Children in the Darkness by Henry M Bechtold
Conflict in the poem :
In the first stanza , the poet shows that there are children who are in the dark , which means that they are like a frog in a well who does not know anything about the outer world. Meanwhile, he also says that they are taught how to fight, therefore having a conflict.
In the following two stanzas , the poet aspires to teach these children how to read and dance , but on the other hand , he a.so mentioned that "Chalk and Blackboards will not be" , meaning that teaching the students will not work , so there is a conflict. Furthermore, the poet wants to give the children some hope , but in the second stanza, he said that "And these children are not free" , thus having another conflict.
Point of View :
I think the poet is writting on a general's Point of View. His voice being very dramatised , and "Could we simply light a candle , Could we give them half a chance " , shows that he have the authority to give them hope and not bring them for a war.
Situation and Setting :
I feel that the climax is when the poet aspires to teach these children how to dance and read , as the "Could" brings by tension. I think this poem is set at an orphanage as these children do not know how to read or dance and are also "kept in the dark" , where soldiers can bring them for war.
Language / Diction :
I think that the language that the poet use is effective in conveying the message of the poem. He focuses on two subjects, the children in the dark and they being not able to learn anything. I think that the language used is direct and can be used to reveal the true meaning of the poem easily.
Personal Response:
I learnt that children who are left in the dark suffer a lot and are even brought to learn how to fight at times. I felt pitiful and sad for these children who are living in the dark , and also feel very fortunate not to be one of these children. In the modern world , this type of situation can be found in countries like Afghanistan , Iraq and many developing countries , therefore people in those areas will find it easier to understand the poem as they might have experienced the same situation. All in all , I find the poem very meaningful and evokes strong feelings to the reader.
