This poem is very unusual in a few ways; to begin with, it has a very long title. This title has a multiple purposes and aspects to it. Firstly, it is dedicated to a doctor (The words: “To the doctor who treated...”). This suggests that the speaker is someone who is thanking the doctor treating this baby. It also gives recognition to the doctor.
Secondly, it describes this doctor’s personal hurt as well as empathy, by using the words “...who felt such despair”. Lastly, it sets the scene and gives the setting for the poem, by informing the reader what exactly happened here. It was the doctors’ job to take care of a “[the] ...raped baby”.
By this one sentence, the reader is shocked at this reality. A tone of despair, pain and sympathy towards …show more content…
Interestingly, only in the first 4 lines and the last 4 lines of the poem has the speaker referring back to him/herself/themselves; making it personal. This strengthens “opening and ending” of the poem.
Question 3:
The two contrasting scenes are of the doctor taking care of the baby and everyday family scenes on the other side. Dowling uses this contrast very effectively throughout the poem and shows the immense trauma and pain of the doctor felt while caring for this badly violated infant.
In lines 2 to4, where the speaker makes a subtle metaphor, “that on the night in question [2] there was a light on in the hall [3] for a nervous little sleeper [4]”Saying that the night that the doctor had to care for the baby was like a parent or caregiver leaving a light on for a child who was afraid of the dark. The roles of the people who were supposed to take care of this baby, was “taken over” by the doctor. He/she was also like a light in a dark hall, bringing comfort and relief in seemingly hopeless situation.
This contrasts heavily with the normal family scenes on the other hand. Dowling effectively contrasts these settings by putting them directly after each other, creating two different worlds. Some examples of this contrast
Secondly, it describes this doctor’s personal hurt as well as empathy, by using the words “...who felt such despair”. Lastly, it sets the scene and gives the setting for the poem, by informing the reader what exactly happened here. It was the doctors’ job to take care of a “[the] ...raped baby”.
By this one sentence, the reader is shocked at this reality. A tone of despair, pain and sympathy towards …show more content…
Interestingly, only in the first 4 lines and the last 4 lines of the poem has the speaker referring back to him/herself/themselves; making it personal. This strengthens “opening and ending” of the poem.
Question 3:
The two contrasting scenes are of the doctor taking care of the baby and everyday family scenes on the other side. Dowling uses this contrast very effectively throughout the poem and shows the immense trauma and pain of the doctor felt while caring for this badly violated infant.
In lines 2 to4, where the speaker makes a subtle metaphor, “that on the night in question [2] there was a light on in the hall [3] for a nervous little sleeper [4]”Saying that the night that the doctor had to care for the baby was like a parent or caregiver leaving a light on for a child who was afraid of the dark. The roles of the people who were supposed to take care of this baby, was “taken over” by the doctor. He/she was also like a light in a dark hall, bringing comfort and relief in seemingly hopeless situation.
This contrasts heavily with the normal family scenes on the other hand. Dowling effectively contrasts these settings by putting them directly after each other, creating two different worlds. Some examples of this contrast