Thirteen (OCR GCSE English Literature): Flashcards
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14 cards from this deck
Author of 'Thirteen'
Author of 'Thirteen'
Caleb Femi (b. 1990)
Caleb Femi's birthplace
Caleb Femi's birthplace
Nigeria
Age Femi moved to England
Age Femi moved to England
7 years old
Where Femi grew up in London
Where Femi grew up in London
North Peckham estate, South London
Three main themes in 'Thirteen'
Three main themes in 'Thirteen'
Prejudice, lost potential, societal conflict
Transition addressed in 'Thirteen'
Transition addressed in 'Thirteen'
Childhood innocence to harsh realities for black teens
Device: 'dust in your lungs makes stars'
Device: 'dust in your lungs makes stars'
Metaphor for hardship/adversity creating potential
Device: 'supernovas are dying stars'
Device: 'supernovas are dying stars'
Metaphor & irony; brilliance destined to be cut short
Device: 'Your skin becomes a target'
Device: 'Your skin becomes a target'
Metaphor for racial profiling & criminalisation
Device: 'no longer a bright star'
Device: 'no longer a bright star'
Repetition & contrast; loss of innocence
Device: 'thirteen, forever'
Device: 'thirteen, forever'
Hyperbole & symbolism; trapped at unlucky age
Effect of second-person address
Effect of second-person address
Creates immediacy & personal involvement for reader
Effect of future tense in poem
Effect of future tense in poem
Creates sense of inevitability & predetermined path
Extended metaphor throughout poem
Extended metaphor throughout poem
Stars and supernovas (potential & tragic irony)