1. Kid

2. Who is the speaker? How can you tell? What are his feelings? Why does he feel like that?

4. POW!

5. Creates a Persona A poem about growing up, based on the cartoon characters Batman and Robin

6. Batman, big shot, when you gave the order Alliteration of `b’ sound reflects his anger To grow up, then let me loose to wander What does Batman tell Robin to do? -DER rhyme throughout the poem ( DER, DER, DER)

7. Leeward, freely through the wild blue yonder A shipping word: “moving away from the wind” as you liked to say, or ditched me, rather What is Robin`s attitude to what Batman did to him? How is his language different to Batman`s?

8. in the gutter... well, I turned the corner. Internal rhyme here Now I`ve scotched that `he was like a father Put an end to

9. to me’ rumour, sacked it, blown the cover On that `he was like an elder brother’ Story, let the cat out on that caper crime Plays with words here `Let the cat out of the bag’ Cat/bat/catwoman

10. With the married woman, how you took her downtown on expenses in the motor. American word English word – what would the motor be?

11. Holy robin-redbreast-nest-egg-shocker! Makes fun of Robin`s language as used in cartoons Sounds like a tabloid headline about a scandal Plays on words: robinnestegg Holy roll-me-over-in the clover, The rhyme keeps giving the poem a `bounce’ “roll me over, in the clover” – makes fun of a popular song

12. I`m not playing ball boy any longer Another play on words: “playing ball” – going along with something “ball boy” – someone who is a side-show, not as important as the main event. Batman, now I`ve doffed that off-the-shoulder Robin has a very dismissive tone to his voice here Took off

13. Sherwood-Forest-green and scarlet number Robin`s uniform/outfit: Play on words with Sherwood Forest – Robin Hood associations For a pair of jeans and crew-neck jumper Notice the CONTRAST here. He has grown up and this is symbolised by the casual clothes he now wears

14. now I`m taller, harder, stronger, older. This line shows Robin`s feelings about growing up `taller’ – he is physically growing up NOTE: all –ER words. End-stopped Line (full-stop)

15. Batman, it makes a marvellous picture: Shows Robin`s contempt for Batman You, without a shadow, stewing over Robin feels he has been living in Batman`s shadow `stewing’ has two meanings – `making the stew’ and `worrying about’

16. chicken giblets in the pressure cooker, next-to-nothing in the walk in larder Perhaps Robin has been doing all the household jobs like cooking until now – he seems to enjoy the thought of Batman doing all the domestic jobs.

17. Punching the palm of your hand all winter Alliteration. Batman is now doing this in frustration. It is what Batman does repeatedly in the series. you baby, now I`m the real boy wonder. Attitude to Batman now Shows how Robin feels about himself

18. COMPARE THIS POEM WITH: Havisham: Fictional character persona/threat of violence/passing of time Stealing, Education For Leisure: persona/a picture of a young person The Laboratory: Persona