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A Letter to a Son: Key Concepts

English15 CardsCreated 4 months ago

This deck covers the main themes, form, tone, setting, and family dynamics of the poem 'A Letter to a Son' by Charles Mungoshi, along with key literary devices and reasons for the mother's letter.

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Poet

Charles Mungoshi

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Key Terms

Term
Definition

Poet

Charles Mungoshi

Theme or Main Idea

-that family relationships can be troubled and complicated

-the theme is around the idea of a mother reminding her son of his family respons...

Form

-44 lines
-free verse poem
-enjambment (run-on lines)

Tone

-gently chastising

- the mother writing is using a gently chastising tone to remind her son of his family responsibilities which he appears ...

Setting

Rural Africa created through seasonal changes and the references to ripe pumpkins,mealies and milking cows

Family Dynamics

-young brother and sister

-older sister who is unable to attend secondary school due to poverty


-father who is ill,is stubborn,pr...

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A Letter to a Son: Key Concepts
TermDefinition

Poet

Charles Mungoshi

Theme or Main Idea

-that family relationships can be troubled and complicated

-the theme is around the idea of a mother reminding her son of his family responsibilities which he appears to have forgotten.

Form

-44 lines
-free verse poem
-enjambment (run-on lines)

Tone

-gently chastising

- the mother writing is using a gently chastising tone to remind her son of his family responsibilities which he appears to have forgotten

Setting

Rural Africa created through seasonal changes and the references to ripe pumpkins,mealies and milking cows

Family Dynamics

-young brother and sister

-older sister who is unable to attend secondary school due to poverty


-father who is ill,is stubborn,proud and reluctant to borrow money

-mother who is writing this letter and is given the burden of responsibility for the family

-son who has forgotten his family responsibility and never visits

Euphemism

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

-nearly left us
-went down again

Taken in the round (l5)

overall

fallen on my shoulders (l8)

taking on the burden of responsibility
-hyperbole

sowing season (l29)

planting season

queer notions (l33)

strange ideas

Reason his mother is writing to him

she is concerned about not hearing from him,and is hoping for his assistance at home