REVIEW OF POEM- TELEVISION

Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916. His first book “The Gremlins” was published in the year 1943. He is the author of popular books such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach”. Besides writing books, Dahl was also a poet. He blended both humor and truth into his poetry and released several poetry collections. “Television” is one of his famous poem. This poem is a warning for parents, if literature was absent from their children’s lives. This is a poem with great flow and rhyme scheme. It’s fun to read and captivating to children. The poem has a very clear message to parents and children. Dahl begins by introducing the danger of the television.  Dahl describes children who watch TV by stating that they “slop and lounge about,” and “sit and stare and stare and sit/Until they're hypnotized by it.” The television brainwashes children and Dahl even suggests that it causes them to be “absolutely drunk/With all that shocking ghastly junk.” Television actually becomes a harmful addiction for children who watch too much and become “hypnotized” by that fictional world. Television doesn’t allow children to use their imagination, think, and wonder.  Dahl is passionate about allowing children to have the power to imagine through literature. This is a perfect poem to show children the importance of literature. Dahl uses the humour to convey an important message. He encourages reading and shows how it can be fun and interesting.