Let Me Die A Young Man's Death - Roger McGough

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

Content

What does it mean?

What type of death does the poet mock in stanza 1?

1. death by murder
2. accidental death
3. unexplained death
4. ordinary death

What does he sneer at with the words "holywater death"?

Explain the pun (=woordgrap) in line 7.

What does the red sports car symbolise?

"Short back and sides" is a haircut. Can you explain the pun in l. 17?

What does the poet hint at with "every piece but one" in l. 24?

What are the similarities between stanza 1 and 5?

Would you call this a 'carpe diem' poem? Why (not)?

Compare Raymond Carver's poem 'Shiftless' to this poem.

Structure & Form

Can you use the literary terms?

What is the metre?

1. anapestic dimeter
2. free verse
3. iambic trimeter
4. trochaic trimeter

Give an example of repetition.

Give an example of enjambement (line numbers)

Give an example of alliteration.

Give an example of assonance.