Catrin Essay Example
Explore how Gillian Clarke and Charles Causley present the relationship between a parent and child in ‘Catrin’ and ‘What has happened to Lulu?’
Gillian Clarke was born in Cardiff in 1937 she often writes poems about nature and her observations of people. One of the poems she wrote was 'Catrin.' This poem in particular portrays the theme of a parent and child relationship and how they battle as the chills grows up. 'Catrin' starts off with the birth of the child and how it was a struggle. It later goes on to mention how the fight continues as she gets older and wants to be alone and free. The poem itself is addressed to the daughter Catrin, (because her name is in the title).
The poem begins with the poet saying that she remembers Catrin. The following shows this: 'I remember you, Child,' Here, the poet is speaking to the child by pondering about when Catrin was young. Also, the word 'you' suggests that Clarke is not only speaking to the child, but to us, as readers as well. This draws you to the poem as it puts you in the role of the child and makes you want to read on. Furthermore, Clarke does not mention the daughters name through-out the poem as she uses it for the title instead. By doing this, she has already addressed the person to whom the poem is about therefore she feels no need to mention her name again. Clarke sets the first stanza in the past tense to show how this is what has happened before Catrin was born and how even before then there was a battle between them. The poet starts off waiting in a labour ward. This is portrayed in the following: 'As I stood in a hot, white room,' The word 'hot' suggests a tense heavy atmosphere, which shows her stress and impatience. Here Clarke has used enjambment to suggest movement as she is waiting to give birth. The parent child relationship is portrayed here as Clarke is waiting for her daughter. This shows how the pair depends upon each other as Clarke wants her daughter to come out and stop the pain whereas
Gillian Clarke was born in Cardiff in 1937 she often writes poems about nature and her observations of people. One of the poems she wrote was 'Catrin.' This poem in particular portrays the theme of a parent and child relationship and how they battle as the chills grows up. 'Catrin' starts off with the birth of the child and how it was a struggle. It later goes on to mention how the fight continues as she gets older and wants to be alone and free. The poem itself is addressed to the daughter Catrin, (because her name is in the title).
The poem begins with the poet saying that she remembers Catrin. The following shows this: 'I remember you, Child,' Here, the poet is speaking to the child by pondering about when Catrin was young. Also, the word 'you' suggests that Clarke is not only speaking to the child, but to us, as readers as well. This draws you to the poem as it puts you in the role of the child and makes you want to read on. Furthermore, Clarke does not mention the daughters name through-out the poem as she uses it for the title instead. By doing this, she has already addressed the person to whom the poem is about therefore she feels no need to mention her name again. Clarke sets the first stanza in the past tense to show how this is what has happened before Catrin was born and how even before then there was a battle between them. The poet starts off waiting in a labour ward. This is portrayed in the following: 'As I stood in a hot, white room,' The word 'hot' suggests a tense heavy atmosphere, which shows her stress and impatience. Here Clarke has used enjambment to suggest movement as she is waiting to give birth. The parent child relationship is portrayed here as Clarke is waiting for her daughter. This shows how the pair depends upon each other as Clarke wants her daughter to come out and stop the pain whereas