www.mycsecenglish.com CSEC ENGLISH B MODEL ESSAY Z. Y.

Banton (2016)

Choose two poems that you have studied which explore parent-child relationships.

Explain what happens in the poems. Discuss how either the parent or the child is
affected by the relationship. Comment on how effectively the poet uses one device to
reveal the complexities in a parent-child relationship.

Introductory Paragraph
The parent-child relationship can be both rewarding and complex. It  Gives an opening sentence
is therefore no surprise that parent-child relationships would be that touches on the question
explored in the works of many poets. Two poems which explore the  Identify the text(s) that will
idea of parent-child relationship are: “Little Boy Crying” and “Once be discussed
Upon a Time”. In each poem, the parents and children are affected by  Touches on the points that
an aspect of the relationship. A reader of the poems will also notice will be discussed in the
that the poets masterfully incorporate figurative devices to explore ensuing paragraphs
the complexities of parent-child relationships.  Three-Four sentences are
needed here
To begin with, in the poem “Little Boy Crying”, the poet narrates an
unpleasant encounter between a parent and his son. The poem starts
with the parent observing the child’s reaction to being slapped for Developing Paragraph 1
disobeying an instruction. The striking descriptions of the little boy’s
 Starts with an appropriate
physical response to the “quick slap struck” are observed by the
connective
parent and obviously have a profound effect on him –i.e. the parent.
 The first sentence gives the
The second stanza reflects the child’s stream of consciousness. In the
POINT that will be discussed
child’s infantile mind, the parent is an “ogre” and a “grim giant” who  The next two-three sentences
is both frightening and hateful. The parent seems to be aware of this give EVIDENCE from the text
negative perception the child has of him, but the third stanza serves (s) to support the point
as reconciliation for the reader. In this stanza, it is revealed that  Paraphrase or quote evidence
punishing the child is an unpleasant thing for the parent to do, as the from the text
parent would rather play with the child. This causes the reader to  Two or Three more sentences
sympathize with both parent and child. Notwithstanding, the parent EXPLAIN the evidence
has to take a harsh stance when it comes to teaching the child his
lesson, as the little boy ought not to “make a plaything of the rain”.
Developing Paragraph 2
“Once Upon a Time”, on the other hand, presents a less intense
encounter between parent and child. In this poem, the parent  Starts with an appropriate
connective
reveals to his son that there was a time in which people’s hearts,
 The first sentence gives the
smiles and overall actions were genuine and pure. The parent
POINT that will be discussed
contrasts the past with the present and concludes that due to how
 The next two-three sentences
duplicitous people have become, he has to be duplicitous as well.
give EVIDENCE from the text
Consequently, he feels forced into wearing different ‘faces” for
(s) to support the point
 Paraphrase or quote evidence
from the text
 Two or Three more sentences
EXPLAIN the evidence
www.mycsecenglish.com CSEC ENGLISH B MODEL ESSAY Z. Y. Banton (2016)

different occasions. It is obvious throughout the poem that the parent is disappointed with the
changes he has observed and it distresses him that he has to conform to these changes. The
poet describes these as “muting” things for the parent, who longs to be open and honest with
himself and others. As a result, the parent implores his son to teach him how to be as innocent
and honest as a child once again.

To add to this, we can see that aspects of the relationships have had different effects on the
parents and children in the poems. In “Little Boy Crying” the child is
Developing Paragraph 3
negatively affected by the authority the parent has over him. Due to
the parental authority, the parent has the power to discipline the  Starts with an appropriate
child through the use of corporal punishment to teach the child a connective
lesson. Nevertheless, the child is unable to appreciate or understand  The first sentence gives the
the parent’s actions and reacts with hateful and spiteful thoughts POINT that will be discussed
about the parent. The child’s thoughts are captured in the allusions  The next two-three sentences
to fairy tale characters such as the ogre and the giant climbing down give EVIDENCE from the text
the stalk. The poem does not resolve the child’s misconceptions of the (s) to support the point
parent’s actions, as despite the parent’s misgivings about spanking  Paraphrase or quote evidence
the child, the parent does not reveal to the child that it hurts him to from the text
inflict punishment on the little boy. The outcome of the poem is that  Two or Three more sentences
EXPLAIN the evidence
the child is left feeling hurt and spite without knowing that the

parent was reluctant to inflict punishment and would rather show

Developing Paragraph 4
affection towards him.
 Starts with an appropriate
By way of contrast, “Once Upon a Time” shows how the parent has
connective
been affected by an aspect of the relationship. The child’s innocence
 The first sentence gives the
is almost envied by the parent. The child is able to see all the good in POINT that will be discussed
the world and to be true to himself and his emotions. The parent,
 The next two-three sentences
who has been hardened by adult experiences, has become cynical give EVIDENCE from the text
and hypocritical. The parent implores his son to teach him how to (s) to support the point
embrace the world with authentic emotions once again. It seems as if  Paraphrase or quote evidence
the child is a source of hope for the parent. Through the child, the from the text
parent is able to hope for the day when he will learn how to abandon  Two or Three more sentences
his hypocritical persona and be honest and innocent once more. EXPLAIN the evidence

Finally, a number of literary devices were artfully incorporated into Developing Paragraph 5
each poem. On closer examination of these devices, we learn much  Starts with an appropriate
about the complexities of a parent-child relationship. For one thing, connective
the juxtapositions in “Little Boy Crying” reveal that there is often a  The first sentence gives the
great deal of misunderstanding in a parent-child relationship. The POINT that will be discussed
parent’s perspective is therefore contrasted with the child’s  The next two-three sentences
give EVIDENCE from the text
(s) to support the point
 Two or Three more sentences
EXPLAIN the evidence
www.mycsecenglish.com CSEC ENGLISH B MODEL ESSAY Z. Y. Banton (2016)

perspective. The parent feels justified in his actions towards the child as he feels he is acting in
the child’s best interest this is seen in the latter part of the poem. The child, on the other hand,
cannot fathom the wisdom of the parent and resorts to imagining ways in which he could
react in spite. The irony in “Once Upon a Time” reveals that the parent-child relationship is a
symbiotic one. As the parent teaches the child about the real world, so does he learn to see the
good in the world through a child’s eyes. The poem ends with the parent asking the child to
teach him and longing to learn from the child. This is ironic because the parent sees the child’s
wisdom and is willing to learn from him.

In conclusion, parent-child relationships are very impactful and

complex. The poems “Little Boy Crying” and “Once Upon a Time” Concluding Paragraph
help readers to appreciate the complexities of these relationships.
 Starts with an appropriate
With the use of devices such as juxtaposition and irony, readers of
connective
the poems are better able to understand the parent-child bond.  Summarizes the Introductory
Paragraphs in Two-Three
sentences
www.mycsecenglish.com CSEC ENGLISH B MODEL ESSAY Z. Y. Banton (2016)