Protection

556 Words2 Pages

Reality is often times harsh. Adults have learned this and accepted this. Children, however, find themselves faced with the brutality of reality and can not accept it. Because of this, adults will do anything they can to soften the blows dealt to children before they are ready to learn the truth. Kids can be scared or impressed upon easily. Adults want to make sure the child knows there is good in the world before they come face to face with the evil. This desire to protect children is a common theme in many writings. Particularly in two poems, “A Barred Owl” by Richard Wilbur and “The History Teacher” by Billy Collins.
“A Barred Owl” provides an explanation for the desire to protect children. Wilbur uses the first stanza to tell a quick story. A small child wakes up to the sound of a owl hoot. The “wakened child” was told then that the forest bird was asking it a question. “‘Who cooks for you?’ and then ‘Who cooks for you?’” (line 6). This is meant for the child to answer the question with their parents and get a happy feeling. The second stanza tells the reader why the child w...

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