Poetry Essay
27 11 2009In the poems “Hide and Seek” by Vernon Scannell and “False Security” by John Betjeman, the experience of childhood is being inexperienced and insignificant because of innocence which leads to a moment causing disappointment when growing up becomes overwhelming. There are many similarities and differences in the way the poets of the texts use a variety of the techniques to convey the experience of childhood.
In the poem “Hide and Seek” the central child, presumed to be a boy, is excited by the game of Hide and Seek. The poem begins with the frantic yelling of “I’m ready. Come and find me!” This sentence is short and sharp, being used by the poet to show the tension and excitement of the game and the anticipation of being found. The exclamation mark also brings forth the idea of excitement. He is so excited that he notices many ordinary things like “the sacks in the tool-shed smell like the seaside” and that “the floor is cold.” Because he is more aware, the excitement of not missing any moment builds. The line “I’ve won! Here I am! Come and own up! I’ve caught you!” shows the notion of the building excitement as the boy is triumphant and proud in what he has done. It seems very childish in the way he is so fully immersed in the setting, looking at and touching everything that he can lay his hands on. This is similar to “False Security” in which a young boy experiences excitement when he arrives at a party for his “dear little hostess.” He could not “still ones thrill at the candle shine On cakes and ices and jelly and blackcurrant wine” which shows that there are many things in which too look at that he is getting so excited by the welcoming masses of food. Both poems are in the moment, with the multiple use of the word “And” prolonging out the moment and making it seem that all of the setting is coming in on the boys at once. The excitement in both poems is a key way in which they show innocent childhood enjoyment.
Both poems end in disappointment leaving both children feeling loss and sadness. In “Hide and Seek” the last three lines of the poem contradict the excitement felt previously by the boy. The excitement is immediately drawn out of the speakers setting as “the darkening garden watches, nothing stirs.” The light or happiness in the garden is being taken away and filled by the dark sadness of the boy. He questions “where are they who sought you?” as the game of Hide and Seek ends with the boy not being found. “The bushes hold their breath, the sun is gone” is showing that the joy and happiness has been lost. The bushes symbolise the reader who is anxious with the anticipation and is beginning to realise what will happen to the young innocent boy. There is also disappointment in “False Security” but the impact on the boy is revealed in a different way than in “Hide and Seek.” The boy is “too overexcited and pleased” with himself so does not realise that the words of the hostess’ mother “would ever diminish my joy.” The words “I wonder where Julia found that strange, rather common little boy?” at the time have little effect on the boy because of the thrill he feels. He would never have thought that words would make him unhappy; the main reason for this is because he does not understand the nature of the cruelty behind the words, due to his inexperience. In the end however both poems leave the speaker feeling lost and unwanted.
Although “False Security” shares the same sense of excitement and disappointment with “Hide and Seek” it is presented in a different way. While “Hide and Seek” is presented as it takes place, “False Security” is a reflection. The speaker is reflecting on his memory of the party in a childlike way. At the time the mother’s words did not affect him but in later years they did because he can remember it, and it did diminish his joy for all his life after that time. “I remember the dread” gives the sense that the key reason why this poem was remembered and reflected upon was because of the dread and the disappointment that it instilled in the speaker. Unlike “False Security” “Hide and Seek” creates the effect that there is a sort of inner conversation which is taking place within the boy who is hiding in the tool-shed. The reader feels the sense of a fast momentum because of it’s in the moment appearance. While in both poems the reader is involved, whether it is reflection or not, as in “Hide and Seek” Scannell’s use of second and third person words like “you” and “I” put the reader in the poem so they can experience what happens and discover how they can relate that to their own lives. “False Security” also uses first person which involves and also questions the reader to make judgemental decisions about what they believe the poems underlying theme or message is.
The experiences of the children in “Hide and Seek” and “False Security” are similar in the way they deal with the notions of excitement and disappointment however both contrast differently in the way they are presented to the reader. I believe that, although the inexperienced children are faced with moments of disappointment, it is necessary for them to learn about growing up and the various techniques used by Scannell and Betjeman are used to demonstrate this in the poems.
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