Interview
Nightsong City - Dennis Brutus Analysis
- Course
- English Home Language
- Institution
- 12th Grade
This is an in-depth analysis of Nightsong City by Dennis Brutus.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
Content preview
Nightsong City - Dennis BrutusBackground
Dennis Brutus (1924-2009):
- Coloured South African
- Fought against Apartheid
- Was separated from his lover (who was a white citizen)
- They had to separate as their affair was forbidden
Nightsong City: Analysis
- The poet gives us a specific setting in terms of both time and place
- “Nightsong” evokes images of a pleasant evening with music
- This Is deceiving as the reader assumes the poem will convey a message of
warm nostalgia for social evenings in an urban area (However, this is not the
case)
- The title also juxtaposes the connotations of a lullaby (peaceful, comfortable,
soothing, calm and safe) with the connotations of a bustling city (busy, crime,
hectic)
Sleep well, my love, sleep well:
the harbour lights glaze over restless docks,
police cars cockroach through the tunnel streets
from the shanties creaking iron-sheets
violence like a bug-infested rag is tossed
and fear is immanent as sound in the wind-swung bell;
the long day's anger pants from sand and rocks;
but for this breathing night at least,
my land, my love, sleep well
Structure:
- 3 stanzas
- 3 lines each
, - Rhyme and rhythm complements the aim of the poem (for addressee to
“sleep well”)
- Lyrical/lullaby (In juxtaposition with the images of fear and violence)
Theme:
Figures of Speech:
- Alliteration in the title: the “s” sound is repeated which indicates that the city
is peaceful at night.
- Long, open vowel sounds create assonance throughout the poem and
causes the pace to be slow
- This also adds to the aim of the poem, as a wish for the subject of the
poem to “sleep well” - like a lullaby.
Overall Tone:
- Soft , gentle, calming tone (almost like a lullaby)
- This softness covers up the underlying meaning of the poem
- There is also an underlying tone of longing, fear and worry
Stanza 1
IMAGERY in stanza Sleep well, my love, sleep well: Sleep well: The poem starts by
1 creates subtle wishing the speaker’s “love” to sleep
suggestions of well.
conflict, danger and - Creates a peaceful image
violence. - Repetition of “sleep well”
emphasises the speaker’s desire
for a calm night (as opposed to the
violent reality of Apartheid - night
was a time of terror or conflict)
Love: The implied “love” is the “land”
(as mentioned in the descriptions of
places in the next few lines, as well
as line 9).
COLON: Introduces a list of
circumstances under which his
“love” must sleep.
the harbour lights glaze over restless docks, Harbour lights: Creates a peaceful
image that one will associate with
“sleep”.
PERSONIFICATION: “glaze” - When a
person’s eyes glaze over, it means
that have stopped listening or
concentrating
- The speaker personifies the
harbour lights as looking out
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 EFT, 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 this summary 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 this summary for R75,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
79223 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now