1. Kid Simon Armitage
LO: to annotate the poem Kid for features of TSLAP.

2. T: S: L: A: P:

3. Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
Consider whether Robin has grown up or whether he is still a kid. (T)
American sounding and derogatory, shows Robin’s anger (L)
Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
Romantic imagery. Metaphor (L)
Alliteration highlights Robin’s feeling of being abandoned. (L)

4. Entire poem written in rhyming couplets all ending with same phoneme
Entire poem written in rhyming couplets all ending with same phoneme. (S)
Verb implies abruptness of their parting. He feels bitter about their parting.(L)
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather, in the gutter ... well, I turned the corner.
Ellipsis implies passage of time as Robin has sorted his life out. (S)
Compare the reality with Batman’s version – ‘wild blue yonder.’ (T)

5. Speech marks show direct speech
Speech marks show direct speech. These were things Robin and other people used to say about their relationship. (S)
Now I've scotched that 'he was like a father to me' rumour, sacked it, blown the cover on that 'he was like an elder brother' story,
Slang, sounds like something from a ‘Batman and Robin’ episode. (L)

6. Caper = to jump about playfully / an escapade.
let the cat out on that caper with the married woman, how you took her downtown on expenses in the motor.
Doesn’t fit with Batman’s squeaky clean image. (A)
Tax evasion. (A)

7. Excessive play on language of Robin’s from original 1960s. (L)
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Holy roll-me-over-in the-clover, I'm not playing ball boy any longer
Implications of tennis imagery - always running around after the star, never in the spotlight himself. Alliteration- a harsh sound, he feels spiteful about it.(L)

8. Connection with Robin Hood
Connection with Robin Hood. Green and scarlet are colours of his old suit. (T/A)
Doffed = Taken off.
Batman, now I've doffed that off-the-shoulder Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper; now I'm taller, harder, stronger, older.
Older, sensible clothing. (A/T)

9. Like ‘ball boy’, this shows he has felt undermined by Batman. (A/T)
Taking pleasure in imagining his current suffering. Perhaps also play on words: Marvel comics. (L)
Stewing = to cook; to brood over something in anger. (L)
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture: you without a shadow, stewing over chicken giblets in the pressure cooker, next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
Imagery of poor or non-existent food. The adult cannot cope now the helper has left. (L)

10. Violence of verb and the alliteration of the plosive ‘p’ highlight the pleasure Robin takes in imagining his former friend’s current loneliness and frustration. (L)
Is Robin still a boy? Has he grown up at all? Does his petty desire for revenge imply he is still immature? (A/T)
punching the palm of your hand all winter, you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.

11. Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
Ambiguity of identity
Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I've scotched that 'he was like a father
to me' rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that 'he was like an elder brother'
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Alliteration, gives a punchy opening
Each line has 10 syllables (pentameter)
The rhyme scheme echos the famous theme tune
Leaving childhood behind
Trying out a mixture of things, like growing up (“baby” line 24)
Bitter tone explained, feeling of abandonment; echo ageing
Robin is trying to impress us with these powerful words/phrases
Adult world/taboos, a darker world
Uses comic book slang/language
Batman loses his status as the poem goes on

12. Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Using a name shows power
Spoof of tabloid headlines; holy is a word Robin would have used
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I'm not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I've doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I'm taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker;
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I'm the real boy wonder.
Growing up – not playing someone elses game
Adult clothes, ditched the dressing up box
Hero worship can’t sustain you, you need to toughen up to grow up; assert your own identity
Forging own identity, applicable to many “kids”
Only ghosts have no shadows
What is Batman without Robin?
Things from the past
Robin now belittles Batman and shows he has broken free from his idol, taking the power
Symbol of old age, not moving on

13. Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Feminine rhyme – each line ends in an unstressed syllable, leading naturally to the last “the real boy wonder”. Half or full rhymes. Effect is that the reader/listener is left to wonder what is coming next and it increases the pace, adding to the humour of the poem.

14. Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
The rhythm accentuates the final word and places a heavy stress on the last-but-one syllable.

15. Revealing Batman’s secrets.
Kid Superiority, arrogance
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Could this be symbolic of leaving home?
Revealing Batman’s secrets.
Ambiguity:
shadow of his former self, suggesting that
he cannot cope on his own
-Robin used to be his shadow, mimicking
everything Batman did (hero image)
-Robin was unimportant

16. Kid Alliteration, sounds like he is spitting it out
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.

17. Sarcastic cliché, note the tone in which this might be said.
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Sarcastic cliché, note the tone in which this might be said.

18. Punning: the capes they wore and the name Caped Crusader
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Punning: the capes they wore
and the name Caped Crusader
associated with Batman.

19. Scandal or bad taste, sexual innuendo and fiddling the books.
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Scandal or bad taste, sexual
innuendo and fiddling the
books.

20. Word association, again very humorous
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Word association, again very
humorous

21. Repetition, emphasising his strength, dominance and superiority
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Repetition, emphasising his
strength, dominance and
superiority

22. Is it all in Robin’s imagination?
Kid Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Is it all in Robin’s imagination?

23. Kid
Batman, big shot, when you gave the order
to grow up, then let me loose to wander
leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder
as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather,
in the gutter … well, I turned the corner.
Now I’ve scotched that ‘he was like a father
to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover
on that ‘he was like an elder brother’
story, let the cat out on that caper
with the married woman, how you took her
downtown on expenses in the motor.
Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker!
Holy roll-me-over-in-the-clover,
I’m not playing ball boy any longer
Batman, now I’ve doffed that off-the-shoulder
Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number
for a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper;
now I’m taller, harder, stronger, older.
Batman, it makes a marvellous picture:
you without a shadow, stewing over
chicken giblets in the pressure cooker,
next to nothing in the walk-in larder,
punching the palm of your hand all winter,
you baby, now I’m the real boy wonder.
Naval jargon
Colloquial language
Enjambment
British slang
Batman’s favourite adjective (Parody)
Self-ridicule, mocking
the superhero outfit
Bathos, showing how he used
to rely on Robin to shop for food

24. Comparison with another poem
Kid can be compared with Education for Leisure because in this poem the persona also shows bitterness because people didn’t take any notice of him either.
Also you could compare the Laboratory with Kid because this also shows anger and bitterness to someone close to them.