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Use of Poetic Techniques to Evoke Sympathy in Barbara Noel Scott's Poem "Stillbirth"
Introduction
Stillbirth by Barbara Noel Scott is about a woman reflecting back on when she gave birth to her dead baby. She expresses her thoughts and feelings throughout the poem. Discuss how Scott evokes sympathy towards the woman through poetic techniques such as word choice, imagery and metaphor.
Firstly, the poet’s word choice evokes sympathy from the reader: “bearing nothing but a stone”, the woman describes the fetus as a stone; she is meaning that it was hard and cold. Also, the baby is getting described as a stones as it gives the reader the impression the baby is rather small or premature. This makes the reader feel sympathy for her, because already the reader knows there is something wrong with the baby. She is also in a lot of pain giving birth we know this because she is “gasping for breath”.
Furthermore, another example of word choice is “gasping” the woman is having difficulty to breathe. She is barely able to breathe. She is getting to the stage that she has been in labour for a long time now and is very tired. This evokes sympathy for her because she is trying her best like any mother would but she is barely able to do anything. She is struggling for life which mirrors the struggle of the baby.
Additionally, the poet is able to evoke sympathy through her use of imagery. “I would have snatched if from them, carried it in my . . . read more.
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