Distinguishing Different Perspectives
Distinguishing different perspectives – vocabulary words: attitude, differences, however, on the one hand/on the other hand, outlook, outside/inside, perception, perspective, point of view, standpoint
The poem “At the border” is organized around four different perspectives: the guards, the adult refugees and the two children (the five-year-old narrator and her sister).
Stanza one – the border guard and the families.
Stanza two (lines 4 and 5) - the private reflection of the child.
Stanza three - the focus shifts to the sister.
Stanza four – the mother.
Stanza five – the families and mothers crying.
Stanza six – another reflection from the child, repeating the theme of stanza two.
The list of events in the final stanza then moves focus in each sentence until we have a final, concluding observation from the child in line 27.
Describe the feelings of the Mother and the Speaker.