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The Right Word - Coggle Diagram
The Right Word
Stanzas 6-9
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is a boy who looks like your son, too.
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And carefully, at my door,
Takes off his shoes.
custom; sign of respect, vulnerability and peace; child is away from human conflict and violence of outside world; enters home as an innocent guest
Structure
free verse: conversational, uncertain
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Tone
Shifts from fearful, sinister to sympathetic, gentle, hospitable
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Stanzas 1-5
Outside the door,
speaker is inside door; other person is else where; this phrase is repeated; outside is separation between safety and danger; door acts as a barrier (separating the two sides); us vs them
Lurking in the shadows,
lurking: waiting stealthily/creeping around like a criminal in the dark, planning to attack or plot something evil against speaker...both shadows(hidden) and lurking are negative connotations suggesting suspicion, mysterious, sinister, unknown, dangerous
is a terrorist.
political label; someone who uses violence (willing to kill) to threaten/ intimidate public and influence government by their political ideology; prejudice
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Taking shelter in the shadows,
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is a freedom-fighter.
political label; someone who is part of a resistance movement and works against an oppressive regime or government; principled, brave, sacrificial;
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Outside, waiting in the shadows,
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than waving, wavering flags?
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What weight do words carry? What do they truly mean? Words are compared to flags..we use political labels and not see the person for who their true idendities are..speaker questions whether words are just political tools rather than truth
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watchful in the shadows,
watchful: alert, surviving
is a guerilla warrior.
member of a group of armed fighters; noble/respected, irregular fighters
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Outside, defying every shadow,
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Historical Context
Poem written in 2006, five years after 9/11 events (attack on the World Trade Centre). At that time, labels were heavily used. Loaded labels alienated groups. People were either seen as freedom-fighters or terrorists. A nation's freedom-fighter could be another's terrorist.