Where Children Live by Naomi Shihab Nye: Analysis
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Kathleen Sandoval
Mr. Royal
AP Literature P4
04 March 2014
“Where Children Live”Analysis
“Where Children Live” by Naomi Shihab Nye has become one of my favorite poems after reading it for this assignment. Many of the poems found in chapter 13 are focused on dark subjects like death or winter, which made this poem stand out even more. “Where Children
Live” causes a feeling of nostalgia to the reader, because it depicts a home full of happiness and imagination all caused by the inhabitants; children.
In this poem Nye expresses how children can create their own identity and beauty within their home. It demonstrates how children are careless towards life, giving them the capability to overcome any circumstance, allowing them to adapt to change. She contrasts children to adults and their lack of simplicity, stating that “To be a child again one would need to shed details” adding to the idea that children are carefree and untroubled. With this characteristic children are allowed to explore life and discover who they are in the world. Through the description of the home Nye depicts children as the true owners of the homes they live in stating that “the house takes on a new face; dignified.”
The poem begins with “Homes where children live exude a pleasant rumpledness, like a bed made by a child, or a yard littered with balloons” these lines explain the playful nature of children, through the use of vivid imagery. Nye is able to construct a scene for the reader to fully experience where children live. These were some of my favorite lines because it gave the
Sandoval 2
poem warmth and comfort making it a more personal experience. Through out the poem Nye does a spectacular job at capturing a whimsical and fairytale like tone
Kathleen Sandoval
Mr. Royal
AP Literature P4
04 March 2014
“Where Children Live”Analysis
“Where Children Live” by Naomi Shihab Nye has become one of my favorite poems after reading it for this assignment. Many of the poems found in chapter 13 are focused on dark subjects like death or winter, which made this poem stand out even more. “Where Children
Live” causes a feeling of nostalgia to the reader, because it depicts a home full of happiness and imagination all caused by the inhabitants; children.
In this poem Nye expresses how children can create their own identity and beauty within their home. It demonstrates how children are careless towards life, giving them the capability to overcome any circumstance, allowing them to adapt to change. She contrasts children to adults and their lack of simplicity, stating that “To be a child again one would need to shed details” adding to the idea that children are carefree and untroubled. With this characteristic children are allowed to explore life and discover who they are in the world. Through the description of the home Nye depicts children as the true owners of the homes they live in stating that “the house takes on a new face; dignified.”
The poem begins with “Homes where children live exude a pleasant rumpledness, like a bed made by a child, or a yard littered with balloons” these lines explain the playful nature of children, through the use of vivid imagery. Nye is able to construct a scene for the reader to fully experience where children live. These were some of my favorite lines because it gave the
Sandoval 2
poem warmth and comfort making it a more personal experience. Through out the poem Nye does a spectacular job at capturing a whimsical and fairytale like tone