Comparing the images of childhood created in the poems we have studied.
The poem "Hide and Seek" by Vernon Scannell, covers many deep and dark issues. Perception and time are questioned by the author, in a very subtle nature, by making it seem as if it where only a poem on a simple child's game.
The poem "Half Past Two" is a more conventional poem in it's structure, compared to the block of writing which makes up "Hide and Seek" ,as it is made up of equally spaced stanzas and even having some rhyming sections. .
U.A. Fanthrope seems to be telling a story, but when we look closer, we in fact see that the poem, like a "Hide and Seek", actually covers more serious issues in a child's life.
Similarly to "Hide and Seek", "Half- past Two" is about a young child. He has done something naughty in school and is told by his teacher to stay in the room until "Half- past Two". In her rush, she forgets that "She hadn't taught him Time." The only time concepts he is aware of and understands are daily routines such as "Gettinguptime," "Timeyouwereofftime." Whilst waiting, he escapes into a "clockless land" "out of reach of all the timefors." The teacher returns, slots "him back into school time" and tells him to leave, or else he"ll be late. .
Contrasting with "Hide and Seek", "Half- past Two" is written in third person. "He did Something Very Wrong." I think the narrator is the adult looking back on a childhood experience. The poet doesn't make it very obvious by using first person, or second person like "Hide and Seek". .
Fanthorpe uses personification to portray the child's view of the clock. "The little eyes, and two long legs for walking." This view is a child's typical perception and establishes how naive a child can be, a comparison to "Hide and Seek". .
Personification is used further when Fanthorpe uses the pun, "He couldn't click its language." She is progressing further from the point that a child views a clock as a living object.
