Language and style
Looking at elements of language and style in a poem like “Kidnapped” by Ruperake Petaia is an important step in your analysis as it helps you better understand the poet’s intention and his lyrical techniqu…
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Playing with the language
The poem “Kidnapped” is very playful in terms of language because it uses extended metaphors which create a satirical account of the way cultural imperialism affects people in the former colonies. First of all, the poet describes Western-style schooling as a kidnapping. In this extended metaphor, the teachers - or “Western philosophers” (p. 60, l. 9) – become ki…
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Tense of the verbs and type of words used
The poem is conveyed in the past tense. The use of the past tense suggests that what the speaker is describing has already happened and that he is now reflecting on his past experience in the educational system.
Considering that the poem was written after Samoa became an independent country (1962), the use of past tense sugge…
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Style and mode of expression
The style of the poem is colloquial and ordinary and the mode of expression is that of an account. The writer uses simple, relatable words from everyday speech to construct …
