Analysis Of The Poem Ballad Of Birmingham - 1121 Words

Rough Draft for Critical Analysis Essay Irony is a big part in life, especially when you try to something right and it ultimately blows up in your face. This poem written by Dudley Randall â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham† is a world shattering and ironic story of a mother trying to keep her daughter out of harm’s way, and it ultimately failed. Randall wrote his poem in dialogue to show a conversation between mother and daughter. As well as that, dialogue is used to show the hardships of growing up black especially in the 1960s. However Randall also uses irony as an unexpected twist. Lastly he uses imagery to express the tragedy that happened on September 15, 1963. The poem â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham† by Dudley Randall uses depressing irony, ironic dialogue, and heart breaking imagery to not only have a personal impact with his audience but to also give a historical aspect during the raced biased issues during the 1960s. The poem Ballad of Birmingham took place in the 1960s during the church bombing of Birmingham. The poem tells the story of a mother and a daughter, where the daughter is asking to go to the freedom rally. The mother in fear of the violence and fear of the daughter being killed the mother says no. Instead the mother sends her to church where it is safe. Sadly and ironically the church, a sacred and holy place, was bombed. All that was left was a shoe from her baby. Throughout this heart wrenching poem readers can feel the author Dudley Randall reaching out andShow MoreRelatedShadows On The Skin : A Study Of Dually Randall And Paul Laurence Dunbar957 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican living before the civil rights movement. Both men use poems that emphasize sound, structure and imagery to express what they experienced during that harsh time. A careful analysis of â€Å"We Wear the Mask† and â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham† expose that the shadows cast on their skin has a lasting impression. Dunbar and Randall both use interesting imagery in their poems to display how the character truly feels. In the â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham,† stanzas such as â€Å"Her eyes grew wet and wild†(26) and â€Å"DrawnRead MoreBallad Of Birmingham, By Dudley Randall1602 Words   |  7 PagesThe poem I chose to write about is called â€Å"Ballad of Birmingham,† by Dudley Randall, (Lit. Kirszner Mandell, 2012 pg. 378 ). This poem is about one of the four little African-American girls that were killed in a church bombing that was orchestrated by white supremacists back in 1963 in Birmingham, Alabama. The 1960s were a tumultuous decade for America, particularly on the off chance that you lived in the southern portion of the nation. It was pretty obvious that the Southern states were stillRead MoreAnalysis: Ballad of Birmingham820 Words   |  4 PagesAnalysis: Ballad of Birmingham In Ballad of Birmingham, Dudley Randall illustrates a conflict between a child who wishes to march for civil rights and a mother who wishes only to protect her child. Much of this poem is read as dialogue between a mother and a child, a style which gives it an intimate tone and provides insight to the feelings of the characters. Throughout the poem the child is eager to go into Birmingham and march for freedom with the people there. The mother, on the otherRead MoreThree Voices in As I Walked out One Evening by W.H. Auden Essay1157 Words   |  5 Pageseducated at Christ Church, Oxford after his family moved to Birmingham during his early childhood. He later attended Oxford University where his gift as a poet was immediately realized. In 1930, at the age of twenty three, Audens second collection of poetry aptly titled, Poems, was published, thus establishing him as a leading voice of a new generation (â€Å"W.H. Auden†). Audens technical virtuosity and extraordinary ability to write poems in nearly every verse form attributes to his esteem as a writerRead MoreReview Of Shakespeare s Othello 905 Words   |  4 Pagesbeen forced to read these works I don t think I would have. I had never heard of any of them until I read the syllabus. I also enjoyed the poems and short reading assignments such as, I stand here Ironing, Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, The Road Not Taken, Harlem, Ballad of Birmingham, We Real Cool, and Daddy. I learned how to close read these poems to find the deeper meaning of them. I am now able to understand what the author s were thinking when they wrote the stories. I also found itRead MoreAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesquick overview of poetry analysis. Please note that this handout discusses the basics of poetry; there is much more to know about it than there is room to discuss here. Laurence Perrine s book LITERATURE: STRUCTURE, SOUND, AND SENSE can pro vide more detailed information about poetry analysis. Until you can get a copy of the book, I hope this page helps you begin your poetry analysis work. What is poetry ? Poetry goes beyond the rhyming of words. The object of writing a poem is usually to make aRead MoreFigurative Language and the Canterbury Tales13472 Words   |  54 Pagesrhyme. A term used for words in a rhyming pattern that have some kind of sound correspondence but are not perfect rhymes. Often words at the end of lines at first LOOK like they will rhyme but are not pronounced in perfect rhyme. Emily Dickinson’s poems are famous for her use of approximate rhyme. 9. assonance: the repetition of vowel sounds †¢ The child of mine was lying on her side. [i] †¢ Over the mountains / Of the moon, / Down the valley of the shadow, / Ride, boldly ride,/The shade replied