The River God By Stevie Smith Made by Roberta Clarisse Cliff and Lillie Makepeace

Subject A mythological river god. “I may be old”, he’s elderly and it seems negative. “I can drown the fools” our first indication of an unsavoury character. His age may be a factor of his instability. The personal pronouns emphasise his power and control over the “swimming”.

Point of View “In the spirit of clowning” rhymes with “drowning” to reinforce the sing-song contradictions of the god. “likes women” “especially” puts unease in the reader, he seems creepy. “old foul river”

Language “Hi yih yippity yap” it shows the erratic excitement, that can quickly change much like a river. “Rough in my pebbles, reedy in my pools” alliteration of “r” mirrors the running, jumping of a river. “Beautiful dear” a strange expression showing his elderly patronising nature.

Structure Rhyming, sounds natural, flows like a river, but becomes erratic and strange. Iambic pentameter, flows but is controlled like the river god is controlling the dead woman.

Imagery “a waving reed” it could be violently or calmly; rivers can change very quickly like the mind of the god. “beautiful deep river bed” seems lonely and far from everyone else. “where the water runs cold” he’s dangerous, cold and without emotion he can “drown the fools”.

Tone “Oh will she stay?” He knows that she has to, so it seems patronising and as if lonely. “Oh” adds a mourneful sorrowful tone. “I will not forgive her.” Threateningly crazy.

Links Medusa- A modern take on a Greek characters, usually forgotten, point of view. My Last Duchess- Addressing the issue of controlling unstable men with women. Les Grands Seigneurs- More men’s control over women.