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Explanation Of The Poem's 'Rape Of A Baby'

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1) The title of the poem is unusual in that, the poet directly addresses the doctor as though she has to account to him for what happened "on the night in question." Reference to the doctor's anguished labour over the brutalized infant, as noted in line 8 "and while you staunched", line 16 "and while you stitched" and line 20,21 "and when finally you stood exhausted at the end of her cot"/ "and asked 'Where is God?' Heightens the readers awareness of the despair that the doctor went through. As the one seeing first hand the result of horrific brutality endured by the baby. These lines also heightens the readers feelings of pity or sadness for both the doctor and the baby. They also create tension for the reader which can be addressed by examining the poem further. This is what makes the title effective.
2) A rape of a baby is an act of horrific brutality that sends shockwaves across the globe, leaving people outraged, horrified and angry. It alters the lives of those involved and also of those who …show more content…

However, in this poem "and" has a double purpose. For one it serves as an additive. In that it preceeds each action taken by the doctor, therefore enlightening the reader about the doctor's grim task. The lengths he goes through to save the little baby as conveyed in several lines of the poem. Line 8 "and while you staunched." Line 11 "and when you administered an infant-sized opiate." Line 14 "and when you called for more blood." Line 16 "and while you stitched." The repetition of AND in this poem is almost like a bell, calling attention to the horrible nature of the crime. Secondly, the repetition of AND links the horrific crime with the positive side of humanity. Encouraging the reader to make connections between the contrasting settings in the poem. Dowling's repetition of AND is very effective because it makes the reader feel the anxiety as he does not experience pauses in the

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