The lesson Poem Analyze

Firstly , I think that the theme for this poem is violence. This is because in every stanza of the poem, a very violent image is projected to the reader like "throttled him then and there" and "he hacked his way".

For this poem, there are 10 stanzas and 4 sentences in each stanza. This make it easier to read and at the same time, it produces an imagery of a gun firing. This is because each stanza is short and fast to read, just like a gun firing.

The language used in this poem is also very figurative. The teacher said that 'I'm going to teach you a lesson, one that you'll never forget', however, he is not teaching a normal lesson in class but instead, killing all the students. It is also ironical, the teacher should be the one teaching the students not to be violent but he himself is super violent. All these are examples of figurative language that could be found throughout the poem. Also, the teacher failed to teach them a lesson as all of them are already dead and could not think or remember things.

Lastly, I think that the poet that written this poem may be a teacher himself before and had taught a class which is very noisy and naughty. I think that he is trying to express his feelings and telling the public that sometimes a class can be so noisy and naughty that a teacher can get very frustrated and wants to kill all of them. At the same time, he is also trying to tell the public that being a teacher is not as easy as many people think.

The Lesson

Silence ruled OK in the staffroom
as bravely the gangster walked in
the teachers ignored him
his voice was lost not in the din

'The theme for today is violence
and homework will be set
I'm going to teach you a lesson
one that you'll never forget

He picked on a staff who was working
and throttled him then and there
then garrotted the teacher behind him
(the one with curly hair)

Then dagger in hand he stabbed his way
between the chattering rows
'First come first severed' he declared
'fingers, feet, or toes'

He threw the dagger at a newcommer
it struck with deadly aim
then pulling out a machine gun
he continued with his game

The first blast cleared the backrow
(where those who work hang out)
tey collasped like rubber dominoes
when the plug's pulled out

'Please may I leave the room dear student?'
the trembling principal enquired
'Of course you may' said the gangster
put the gun to his temple and fired

The student popped a head around the doorway
to see why a din was being made
nodded understandingly
then tossed in a grenade

And when the ammo was well spent
with blood on every chair
silence shuffled forward
with its hands up in the air

The gangster surveyed the carnage
the dying and the dead
he waggled a finger severly
'Now let that be a lesson' he said