Naoise at Four: Structure & Language Techniques

“Naoise at Four”: Structure

Tight quatrain form: The poem’s structure mimics the boundaries of a child’s world. Each stanza is compact and self-contained, reflecting Naoise’s limited but deeply felt experiences.
Rhyme scheme: The ABAB rhyme scheme provides the poem’s structure with consistency and predictability, similar to the rhythm of a child’s life.
Variation in line length: The variation in line length imitates the uneven rhythms of a child’s speech and can also hint at the unpredictable, fluid nature of childhood.

Simple language: Boland’s language is unpretentious and evocative of childhood innocence. Words are straightforward, embodying the child’s direct experience of the world.
Imagery: Boland uses vivid and tangible imagery to evoke the sensory experience of childhood. The images are detailed and specific, from the colour of Naoise’s hair to the feel of sand.
Repetition: The poem’s repetitious ‘and’ creates a sense of childhood wonder and discovery. It mimics the manner in which children catalogue their experiences and assert their understanding of the world.
Metaphor: Boland employs metaphoric language to bring depth to childhood situations. For example, referring to the child’s bare foot as a “boat” in the “sail of her sleep” intertwines imagery of adventure and comfort.
Enjambment: Boland uses enjambment to create a fluid, unbroken stream of thought–mirroring the continuity of a child’s perception.
Contrast: Boland builds contrast between the child’s world of boundless potential and the adult world of limitations. This contrast can be seen in the difference between Naoise’s dreams and the speaker’s understanding of reality.