The Bicycle, By Jillian Horton: Poem Analysis

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“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder” (Brainy Quote). Growth is a feeling every being experiences in their lifetime, whether it be mental or physical. It is the backbone of change, and without change there would be nothing. In “The Bicycle”, by Jillian Horton, Hannah devotes all her time to playing the piano, with hopes that one day she will become famous. Transitions from ignorance to knowledge, from selfishness to selflessness, and from idealism to realism display Hannah’s change from childhood to adolescence.
Hannah experiences a transition from ignorance to knowledge. To begin with, after Hannah moves in with Tante Rose, she becomes consumed by her passion for piano. To her “there [is] nothing else in the world” …show more content…

Hannah has chosen to isolate herself from society and neglect her surroundings. This ignorance allows her to separate herself from the normalities someone of her age would live with, leaving a life revolving solely around piano. She disregards her friends and family, which portrays her level of ignorance. Furthermore, as Hannah progresses through her youth, she begins to realize all the things she misses due to the way she lives. As she becomes more aware of this, an urge builds up inside of her to “break [her] promise to Tante Rose” (4). This desire to break the rules might be considered an act of irresponsibility, but in terms of growth it is a pivotal factor in Hannah’s transition towards adolescence. It displays an attempt to connect with society and break apart from the confined life

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