "cheeks like sparrows",
then one can see the image in front of you, Words like
‘soos’, ‘net soos’ and ‘nes’ is used.
Tema The influence of a teacher on learners in his or her
(Theme) class.
Stemming Positive and loving
(appearance)
Bou Intertextuality: The poem refers to a verse in the
(Structure) Christian Bible, namely Matthew 10:29. Sparrows were
considered unimportant birds. Yet, they are considered
important to God. In the same way, the children are also
important.
