Shooting Stars by Carol Ann Duffy Essay Example

theme of the poem, remembrance. “I say remember. Remember these appalling days which make the world forever bad. ” The first line is effective using just three words to emphasize the word choice; in particular it clearly shows that at this point the persona is alive.

The word “Remember,” is also highlighted being used again straight after one another using repetition. The word choice shows just how awful the situation was, if it was “appalling”. The circumstances in which the Jewish people had to live in is undoubtedly horrendous, so much so it has scarred the world “make the world forever bad. ”. The use of “forever” symbolises what happened can never change. This makes the reader feel shaken and causes us to think more carefully about the treatment of the Jews and how disgraceful the Nazi regime was. Personally I even began to feel guilty knowing such awful things happened and I couldn’t help.

Duffy has managed to make the persona speak out to the world and imagine ourselves in a Jew’s place at the concentration camp, for that reason she has very effectively makes us feel sympathetic. The notion of sympathy continues using imagery, “Between the gaps of corpses I could see a child. ” This line projects an image of a mass grave, which is yet again horrifying, displaying how little respect the victims received even in their death. Nobody was safe if you didn’t fit the standards for an Aryan Race, even a child. The child clearly is innocent; the hope of new life within a child vanished and becomes hidden in a “gap of corpses”.

The sentence

alone paints a picture of the ruthless killings, purely breaking the reader’s heart. The Jewish victims are shown as powerful, courageous, undaunted and undoubtedly collective. A presence of joint rebellion is extracted from the dramatic monologue through specific words. “Upright as statues, brave. ” This quotation suggests that the Jews stood solid and proud, represented by “statues”. This when analysed shows that the Jews were the real war heroes, as statues are usually heroes and people who should be remembered after their death.

This again links back to the theme of remembrance. The “brave” furthermore conveys the theme of war and is a statement telling the reader that they were definitely brave, not just perhaps they were. Consequently the quote makes the reader hold a huge amount of respect for the Jews who stood brave. Duffy continues to include the reader by using imagery and even using a question. “How would you prepare to die, on a perfect April evening with young men gossiping and smoking by the graves? ” the line immediately begs for attention as it is a question, involving the reader.

The concept of having to prepare to die is a deeply upsetting situation, again another trigger of sympathy. There is a reverse scenario within “perfect April evening,” as it is described perfect in spite of the fact that it is very much the exact opposite. In addition April is usually around spring time, meaning new life however life is ending for the Jews. “With young men gossiping and smoking by the graves? ” the “young men” being the soldiers were clearly not in the slightest bothered about the mass

murders they had committed. Is they were going about their everyday life casually gossiping and smoking.

This to me caused disgust and rage, I was stunned at the behaviour and this made me even more respectful towards the victims who lost their lives. This dramatic monologue concludes with “turn thee unto me with mercy, for I am desolate and lost. ” This is a command telling us to forgive the Germans, for their sins. As there is a well known saying “love your enemies”, and forgiveness is the key to that. I have a particular quote I admire which I think fits in with the theme of forgiveness. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” – Dr Martin Luther King jr. I think the persona is telling the readers to forgive but never forget, because “desolate and lost” meaning she is in much distress and lost may mean forgotten. The most shocking thing about this poem, is that this was real. The exact story may not, but the happening it was based on was real. As I analysed this piece more and more I began to understand all the hidden meanings which I found very enjoyable. I particularly liked this task, and I have learned to never forget the tragedies of the Second World War, 1938-1945.