A Child to his Sick Grandfather

• "You do not hear me, Daddy dear — / You do not hear me still."

  • The repetition of “you do not hear me” emphasises the emotional distance growing between the child and the grandfather due to his illness
  • The affectionate phrase “Daddy dear” contrasts with the sadness of not being heard, showing the child’s love and helplessness
  • The use of direct address adds intimacy and personal emotion
• "Your fixed eyes begin to wink."

  • “Fixed eyes” suggests a lifeless stare, possibly referencing approaching death
  • The slight movement (“begin to wink”) gives a glimmer of hope , showing the child’s desperate wish for the grandfather to recover
  • The contrast between stillness and movement reflects the tension between life and death
• "You used to smile and stroke my hair."

  • Past tense “used to” shows loss and change in their relationship
  • The gentle imagery of “stroke my hair” creates a tone of warmth and fondness , showing how nurturing the grandfather once was
  • It highlights how illness has taken away the man the child knew
• "You will not die and leave us then?"

  • This question reveals the child’s fear and denial of death
  • The use of “us” highlights the collective impact of grief on the family
  • The tone is both pleading and uncertain , reflecting a child’s struggle to comprehend mortality.
• Regular Stanza Structure

  • The poem is written in six line stanzas throughout
  • This regularity mirrors the child’s attempt to make sense of change and instability
  • It creates a sense of control and rhythm , which contrasts with the emotional theme of decline and death
  • The consistent form reflects the child’s need for stability in the face of their grandfather’s illness
• ABABCC Rhyme Scheme

  • The final two lines of each stanza form a rhyming couplet , which often delivers a poignant or emotional conclusion to each verse
  • The rhyme scheme helps to give the poem a song-like gentle tone , appropriate for the voice of a child
  • The rhyme contributes to the childlike quality of the speaker and contrasts with the seriousness of the subject matter
• Use of Enjambment and Caesura

  • Enjambment is used to show the flow of thoughts, suggesting the child’s emotional outpouring and how feelings can't be easily contained
  • Occasional caesura (pauses within lines) reflect the child’s hesitations or emotional struggle
  • These techniques create a natural, conversational tone, helping us connect with the speaker’s emotions
• • The poem is written in the voice of a child, which adds innocence and emotional vulnerability
  • This reflects Romanticism’s interest in pure, honest emotion and the importance of childhood experience
• • The child’s lack of full understanding of death mirrors how families of that time didn’t always explain death directly to children, yet children often sensed and responded to it emotionally
• • The poet’s sensitive portrayal of a dying loved one highlights the emotional bonds between generations – a key theme in family life during the Romantic period
• • Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) was a Scottish Romantic poet and playwright
  • The Romantic era often focused on emotion, nature, and individual experience