HBL 24May

Children in Darkness

1)In many war torn countries, children not only are deprived from education, many were also recruited, mostly forced, into armies to fight. For example, in 2004, Burundi, hundreds of child soldiers served in the Forces Nationales pour la Libération (FNL), an armed rebel Hutu group. Children between the ages of 10 and 16 were also conscripted by the Burundese Military. Also, in Cote d'ivoire, many children were recruited forcefully on both sides during the civil war. All these children are deprived of a chance to read and write some of them are even forced to be sex slaves.

2)

Steps in Analysis
	Point	Evidence	Elaboration
1.	Point of View Point of View of Author	The Writer wrote about these children from his point of view and how he sees things	By Writing from an outsider’s point of view, he can truly convey the thoughts and feelings expressed to others.
2.	Situation and Setting Poor and war torn countries Children are not able to get education Children are in the army at a young age	“Or will a war consume them Their body and their soul” “Chalk and blackboards will not be To this door there is no key From this life they cannot flee” “Or will a war consume them Their body and their soul Will their life and blood be poured Down some endless thirsty hole”	This sentence tells us that the setting is in a war torn environment. This sentecnce tells us that the children will not be using chalk and blackboards, which are items found in a classroom. This implys that they are not able to go into a classroom, due the the war. This implys that the children are also fighting the war, which is preventing them from getting education.
3	Language/ Diction A Rhyme is used	Every last word in th second and fourth line in each stanza rhymes.	This is to emphasize on the hopelessness in the situation.
4	Personal Response I feel that these children are extremely pitiful as many of them are forced against their will to join the army and fight at such a young age, and in the end, deprived of their education. I also feel that we should treasure whatever we have and count our blessings. As others do not even have anything.	It is written in the poem that chalk and blackboard will not to be, to this door there is no key. Many children now are complaining about the education system being very stressful and are reluctant to go to school. They should think about those children in these war torn countries who want to go to school, but instead forced to join the army.	This means that the children cannot escape this and have no choice. This means that we should think about others and count our blessings instead of complaining.