Slide containing subject content about the poem, for grade 10 English HL.

1. A prayer for all my countrymen
by Guy Butler
31st August 2022
Poetry
Miss Moseamedi

2. THE POET: GUY BUTLER
1981-2001
Poet and playwright
Professor of English at Rhodes University
Much of his poetry reflects his concerns about the
problems and difficulties of the life in South Africa
during apartheid.

3. THE POEM
Written in 1987 during the darkest days of
apartheid,
It is a prayer for unity
Religious influence (Christianity)
 Written in the form of a prayer, describes the
poet’s wishes for South Africa during apartheid.

4. XXX
ANALYSING THE
POEM

5. THEME:
Racism
Hope
Faith
Endurance

6. PLOT
STANZA 1:
People cannot see an end or solution to South Africa’s
problems (under apartheid), or imagine a life after
apartheid.
He asks God to make sure that once the horrors of
apartheid have ended, people will behave in such a way
that they will keep their faith in him and practice
humanity.

7. PLOT
STANZA 2:
In spite of all suffering, some have been able to remain
kind and good, to smile bravely through their troubles,
and to think clearly.
This gives him hope that there will be a better future.

8. TONE
Reverent
Sincere
Hopeful
Prayerful

9. STRUCTURE
Lyric poem: non-narrative poem that expresses the poet’s feelings
about something.
In this case the poet expresses his feelings about what he wants for
South Africa
Poem made up of two lines, each stanza is a line. Longer sentences
are more expressive, allowing the poet to fully speak or express his
feelings/ideas.
Enjambment: when a line is carried over onto the next line.
In this case the poet uses enjambment to carry his ideas over to the
next line, allowing him to combine his ideas and express his
idea/feeling more.

10. STYLE
The simple diction (choice of words), makes it
suitable for a prayer and emphasises the poet’s
sincerity- the prayer comes from the heart.

11. ALLITERATION
Line 2: tragic time’s
Alliteration of “t” sound emphasises the sadness. Apartheid was a
very sad time for people of colour.
Line 12: beaten, broken
Alliteration of “b” sound emphasises the harsh sound that echoes
heavy blows falling on a body. During apartheid, people were beaten
and broken as a result of physical violence done to them.

12. PERSONIFICATION
• Line 9-10: when all these terrors and hates are dead
Terrors and hates are personified, as being “dead” happens
to living things.
The terrors and hates refer to the negative effects of the evil
system of apartheid. Therefore, all the suffering will die, or
come to an end as time goes.

13. METAPHOR
Line 11: through rotting days,
Metaphor: indirect comparison
Apartheid is compared to something that is rotten,
showing how it is a morally corrupt and evil system. Its
evil deeds can be seen in how people of colour were being
treated.

14. CLASS ACTIVITY
Page 6 of Poetry book