Half past two

Question 1

Main structure of half past two?

Answer 1

1. Narrative lyric poem
2. Written in free verse

Question 2

Stanzaic Structure?

Answer 2

1. Poem is structured into eleven tercets - visual regularity that contrasts with its free verse form
2. Tension between visual order and linguistic freedom mirrors the conflict between adult-imposed structure and childlike perception, which is unbound by clocks or rules

Question 3

Enjambment and Caesura

Answer 3

1. Enjambment gives conversational rhythm - mirrors childs non-linear way of thinking
2. Caesurae capture moments of reflection and sudden realisation

Question 4

Typographical Cues: Capitalisation and Compound Words

Answer 4

1. Typographical cues contributes to overall tone and meaning
2. Words like “Gettinguptime”, “Timetogohomenowtime”, and “Halfpasttwo” are compounded neologisms and capitalised to reflect the child’s internal language
3. Mirrors how children often anthropomorphise things they dont understand

Question 5

Juxtaposition?

Answer 5

1. Child vs adult perspective - childs personal times juxtapose the unfamiliarity of “halfpasttwo”
2. Meaningful, real-life experiences contrasted by arbitrary adult concept of quantitative times

Question 6

Final long, flowing sentence?

Answer 6

Mirrors momentary escape for the child