A detailed line by line analysis of the poem "Nightsong: City" created by a 90% matric 2020 English HL student (top 1% in the subject).
Explains the meanings of lines, figures of speech used, structure and more.
Sleep well, my love, sleep well: Tender adress to lover/land
the harbour lights glaze over restless docks,
police cars cockroach through the tunnel streets; Violence
from the shanties creaking iron-sheets Anger
violence like a bug-infested rag is tossed
and fear is immanent as sound in the wind-swung bell; Sounds
the long day’s anger pants from sand and rocks; Alliteration
but for this breathing night at least,
my land, my love, sleep well. Punctuation
Title
Lullaby: soothing, gentle, allays fears from outside world (AH). Colon introduces who the
lullaby is for: the city that is personified as a lover.
Sleep well, my love, sleep well:
To lover: a respite from reality of AH by using a tender tone. Possessive adjective creates
a personal sense of intimacy. Colon introduces an ironic explanation of horror and
brutality after a soothing line.
the harbour lights glaze over restless docks,
Lights are bright, intense and may prevent sleep. Glaze = shiny/glossy (city is too bright
and therefore doesn’t sleep) or blank (people who remain oblivious by ignoring the reality
of AH). Docks are personified as unsettled and jittery.
police cars cockroach through the tunnel streets;
Alliteration: hard ‘c’ sound represents the cruelty the police will bring. Police cars are
compared to cockroaches (creeping, scavenging pests). Streets are compared to tunnel
(narrow, difficult to escape, trapped). Semi-colon functions as a co-ordinating conjunction
to connect images between the stanzas.
from the shanties creaking iron-sheets
Township shack made from tin/iron. Poverty: unstable, temporary house (insecurity &
fear), no sense of protection. Onomatopoeia: old, uncomfortable sound.
violence like a bug-infested rag is tossed
Simile: violence is swarming, invading, full of disease, unsafe, dirty. Violence is carelessly
tossed around (links back to cockroaches)
and fear is immanent as sound in the wind-swung bell;
Fear is constant. Bell usually offers a signal (church, death, omen). No one is ringing this
bell: fear is always around, waiting. Violence exists in the city and fills the atmosphere.
Semi-colon gives a cause & effect/explanation & consequence.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TKahn. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.70. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
