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Sec 1 Lit HBL - Feedback 2024-04-16 00 - 29 - 24
Sec 1 Lit HBL - Feedback 2024-04-16 00 - 29 - 24
In the first stanza, the writer The speaker must have felt intimidated by the older children as in
must have felt intimidated by the lines 3 and 4, they were described by the speaker as big and noisy,
older children as in lines 3 and and who played “rough” games “that swallow you up”. In the
4, they were described by the speaker’s eyes, they were also much more comfortable at school
speaker as big and noisy. They than the speaker because they “must have been born in their
were much more comfortable at uniform” and look so familiar and at home. The differences between
school than the speaker. The them made the speaker feel intimidated.
differences between them made The speaker was also curious about the purpose of the railings
the speaker feel intimidated. In around the playground. He let his imagination run wild, speculating
the second stanza, the speaker that the railings kept out “wolves and monsters” and imagined all
was curious about the purpose the harm that could befall children if monsters, strangers and
of the railings around the kidnappers were to breach the school gates. This suggests that the
playground. He let his speaker must have been feeling quite scared about the potential
imagination run wild. Finally, in dangers in school as well.
the third stanza, the speaker Finally, in the third stanza, the speaker was feeling lonely in line 24,
was feeling lonely in line 24, he he wished his mummy were here with him. This happened right
wished his mummy were here after his comforting thought of his useful “wellies”. This suggests
with him. that the speaker must be longing for comfort and familiarity in the
form of his mother.
“Why are they all so big, other The speaker must have felt intimidated by the other children, from
children?” refers to how the question “Why are they all so big, other children?”, and
intimidating or scary they look suggesting that he was scared by how much larger and imposing
compared to the speaker. they look compared to how small the speaker is.
“Spend the years inventing The speaker might have also felt excluded and lonely, from the lines
games that don’t let me in” “Spend the years inventing games that don’t let me in”, which
refers to how he is being suggests that the bigger children excluded him from their games,
excluded or the other children which were “rough, that swallow you up”. This also suggests that
dislike him. “Games that are the bigger children’s games are hard for the child physically or
rough, that swallow you up” the mentally.
games are hard for the child The speaker must have felt confused and overwhelmed by all the
physically or mentally. “What new terms and concepts mentioned in school that are completely
Sec. 1 Lit 2024 Feedback for First Day At School Ms Koh
does a lessin look like? Sounds foreign and unfamiliar to him. This is evident from how he asks
small and slimy” the speaker “What does a lessin look like? Sounds small and slimy”,
mixed up “lesson” with “lessin” demonstrating that the speaker mixed up “lesson” with “lessin” and
and is unaware of it. “They keep is unaware of it. The speaker mixed up “glassroom” with
them in glassrooms” the speaker “classroom” and he thinks that it is used to keep a lessin which is
mixed up “glassroom” with some slimy pet or animal. Moreover, he mixed up “teacher” with a
“classroom” and he thinks that it “tea-cher” which shows the author’s innocent and naive mentality.
is used to keep a lessin which is This shows that the writer is young and may be overwhelmed by the
some slimy pet or animal. This new vocabulary.
shows that the writer is young. “I Lastly, the speaker laments that “I wish I could remember my name”
wish I could remember my when he thinks of his mother, in a very tender moment which
name” he has bad memory and suggests that the unfamiliar surroundings has made him long for
cannot remember things well, the comfort of his mother. This makes me pity the speaker because
maybe he longs for good he is so little and overwhelmed, and has not been able to adapt to
memory. “Tea-cher. The one his first day at school.
who makes the tea”. The author
mixed a “teacher” with a “tea-
cher” which shows the author’s
childish mentality.
Paragraph Writing Exercise (suggested answer) : What are the speaker’s thoughts and/or
feelings in the poem? Support your answer with close reference to the poem.