IB English A Literature Paper 1 (SPECIMEN)- Ballad of Birmingham (7) [Devices]

The “Ballad of Birmingham” by Dudley Randall is a responsive poem that was written in response to the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama that took place in 1963 during the height of the civil rights movement. It was the time of historical transition where colored people fought against widespread racism, segregation, and discrimination for their rights to equality and civil protections. Accordingly, the poem describes hostility, violence, and loss of innocent lives during the Birmingham protests. The poet’s delineation of the hatred and cruelty of the tragic incident in comparison to the innocent child who wished to participate in the Birmingham freedom march for a great cause not only addresses a dark period of time in American history but also evokes sympathy among readers with situational irony. The poem is about a fearful mother who discourages her child from going to the protest, where violence was prevalent at the time…