Juxtaposition In Mid Term Break

‘Mid Term Break’ displays a negative discovery through the renewed perceptions of his mother and father after the confronted ideal of his younger brother’s death. The poet uses first person as well as juxtaposition to illustrate the confused poet at his mothers and fathers swapped roles. “He usually took funerals in his stride” suggests that his father is not his practical self. The context of this poem is set in the 1950’s which furthers this as father figures were supposed to be ‘patriarchal’ and not show as much emotion. Thus, the fathers feminie shift emphasizes the extreme experience that the poet’s family are going through. The juxtaposition also used in this poem furthers the confusion and discovery the poet undergoes through his parents.