The central conflict arises immediately: the child knows how to read the face of a clock, but he does not understand the concept of "half-past two" as a time on a digital or spoken clock. He knows the "clockface," the "little eyes" and "two long legs," but he cannot connect the visual to the abstract phrase used by the teacher.
Add (like personification or oxymoron) to the analysis. Compare it to other poems by U.A. Fanthorpe. Adjust the tone to be more academic or more personal. half-past two poem pdf
The poem is rich in symbolism. The clock is a symbol of time and the passage of time. The sun setting is a symbol of the end of the day and the passing of youth. The second-hand is a symbol of the slow and relentless passage of time. The central conflict arises immediately: the child knows