Overview
This lecture analyzes Ingrid Jonker's poem "The Child Who Was Shot Dead by Soldiers at Nyanga," focusing on its context, literary devices, themes, and message about resistance and freedom during apartheid.
Ingrid Jonker: Background & Context
- Ingrid Jonker was an Afrikaans poet born in 1933 in the Northern Cape, South Africa.
- She published poems from age sixteen and opposed apartheid in her work.
- Jonker wrote the poem in response to the 1960 shooting of a child during anti-pass law protests in Nyanga, Cape Town.
- Nelson Mandela recited this poem during his 1994 inaugural address, honoring its significance.
Poem Summary & Key Imagery
- The poem describes the death of an innocent child during apartheid-era violence.
- The title is direct, evoking sympathy and highlighting the child’s helplessness.
- The child is depicted as a symbol of resistance who metaphorically "is not dead."
- The poem references historical sites of conflict: Nyanga, Langa, Orlando, Sharpeville, Philippi.
Literary Devices & Structure
- Repetition of "the child" at line beginnings (anaphora) emphasizes innocence and collective suffering.
- Synesthesia appears in "screams the smell of freedom," blending senses for emotional impact.
- The poem uses free verse: no fixed rhyme or rhythm, and frequent enjambment enhances flow and symbolizes ongoing influence.
- Candid imagery and lack of euphemism intensify the depiction of violence.
Symbolism & Interpretation
- The child symbolizes youth, innocence, and hope, becoming a metaphor for all victims and future resistance.
- The child’s omnipresence ("present at all meetings and legislations") suggests lasting influence and memory.
- "Without a pass" signifies ultimate freedom, defying apartheid’s restrictions.
Tone & Themes
- The tone is bold, passionate, inspired, and courageous, not merely mournful.
- Central themes include freedom (speech, movement, rights), resistance, and the struggle against oppression.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Apartheid — South Africa’s former policy of racial segregation and oppression.
- Pass/Dompas — Identity document black South Africans were forced to carry under apartheid.
- Anaphora — Repetition of words at the beginning of consecutive lines.
- Synesthesia — Describing one sense in terms of another, e.g., "screams the smell."
- Free verse — Poetry without regular rhyme or rhythm.
- Enjambment — The continuation of a sentence without a pause at line’s end.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the poem and annotate literary devices and symbols.
- Reflect on the poem’s themes for essay preparation.
- Prepare for class discussion on the poem’s significance in South African literature.