Assignment In your view, how have poetic techniques been used to convey meaningful ideas in two of Harwood’s poems? (Father and Child + Violets) Response Many poetic techniques have been used to convey these meaningful ideas in Harwood’s poetry, Father and Child and The Violets, to convey the importance of strong bonds between families, acceptance of death, power of memory and maturity. Harwood uses poetic techniques in Father and Child to convey the importance of strong family bonds and the growth into adulthood. In Barn Owl, the paradox evident when “blessed by the sun a horny fiend” shows a clear contrast between the child’s perception of herself and her father’s perception of her. Being “blessed by the sun” portrays the goodness and innocence of the child creating an angelic image however “a horny fiend” as she describes herself is like the devil suggesting that the child is duplicitous. The use of a paradox shows the contrast between having a strong family bond with one another. The child is still naive however when she uses child terms like “old no-sayer” and calling herself the “master of life and death.” This contributes to the maturity of the child and a contrast from her naïve self compared to a mature woman in “Night Fall.” The damaged owl is described as “ruined”, “bundle of stuff”, “dribbled”, “wrecked” and “tangling in bowels.” The negative connotations enhance the reader’s imagery with the descriptive language used. Ultimately at the end of poem the child has learned of the true meaning of death and responsibility, when the father says, “End what you have begun.” The literal meaning shows the death of the owl however the metaphorically it shows the ending of childhood into adulthood. Harwood explores central ideas in The Violet through the power of memory and transience of beauty and youth using poetic techniques. Violets represent youth and memory, which is a