1. Golden Slumbers Thomas Dekker

2. Thomas Dekker Born in England in 1572, Dekker lived a life of hardship and debt. This poem was written for the play Patient Grissel, which he co-wrote with Henry Chettle and William Haughton. In the play Grissel, a new mother, has her baby taken from her. She has to be patient in order to await his return. The poem was written as a lullaby for the baby. The plot of the play is derived from Geoffrey Chaucer’s medieval tale from The Canterbury Tales of the very patient Griselda. This song was adapted by Paul McCartney for the The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYEzpe-xQDM

3. Golden Slumbers Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles awake when you rise; Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock them, lullaby. Care is heavy, therefore sleep you, You are care, and care must keep you; Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock them, lullaby.

4. Structur e Written as a song, the poem consists of a short verse followed by a chorus, which is then repeated. The rhyme scheme is AA BBB CC BBB. Lullabies are soothing and soft, and a simple rhyming pattern highlights this effect. The repetitive lullaby chorus employs gentle sounds to create a soothing tone. The poem is composed of a rhyming couplet followed by a triplet for the chorus. These are all one syllable rhymes that reflect the simplicity of a lullaby.

5. Personification gives the concept of sleep and dreams human characteristics in order to assure the child that the world is inhabited by goodness. When the baby awakens, a smile will be on his face. This symbolizes the renewing power of sleep and the happiness dreams can bring. Imagery. Sleep is characterized as golden in order to create images of riches and warmth. Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles awake when you rise;

6. Care is heavy, therefore sleep you, You are care, and care must keep you; “Care” has several meanings. First, it is “heavy” because of the worries of the world. Next, the parents “care” for the baby’s well-being. Finally, the baby must be kept away from “cares” in order to rest peacefully. The use of this word is a bit of a paradox for how can “care” keep itself? “Care is personified to show the nurturing with which the child is surrounded. Tone is serene and content.

7. Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock them, lullaby. Pretty wantons means naughty children, which makes it an oxymoron as the lullaby is celebrates the innocence of the child. It also points out that the child is a responsibility. Repetition of “lullaby” and “rock them” creates a gently rhyme at the end of each line so that the poem is soothing as it is sung. The chorus identifies the speaker in first person giving the song a parental voice. This also explains the imperatives used throughout the song as the speaker appears to be the authority. Use of caesura reinforces the nature of the song.

8. Works Cited http:/aspoetryanalysis.weebly.com/ https://rainbowliterature.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/golden-slumbers/