Background
Oliver Schreiner (1855-1920):
- Shreiner’s father was a Boer
- Her mother was English
- Shreiner was a vocal supporter of the Afrikaners during this period and,
therefore, she was eventually confined to a concentration camp.
The Cry of South Africa: Analysis
- Written during the South African war (a.k.a. Anglo-Boer War from 1899-1902)
- The British used concentration camps in their campaign against Boer
Republics
- The conditions were deplorable and tens of thousands of South Africans died
(black and white citizens)
- This poem accurately conveys Shreiner’s opinion of the atrocities of war
- The speaker in the poem is the country, South Africa
Give back my dead!
They who by kop and fountain
First saw the light upon my rocky breast!
Give back my dead,
The sons who played upon me
When childhood’s dews still rested on their heads.
Give back my dead Whom thou hast riven from me
By arms of men loud called from earth’s farthest bound
To wet my bosom with my children’s blood!
Give back my dead,
The dead who grew upon me!
Structure:
- Free verse
- 1 stanza
- 12 lines
- No fixed rhyme pattern
- Fixed pattern of 4, 7, and then 10 syllables per line
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 liezlbroodryk. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $4.30. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.