They fuck you up, your mum and dad.
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-style hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another’s throats.
Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.
Print the poem out.
Read the poem over at least twice and then answer the following questions in writing to prepare for discussion.
1. Look up all the words you do not know in a good dictionary. Make sure you record multiple meanings of words.
2. Look up the words which you think you know but may be used in the poem with a different shade of meaning.
3. Circle the verbs in the poem. What conclusion can you draw about the verbs?
Before you proceed further, paraphrase the poem in your mind.
4. Who is the speaker in the poem? What do you know about the speaker? On what evidence do you base your conclusion?
5. How would you characterize the form of the poem? Does it have a pattern? what is it? What is the effect of the form on the reader?
6. Identify and circle all the figures of speech in the poem.
7. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? Indicate the rhyme scheme on the poem.
8. What is the meter of the poem? Indicate the rhyme scheme on the poem.
9. What do you think is the point of this poem?
10. What is the dominant effect of the poem?
At the end of the analysis, type a personal response to the poem (about 300 words).