Prayer Before Birth
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20 Terms
who wrote Prayer Before Birth?
the poem was written by Louis MacNeice
when was Prayer Before Birth written and published?
it was written during World War II and published in 1944
what is Prayer Before Birth about?
an unborn child prays for protection from the cruelty and corruption of the world
who is the speaker in the poem?
the speaker is an unborn child asking for protection before being born
who might the speaker be praying to?
the speaker could be praying to God or to humanity itself
what fear is shown in the opening lines?
the unborn child fears frightening creatures and dangers in the world
what more serious fears appear in later lines?
the speaker fears imprisonment, deception, torture and violence caused by humans
what does the stanza about nature show?
the speaker hopes to be protected and guided by the natural world
what does the “white light” symbolise?
guidance, goodness and moral direction
what does the speaker ask forgiveness for?
the future sins the world may cause the speaker to commit
what fear about society is expressed in the poem?
the speaker fears losing individuality and becoming controlled by society
what does the metaphor “cog in a machine” suggest?
people becoming dehumanised and controlled by modern society or systems
what does the phrase “man who is beast or who thinks he is God” refer to?
dangerous people in positions of power such as dictators or corrupt leaders
what poetic form is used in the poem?
a dramatic monologue spoken by the unborn child
what structural feature is repeated throughout the poem?
the refrain “I am not yet born” emphasises the speaker’s vulnerability and desperation
how does enjambment affect the poem?
it creates a flowing rhythm and reflects the speaker’s anxiety and panic
what does the final line “Otherwise kill me” suggest?
the speaker would rather die than live in a cruel and corrupt world
what theme about power appears in the poem?
the poem explores how powerful people and systems can control individuals
what theme about innocence appears in the poem?
the unborn child represents innocence threatened by the cruelty of humanity
what overall message does the poem suggest?
the poem criticises humanity’s violence and corruption and expresses fear about the future of the world
