My little Son, who look'd from thoughtful eyes
And moved and spoke in quiet grown-up wise,
Having my law the seventh time disobey'd,
I struck him, and dismiss'd
Question 1: What is the theme of the stanza?
Answer: The theme revolves around the relationship between the speaker (presumably a parent) and their son, focusing on the conflict between parental authority and disobedience.
Question 2: What literary technique is used in the description of the son?
Answer: Personification is used to describe the son as having "thoughtful eyes" and behaving in a "grown-up wise" manner, which humanizes his actions and emphasizes his maturity despite his young age.
Question 3: How does the speaker react to the son's disobedience?
Answer: The speaker reacts to the son's disobedience by striking him after he disobeys the speaker's law for the seventh time, which suggests a moment of discipline and perhaps frustration on the part of the speaker.