Poems and Short Stories Flashcards

Anansi by Alistair Campbell

• Form: Poem (free verse)
• Voice: 1st-person narrative (Anansi as trickster/survival symbol)
• Summary:
  • Anansi is portrayed as a trickster spider from African folklore.
  • He is a clever symbol of resistance and survival.
  • The speaker admires Anansi’s cunning ways of escaping danger in a hostile world.
  • Anansi weaves his web with cleverness, adapting and challenging power with wit.
  • He uses mind over muscle.
  • The poem critiques colonial power, showing how the oppressed used trickery to get by.
• Themes:
  • Survival through cleverness
  • Colonialism and resistance
  • Cultural pride and identity
  • Power of storytelling
• Tone and Mood:
  • Admiring and celebratory of Anansi’s brilliance
  • Subtle and political
  • Empowering for those who identify with Anansi's struggle
• Literary Devices:
  • Symbolism: Anansi = oppressed people surviving cleverly
  • Allusion: Traditional Anansi stories from West Africa/Caribbean
  • Imagery: Web, spinning, and movement suggest complexity
  • Irony: A weak spider outsmarts stronger enemies
• Message: In times of oppression, intelligence and creativity are powerful tools for freedom.

My Parents by Stephen Spender

• Form: Poem with three stanzas, written in past tense
• Voice: Poet as an adult looking back at childhood
• Summary:
  • The poet remembers his parents trying to protect him from rough, aggressive boys, but he still encountered them.
  • He describes these boys as physically violent and wild, with mixed feelings of admiration, fear, and guilt.
  • He recalls their appearance (thick thighs, bruised thighs, broken teeth) and bullying actions.
  • He admits they "threw words like stones" but never hurt him directly.
  • The poet suggests a tragic nobility in the boys and reflects on the gap between his parents' protective world and the real one.
• Themes:
  • Parental protection vs. real-world exposure
  • Childhood innocence and cruelty
  • Bullying
  • Memory and reflection
  • Socioeconomic contrast
• Tone and Mood:
  • Nostalgic, conflicted, and melancholic
  • The speaker reflects on the complexity of childhood and growing up
• Literary Devices:
  • Imagery: Vivid and harsh descriptions of the boys
  • Contrast: Between the speaker’s parents and the rough boys
  • Irony: Parents tried to protect him, but he still remembers the pain
  • Alliteration: Used to emphasize physical traits and sounds
• Message: Life will expose children to harsh truths, no matter how much parents try to shield them. People we fear may be victims themselves.

Raymond’s Run by Toni Cade Bambara

• Type: Short Story
• Narrator: Squeaky (young girl, confident, tough, protective of her brother)
• Summary:
  • Squeaky is a confident, fast runner and caregiver to her older brother Raymond, who has a developmental disability.
  • She prepares for a race (the May Day race) and deals with rival girls like Gretchen, initially seen as a threat.
  • During the race, she sees Raymond running alongside the track, mimicking her, and realizes his potential.
  • This changes her view, and she cares less about winning and more about Raymond’s achievements.
  • The story ends with her smiling at Gretchen in mutual respect and considering coaching Raymond.
• Themes:
  • Sibling love and responsibility
  • Personal growth and maturity
  • Empowerment and confidence
  • Empathy and understanding
  • Rivalry turned into respect
• Tone and Mood:
  • Sassy, energetic, full of voice and personality, then thoughtful and touching, and ultimately hopeful and empowering.
• Literary Devices:
  • First-person narration: Close to Squeaky’s emotions
  • Colloquial language: Gives authenticity and voice
  • Symbolism: The race = life, challenges, and transformation
  • Irony: She aims to win for herself but grows by focusing on someone else
• Message: True victory is not always about winning but recognizing the strength in others and growing as a person. Empathy and maturity bring deeper rewards than trophies.

Little Boy Crying by Mervyn Morris

• Form: Poem (free verse)
• Voice: A father reflecting on spanking his son
• Summary:
  • The father has just hit his young son as discipline and is watching him cry.
  • The boy sees the father as a monster, full of anger and betrayal.
  • The father feels deep regret and tenderness but knows he must not comfort his son because the child needs to learn a lesson.
  • The poem captures the complexity of parental love with discipline.
• Themes:
  • Parenthood and discipline
  • Miscommunication between child and adult
  • Love and regret
  • Growth and maturity
• Tone and Mood:
  • Emotional, conflicted, full of love and restraint
  • The father is hurt but must hide it
• Literary Devices:
  • Juxtaposition: Child’s view vs. father’s reality
  • Metaphors: "The ogre" = how the child sees the dad
  • Alliteration & imagery: Emphasize emotion and setting
• Message: Sometimes love means making hard decisions. Children don’t always understand a parent’s actions, but the poem shows how deeply parents care, even in painful moments.

Mint Tea by Christine Craig

• Form: Poem (free verse)
• Voice: A woman preparing mint tea despite financial struggles
• Summary:
  • A poor woman makes mint tea from herbs she grows herself. Even though she doesn’t have money for fancy food, she takes pride and dignity in what she can create.
  • The tea symbolizes self-sufficiency and cultural identity.
  • The poem paints a picture of quiet strength. She may be poor in possessions but rich in spirit and pride.
• Themes:
  • Poverty and pride
  • Womanhood and resilience
  • Cultural tradition and healing
  • Simplicity as strength
• Tone and Mood:
  • Peaceful, proud, dignified
  • There is poverty, but no shame — just strength
• Literary Devices:
  • Imagery: Evokes smell, taste, touch of the tea
  • Symbolism: Mint tea = strength, tradition, comfort
  • Contrast: Poverty vs. pride
• Message: Even in struggle, people can find beauty and dignity in their everyday lives. Women, in particular, often bear hardship with quiet power.