A Prayer for My Daughter — Flashcards

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The poem expresses a father’s wish that his daughter grow up with inner peace, traditional values, and protection from vanity, hatred, and the chaos of the modern world.

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The storm creates a mood of danger and unrest. It reflects the poet’s troubled mind and the unstable world outside the child’s peaceful sleep.

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The sleeping child symbolises innocence, tenderness, and hope. She stands in contrast to the violent storm and the poet’s fears about the future.

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It suggests something that looks harmless but is actually dangerous. The sea may appear pure and natural, yet it carries force and threat.

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Gregory's wood is a physical obstacle that helps block the storm-wind. It works as a local, real place name and also adds a sense of protection against the wild Atlantic wind.

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He has walked and prayed because he feels deep gloom in his mind. His prayer shows anxiety about the future and a desire to protect his child.

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He wants his daughter to have beauty, but not so much that it becomes harmful. Excessive beauty can create vanity, self-absorption, and trouble.

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He believes beauty should not attract unhealthy attention or create self-admiration. Moderate beauty is safer because it does not disturb others or make a person vain.