A Prayer for My Daughter

Answer

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.

Answer

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.

Answer

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

Answer

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

Answer

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.

Answer

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.

Answer

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

Answer

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.