Summary of Rhyme of the Dead Self Video - A.R.D. Fairburn - CIE English Literature GCSE

00:00:00 - 00:20:00

This poem by A.R.D. Fairburn is about a young man's coming-of-age and his hatred for his younger self. The speaker in the poem suggests that the act of killing his former self is not as great as it seems, as the unfinished rhyme scheme suggests that the speaker is still not ready to grow up.

• 00:00:00 This poem is about a young man's coming-of-age, as he metaphysically removes his younger self. He expresses anger and hatred towards this person, and revels in the act of killing him. Violence and transformation are key themes, as is the speaker's perception of self.
• 00:05:00 <could not summarize>
• 00:10:00 In this video, A.R.D. Fairburn discusses the idea of "pretty love tales" in Shakespeare's poetry, and how they may relate to his anger towards his former self. She also suggests that these tales could be a reference to Jesus Christ's resurrection.
• 00:15:00 The speaker in this poem thinks he has completed a great task by killing his former self, but the rhymes in the poem do not quite work and suggest that he is still not ready to grow up.
• 00:20:00 The speaker describes a poem by A.R.D. Fairburn and how it is brilliantly indulgent and theatrical. He also talks about themes of transformation and self violence.