“Childhood” – by Markus Natten

Introduction

• “Childhood” is a reflective, philosophical poem by Markus Natten, a Norwegian poet.
• The poem explores the stage of life when one realises that childhood has slipped away.
• It questions innocence, purity, faith, and simplicity that we associate with childhood.
• The poet analyses the loss of childhood as a movement towards self-awareness and maturity.

Summary

1. First Stanza – Rational Awareness
   • The poet wonders when his childhood ended.
   • He recalls the moment he discovered that hell and heaven do not exist and are just concepts.
   • Childhood innocence is lost when rational thinking replaces blind faith.
2. Second Stanza – Loss of Belief in Adults
   • Childhood disappears further when the poet realises that adults are hypocrites.
   • They preach love and goodness but fail to practise it in real life.
   • This discovery shakes the child’s innocent trust.
3. Third Stanza – Awakening of Self
   • The poet links the loss of childhood to the awakening of the individual self.
   • He begins to understand that he has a unique identity, a separate existence from others.
   • This marks the growth of self-awareness and maturity.
4. Fourth Stanza – Where Childhood Remains
   • The poet concludes that childhood is not completely lost; it lingers in innocent faces and in a child’s heart.
   • It remains in pure expressions, laughter, and simplicity, even though he himself has grown out of it.

Themes

1. Loss of Innocence – Growing up involves realising harsh truths.
2. Rationality vs. Belief – Childhood faith in heaven/hell is replaced by reasoning.
3. Hypocrisy of Adults – Adults’ double standards disillusion children.
4. Self-Identity – The journey from innocence to individuality.
5. Memory and Nostalgia – A longing for the purity of childhood.

Tone and Mood

• Reflective, thoughtful, questioning.
• Slightly nostalgic but also realistic.
• Balanced between loss (childhood gone) and discovery (self-awareness gained).

Poetic Devices

• Rhetorical Questions: “When did my childhood go?” repeated for emphasis.
• Refrain: The repetition of the question highlights the central theme.
• Metaphor: Childhood = innocence, simplicity, unquestioning belief.
• Irony: Adults preach love but fail to practise it.
• Symbolism: Heaven and hell symbolise blind belief.
• Free Verse: No rhyme scheme, mirrors natural thought process.

Critical Appreciation

• Markus Natten uses simple language to convey a deep philosophical idea.
• The poem portrays growing up not as a joyful gain but as a loss of innocence.
• The repetition of the central question makes it universal — everyone goes through this stage.
• The poem’s strength lies in its honesty and emotional appeal.
• By the end, the poet softens the tone by suggesting that childhood still exists in other children — a ray of hope and continuity.

Key Takeaways for Exams

• Central idea: Childhood is lost when innocence gives way to reasoning, hypocrisy is recognised, and self-identity is discovered.
• Important lines: “When did my childhood go? Was it the day I ceased to believe in heaven and hell?”
• Devices: Rhetorical questions, metaphor, symbolism, repetition.
• Message: Childhood cannot last forever, but its essence can still be found in children.