Childhood (Poem)

Childhood
-Markus Natten
An Overview
Theme
Annotations
Tone & Style Of The Poem

Prepared By
Poetic Devices
Sushma Singh
Introductory note
The poem ‘Childhood’, highlights the process of
growing up as the the poet ponders deeply over
the question of his lost childhood. He recalls a
number of stages when his thoughts and
perceptions about the world and people changed.
The transition is perhaps hard to understand but it
is a harsh reality that one grows up someday and
becomes aware of the realities of life. He feels a
sense of nostalgia for the lost childhood and
finally settles down with an idea that his
childhood has gone to some forgotten place and
that place could only be found in an infant's
innocent face. The moment one loses
innocence ,one ceases to be a child.
Theme
The poem ‘ Childhood’ focuses on the theme of the biggest loss in

the phase of life i.e. loss of innocence and faith in the quest of
growing up. One of the broader themes of this poem is to inculcate
the values of accepting differences , understanding people ,
becoming sensible and valuing childhood as well as freedom .
Every effort should be made to revive that innocence of childhood in
order to make the world a better place to live in . This poem also
exposes adults and presents them in their true colors . The poet also
underlines the fact that intellectual independence is very crucial .
Tone & style of the poem
Tone- curious and rational tone as he speaks of the aspects of growing up
a tinge of optimism is there towards the end as he feels that innocence and purity
of mind prevails in some form or the other on this earth..
Lyric- The structure of the poem is suggestive of the

subject matter of the poem. As the poem follows a
subjective perspective of telling things, it is a lyric.
Annotation Stanza :1
Childhood has been considered as a blissful period of one's life. In this poem the poet is in the
quest to ascertain when exactly he lost his childhood and stepped into adulthood . He exhibits
various possibilities that might be responsible for the ending of the poet’s childhood .
According to him rationalism is the first factor involved in the process of growing up.
I realized that Hell and Heaven----- Then he

He speculates that he might have lost his thought of the day/stage when he refused to accept
childhood when he crossed the age of eleven mutely what the elders told him . He started applying
reason to what he read, heard or told . As he gained
i.e, growth in terms of years .
rational outlook and spirit of enquiry , he realized that
Hell and Heaven are mere imaginary concepts . He
could differentiate between fact and fiction now.
Could not be found……. - Geography textbooks do not give the

location of Hell and Heaven and hence he rationally concludes that they
do not exist in reality. Education made the poet look at the world much
more rationally .
Annotation Stanza : 2
Moving on, the poet deliberates on the same question regarding the loss of his childhood.
The more he probes into it , the more confused he feels. The ability to see through
hypocrisy and craftiness is also involved in the process of growing up.
Adults were not all they seemed to be ….. - The poet reflected They talked of love and ……The child finds
that he might have lost his childhood when he was able to see
through the hypocrisy of adults and became critical. gap in preaching and practice of the
He noticed a wide gulf between what adults appeared to be and adults. He finds the adults professing love
what they actually were in real life. Simplicity , innocence and
honesty seemed to evaporate into air the moment man crosses and affection but in their dealings they
the threshold of childhood. Thus a child lost its faith in the adults , show no such emotions. They are greedy,
who were so far trusted and looked up to. He becomes aware of
the falsehood, pretence and hypocrisy of the adult world. This
argumentative, violent and discourteous.
‘realization ‘ signals the end of childhood. He feels that appearances are deceptive.
But did not act so lovingly- Adults are double faced and crafty.
They appear to be warm and loving but they don’t have any
such feelings in their hearts .Indeed their behavior is full of
manipulation and thus a far cry from what they advocate.
In the third stanza the poet , pondering over the same question wonders if it was the day when
his personality acquired certain individuality which set him free from the prejudiced opinions of
others around him i.e. discovery of one’s individuality is the most important factor involved
in growing up.
My mind was really mine- In the Whichever way I choose- He discovers that he
process of growing up the poet discovers has become assertive and independent. He can
his individuality and finds himself to be use his mind in any way he likes without getting
unique. He gets a sense of relief at being influenced by anyone else. He can generate his
the master of his own mind . own ideas and this fills him with self confidence.
Producing thoughts …....mine alone - He realized that his own experiences shaped
his thoughts and thus his thoughts were entirely his own . He was able to take his own
decision instead of copying others. His capacity to have individual thoughts enhances
his confidence and gives him a sense of pride. Intellectual independence is not only the
sign of grown up person but also crucial to individual.
In the last stanza the poet changes his question, from wondering at what point in time, he
has lost his childhood, the poet now wonders where it went. Here he beautifully sums up the
process of growth and the disappearance of a particular stage of life. He becomes practical .
Some forgotten place-The poet believes now that

Hidden in an infant’s face- He recalls his infancy and
he has lost his childhood and he will not be able to
believes that his true childhood resides there, i.e. in an
regain his child like purity and innocence . He
infant’s face which has no pretension but trusts others
becomes practical . What is gone, is gone. It belongs
unconditionally. The poet suggests that we can relive the
to the past time that is forgotten now as it cannot be
pure and unadulterated childhood when we are with
retrieved from there. His childhood has become
another infant and this will lead to self discovery.
nothing more than a memory for him.
That’s all I know- Life is an irreversible cycle. Childhood once lost can not be regained. The poet takes middle path in
this poem. Though the poet grows nostalgic about his childhood and regrets at the loss of his childhood, which was a
beautiful phase of his life ,he feels that he can witness childhood in other infants and children. He knows that the
innocent faces brimming with the hope of a new day ,are always there to cheer him up. He is also convinced by the
advantages of growing up. Childhood stands for innocence and purity but its loss is compensated by the gain of
understanding power in adulthood i.e. gaining of maturity . He can control his own mind and create original ideas now .
He gains confidence and becomes an independent thinker.
Poetic Devices
Refrain-( a phrase or verse recurring at
intervals)
e.g.-i) when did my……, ii)was that the day
Alliteration( repetition of same consonant sound in Inversion- ( when the subject –verb order is
the beginning of a word in the same line) reversed)
e.g. i) the time ……, ii) whichever way…., iii) my e.g. to use whichever way I choose
mind……, iv) they talked & v) that the day
Metaphor
e.g. Producing thoughts …....mine alone ( just
like a machine ,mid produces thoughts)
Comprehension Check
• 1.How did the realization of being the master of his own mind help him?
• 2.Where can the poet find his childhood? Is it lost irrevocably?
• 3. What does the poet observe in the behavior of adults? Does he approve
of it?
• 4. Explain: ‘ some forgotten place’
• 5. What is the poet’s feeling towards childhood?

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Childhood

Tone & Style Of The Poem

The poem ‘ Childhood’ focuses on the theme of the biggest loss in

Lyric- The structure of the poem is suggestive of the

I realized that Hell and Heaven----- Then he

Could not be found……. - Geography textbooks do not give the

Some forgotten place-The poet believes now that

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