SUMMARY OF GR.
12 POEMS FOR ENGLISH HL – NSC EXAMS (GDE)
Title Athor Message Diction Structure Imagery Tone Mood
Sonnet 130 William Shakespeare Real love embraces Plainspoken, satirical Elizabethan/Shakesperean Contrasts: sun, Satirical → Playful, sincere.
flaws; mocks (“breasts are dun”, sonnet = 14 lines coral, snow vs lover’s appreciative
exaggerated praise. “reeks”). (3 quatrains + rhyming features.
couplet).
The Child…Nyanga Ingrid Jonker Even in death, Repetitive, symbolic Free verse, four sections, Stark: bullets, fists, Defiant, mournful, Sobering, inspiring
resistance and hope (“the child”, “not isolated final line. “freedom and hopeful.
endure. dead”, “fists”). heather.”
At a Funeral Dennis Brutus Mourning life lost Formal, evocative Possibly structured verse Vivid colours (ANC Sombre → defiant. Reflective, resolute.
fuels resistance. funeral imagery. with rhythmic funeral symbolism) vs mud,
references. procession.
Poem of Return Jofre Rocha The guilt and sorrow Regretful, Hybrid sonnet / free verse Metaphors: “tears of From longing and Heavy,
of exile; true heroes introspective (“do with repetition. dawns”, “thread of yearning to anger contemplative.
stayed. Reject not”, “bring me”). anger”. and bitterness.
flowers in exchange Personification Sad, solemn,
for suffering in exile. “tears witness” forceful.
Talk to the Peach Sipho Sepamla Commentary on Conversational, Repetitive, stanzaic Swallows, shadows, Wry, questioning. Reflective, uneasy.
Tree disconnection, rhetorical (“let’s talk addresses to inanimate heat, rubbish heap,
search for meaning. to…”). figures. peach tree.
Prayer to Masks Léopold Sédar Celebrates African Cultural, reverent Dramatic speech, Masks as cultural Reverent, Uplifting, prideful.
Senghor cultural power and (“we are the men of exclamatory. symbols. celebratory.
creativity. the dance”).
This Winter Coming Karen Press Foreboding societal Repetitive, rhetorical Anaphora, structured magery of winter as Ominous, tense. Dark, expectant.
upheaval (“is not frightened”). around rising intensity. political rebellion /
approaching storm.
Solitude Ella Wheeler Wilcox Pleasure attracts Plain, aphoristic Regular quatrains with Anaphora – repeat Melancholic, Lonely,
company; suffering (“Weep, and you coupling lines. “you” & yours” philosophical. contemplative.
isolates. weep alone.”). Abstract, universal.
The Morning Sun… Olive Schreiner Nature’s beauty Shift from Two-part: first light/joy, then Sunbeams, nature, Joyful → despairing Bittersweet,
contrasted with loss celebratory to grief- sorrow. isolation, absence of mournful.
and grief. stricken. child.
It is a Beauteous William Wordsworth Spiritual connection Elevated, reverent Italian/Petrarchan sonnet Water, pebbles, Awe, peaceful, Calm, meditative.
Evening… with nature; (“Listen!”). =14 lines (octave + sestet). evening scene, reverent.
innocence of Edenic references.
childhood.
Fern Hill Dylan Thomas Nostalgic joy of Lyrical, richly Lyrical free verse; repetitive Countryside, natural Nostalgic, lyrical, Dreamy, bittersweet.
childhood; metaphorical. refrains. scenes, time wistful.
awareness of loss of personified.
innocence
The Shipwreck Emily Dickinson Life’s fragility Sparse, stark prose Rigid structure, narrative Personification Shift from relief Tense, sombre.
juxtaposed (in with child’s voice. poem. “winter shakes the (happiness) to
opposition) with door. Storm, mourning (sadness).
innocent curiosity. shipwreck, bells,
children’s questions.
