Half-Past Two

Question 1

Once upon a schooltime

Answer 1

Evokes fairytales –> juxtaposes the fantasy of a fairytale with the harshness of school

Question 2

He did Something Very Wrong

Answer 2

Capitalisation –> Lack of understanding or authority

Question 3

And She

Answer 3

Capitalisation of S –> Importance and implies she’s portrayed as god-like

Question 4

gettinguptime, timeyouwereofftime, timetogohometime, TVtime

Answer 4

Listing –> Poet feels security in his routine

Question 5

timeformykisstime (that was Grantime).

Answer 5

Indicates the fact that he has a loving family

Question 6

Little eyes…long legs for walking…its language

Answer 6

Personification –> Emphasises the innocence

Question 7

he’d escaped for ever

Answer 7

Shows solace (comfort) from an adult perspective with a nostalgic tone –> Triumphant tone also indicates how he’s escaped the confinements of the teacher’s punishment

Question 8

Into the…
Into the…
Into the…

Answer 8

Anaphora –> highlights the timeless void

Question 9

air outside the window

Answer 9

Highlights the image of freedom

Question 10

run along or you’ll be late

Answer 10

Poet returns to a conventional time with a dismissive tone

Question 11

So she slotted

Answer 11

Sibilance –> Heightens she’s objectified

Question 12

Clockless land…tick-less

Answer 12

Metaphor –> Freedom of childhood

Question 13

What does stanza 1 show specifically?

Answer 13

The simple language and sentence structure shows how a boy would speak or think

Question 14

How is the poem written? Why?

Answer 14

Written in 11 tercets with irregular line lengths and in free verse which emphasises his inability to measure time and how, to him, memories are non-numeric

Question 15

Themes of?

Answer 15

Childhood, Memory, Punishment