The different figurative languages used are:
Simile:
Example 1:"eyes as wide as a football-pool"
Meaning: Timothy's eyes are very big.
Why use this:exaggeration
Example 2:"Ears like bombs and teeth like splinters"
Explanation: Timothy's ears are very big and his teeth are very sharp
Why use this:exaggeration again
Metaphor:
Example 1:"And his hair is an exclamation-mark"
Explanation:Timothy's hair is very messy
Why use this:To connect with previous stanza ending with "dark" and also exaggeration
Symbolism:
Example 1:"shoots down arithmetic-bird"
Explanation: Timothy does not understand maths class at all
Why use this: Shoots down symbolises the "did not understand" part and the word arithmetic means math so "shoots down an arithmetic bird" means to not understand maths
Why do I like this poem?
I like this poem because it is a poem with a deeper meaning other than just a humorous poem making fun of Timothy Winters. It is actually a poem that sympathies Timothy Winters.From the third stanza, we already know that Timothy does badly in school but receives no help from the welfare state. He has bloody feet and that shows that he had no shoes to wear and that he lives in Suez street whic sounds like "sewers street" a seemingly unhygenic and dity place to live in. His father is a drunkard and his mother leaves the family and even his grandmother drinks gin and gets drunk.Timothy is thus drugged with aspirin and goes to sleep.The laws prevent him from being able to get away from his misery and the last stanza which is like a prayer, shows that only God can help Timothy out of his situation. Such a seemingly hilarious poem actually is smpathising a poor boy.This is the part of the poem that makes me like it most.
sad to be pitied repulsive rejected unfortunate tough neglected dirty content unhappy caring lovable poor fragile energetic powerful hungry gentle ugly abused