Poem+Analysis


 * Woman Suffrage**

Fellow men! why should the lords try to despise And prohibit women from having the benefit of the parliamentary Franchise? When they pay the same taxes as you and me, I consider they ought to have the same liberty.

And I consider if they are not allowed the same liberty, From taxation every one of them should be set free; And if they are not, it is really very unfair, And an act of injustice I most solemnly declare.

Women, farmers, have no protection as the law now stands; And many of them have lost their property and lands, And have been turned out of their beautiful farms By the unjust laws of the land and the sheriffs' alarms.

And in my opinion, such treatment is very cruel; And fair play, 'tis said, is a precious jewel; But such treatment causes women to fret and to dote, Because they are deprived of the parliamentary Franchise vote.

In my opinion, what a man pays for he certainly should get; And if he does not, he will certainly fret; And why wouldn't women do the very same? Therefore, to demand the parliamentary Franchise they are not to blame.

Therefore let them gather, and demand the parliamentary Franchise; And I'm sure no reasonable man will their actions despise, For trying to obtain the privileges most unjustly withheld from them; Which Mr. Gladstone will certainly encourage and never condemn.

And as for the working women, many are driven to the point of starvation, All through the tendency of the legislation; Besides, upon members of parliament they have no claim As a deputation, which is a very great shame.

Yes, the Home Secretary of the present day, Against working women's deputations, has always said- nay; Because they haven't got the parliamentary Franchise-, That is the reason why he does them despise.

And that, in my opinion, is really very unjust; But the time is not far distant, I most earnestly trust, When women will have a parliamentary vote, And many of them, I hope, will wear a better petticoat.

And I hope that God will aid them in this enterprise, And enable them to obtain the parliamentary Franchise; And rally together, and make a bold stand, And demand the parliamentary Franchise throughout Scotland.

And do not rest day nor night- Because your demands are only right In the eyes of reasonable men, and God's eyesight; And Heaven, I'm sure, will defend the right.

Therefore go on brave women! and never fear, Although your case may seem dark and drear, And put your trust in God, for He is strong; And ye will gain the parliamentary Franchise before very long.

By William Topaz McGonagall

**Analysis**
What's the title of the poem? Who is the poet? What is described in the poem? How does it relate to the conflict? Who is the speaker (may not be the poet)? What's the tone? Give two examples of literary terms used in this poem **Simile and Rhyme** The best line(s) - the most beautiful, or impressive or vivid, etc.
 * Woman Suffrage. William Topaz McGonagall **
 * Something that is described in this poem is woman suffrage. This is being described because during this time period, women didn't receive the same rights as the men. This poem relates to our conflict that we choose because women had to go through a process of getting a constitution signed, just so they could have equal rights for themselves. **
 * A person that may be the speaker, is a person that is in the poem there self and actually has actually experience this stuff. The tone of this poem is very solemn. **
 * The best lines are one through four because it stating that women should have the same right as men. They are paying the same thing as the men, so why should they be forbidden to have the same liberty. **

Give one example of the unusual choice of words. Explain why ** Parliamentary Franchise. This is an unusual choice of words because it gave the women the right to vote. Women didn't have equal rights, so there had to be a way that they could earn it.** . What emotions are evoked? Use one word to describe the feeling **Some emotions that were evoked in this poem was cruelty, sadness, and serious. One word to describe the feeling of this poem would be courage.**