Discuss the development of the twins in The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. How does
Discuss the development of the twins in The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. How does Roy use language to make a clear distinction between the twins before and after the death of Velutha? In The God of Small Things the twin's mother, Ammu, breaks the laws that lay down 'who should be loved, and how and how much' when she has an affair with Velutha (an Untouchable). A relationship with an Untouchable is inconceivable in India, even today, as a woman would be expelled from her Caste if she were to carry out such an undignified act. Before this occurs Ammu is already frowned upon for being a divorced woman, a common view in Indian society, and returns home with her children. She is therefore thought of as a hindrance. Estha and Rahel, the twins, manage to accept that they have no 'Baba' but are greatly affected when their mother's affair is revealed and the heroic Untouchable is killed. Roy uses differentiated vocabulary and grammar to inform the reader of the obvious change to the twin's relationship and alteration of their individual personalities before and after the death of Velutha. It is very important to note the structural complexity of The God of Small Things. The events do not appear in chronological order except when the twins are described after Velutha's death. Roy decides to use a linear structure for the twins after the death of Velutha, perhaps to indicate
"Bruce Ismay's Soliloquy" by Derek Mahon and "Shore Woman" by Seamus Heaney are both alike in their experiences. Each poem relates a frightening experience at sea however although they contain many similarities, they each contain numerous differences.
Poetry Assignment Two "Bruce Ismay's Soliloquy" by Derek Mahon and "Shore Woman" by Seamus Heany are both alike in their experiences. Each poem relates a frightening experience at sea however although they contain many similarities, they each contain numerous differences. One central difference is the portrayal of the experiences and the reaction evoked by the language used. "Bruce Ismay's Soliloquy" is the re-telling of when the Titanic sank and evokes little sympathy from the reader, whereas "Shore Woman" is about a woman being traumatized by porpoises attacking her boat at sea and her husbands insensitive, poor treatment of her. Both poems have no established form or rhyme scheme and are written in free verse. "Bruce Ismay's Soliloquy" comprises of a single stanza of free verse with long and short lines alternating. The use of run on lines and varying rhyme creates the impression of a natural speaking voice. The poem reads like a direct address from Ismay - a soliloquy. It can be described as a lyric, describing a person's life or a reflection on a single event. "Bruce Ismay's Soliloquy" is reflecting on the significance of the sinking of the Titanic and how it has affected him. "Shore Woman" is also in free verse, although it gives a detailed account of the woman's experience and her feelings through the aftermath. This poem uses verse paragraphs to elaborate and
Distortions of Reality
Distortions of Reality In both Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita, and Thomas Pynchon's novel The Crying of Lot 49, the protagonist is consumed by an obsession. These obsessions affect the characters' behavior, actions, and interaction with the world. Most importantly, however, both authors reveal that obsession distorts a person's perception of reality. In Lolita, the protagonist and narrator, Humbert Humbert, has an obsessive lust for nymphets which warps his view of the world, ultimately driving him to paranoia. His sexual fixation for nymphets is projected on all that he sees. It prevents him from seeing the world clearly, void of nymphet-sexual overtones. His interactions and perceptions of girls are consumed with sexual fantasy, which obstructs their true nature. He becomes delusional due to paranoia, causing his imagination to take hold of his notions of reality. Humbert writes the following accounts from a prison cell, where he is able to use his retrospect to narrate the novel. He describes his obsession with nymphets at great lengths. Whenever he comes into contact with them he is overcome with sexual lust and yearning. He tells the reader, "I was consumed by a hell furnace of localized lust for every passing nymphet" (18). His obsession is intensified by the agony and frustration he feels due to his inability to act on his desires. Humbert even
"Duffy expresses her social criticism by giving voices to characters who reveal their lives as being without purpose."
"Duffy expresses her social criticism by giving voices to characters who reveal their lives as being without purpose." How far do you agree? Carol Ann Duffy presents to the reader through her poetry many views she has on society. Her recent poetry portrays her views on the treatment of females and how in the past they have not been given true status in society. Duffy is a strong feminist and I think that the fact that she was not chosen poet laureate for both her sex and her sexuality has further strengthened her views on the rights females should have and the power they should have relative to men. Her feminist views are provoked even further when she is second choice in the running to be laureate and not until Seamus Heaney drops out of the race it is only then that she is the favourite to become the new poet laureate. It can be seen that again because Heaney was male and she was female the automatic choice would have been Heaney because of the stereotypical views in society regarding men being better then women. These could be some of the reasons why Duffy writes many poems from a female's point of view regarding the male gender. Carol Ann Duffy's ability to give voices to previously silenced figures helps her tell the reader her views on society. By using characters' voices rather than her own, Duffy identifies with the speaker and confers authority onto a voice which
"In Mrs. Tilscher's Class" by Carol Ann Duffy deals with one central theme. The theme of growing up is the main idea within the poem and is repeatedly imprinted throughout the poet's childhood
In Mrs. Tilscher's Class "In Mrs. Tilscher's Class" by Carol Ann Duffy deals with one central theme. The theme of growing up is the main idea within the poem and is repeatedly imprinted throughout the poet's childhood. This theme leads on to the more abstract idea of the child already maturing into a great poet. Her mind's eye is unbounded as she transforms her classroom into a place of riches and resides in her own world of imagination. Written improbably through the 2nd person viewpoint, the poem expresses these ideas personally to the reader, hence allowing us to empathise with the poet. The poet is able to recall several aspects of her primary school days, and is consequently able to paint a picture of her memories from the viewpoint of a young child. The writer not only conveys an inviting warm atmosphere of a 1960's classroom, but also unveils a liberal outlook to her childhood. A colourful classroom with numerous displays is made known to the reader: "The classroom glowed like a sweet shop." The classroom is made into a place of riches with this visual simile, used to radiate wonders of the child's mind. The word "glowed" in this line is a metaphor all on its own. The metaphor allows the reader to visualise the sweetshop gleaming due to the light refracting through the glass jars and translucent sweets. The poet can also bring to mind the teacher's
"Comprehensive" By Carol Ann Duffy - review
"Comprehensive" By Carol Ann Duffy The poem Comprehensive consists of seven stanzas and each stanza has a different voice. Carol Ann Duffy uses the idea of conflict and differences in race and culture in 1985. Comprehensive is written in seven stanzas of six or seven lines. All verses are similar in structure to emphasis the fact that whatever the culture or origin everyone is equal. There is no rhyme or rhythm because this would not be suited to the subject matter, which is serious and emphasises the disparity of the speakers and their disjointed society in which they live in. By using rhyme and rhythm Carol Ann Duffy would also inhibit the ability to allow her speakers to use their own dialogue and express themselves. The first stanza sets the scene of the speaker's thoughts. The character compares Africa to England, by describing the memories of the speaker's life in Africa to the reader. Carol Ann Duffy uses comparisons making it easier for the reader to see the characters thoughts and feelings and the sadness of the speaker is shown, especially through the bittersweet way in which she (the speaker) refers to her family. This suggests that the she feels isolated and cannot adjust to her environment. This also applies to the speaker's sister, because the change in her language causes confusion between the siblings. The speaker seems to feels that everything has
'The World's Wife revises fairytale, history and myth and reworks it into contemporary, feminist fables.' With reference to three of the poems in the volume examine the techniques employed by Duffy in writing contemporary feminist fables.
'The World's Wife revises fairytale, history and myth and reworks it into contemporary, feminist fables.' With reference to three of the poems in the volume examine the techniques employed by Duffy in writing contemporary feminist fables. Duffy's volume "The World's Wife" is a collection of dramatic monologues where Duffy becomes a ventriloquist inventing the words, which famous, silent, wives from history or myth might have said. Her use of humour and play on clichés creates a collective female voice where dominant male characters are being criticised. Duffy reworks contemporary feminist fables and adopts different personae by employing different techniques, which are particularly displayed in her poems, "Mrs Midas", "Mrs Lazarus" and "Mrs Aesop". Duffy's use of witty humour in the poem "Mrs Aesop" allows her to condescend the male counterpart, by turning his famous fables against him and questioning his manhood. On the contrary, "Mrs Lazarus" portrays a more emotional persona grieving over her husband's death, where her 'other half' fails to consider the impact of his return. Similarly, in "Mrs Midas", the male character is overcome by greed, blinding his ability to comprehend the repercussions of his actions. The metaphorical autobiographies allow Duffy to adopt a variety of dramatic personae and assume a multiplicity of voices, which portray issues and views
Comparing and discussing two poems written by two different people in two different times on the subject of time and change.
Time and Change I will be comparing and discussing two poems written by two different people in two different times on the subject of time and change. The subject time and change is part of our everyday lives and it affects our behaviour and attitudes. The first poem I will be studying is "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" which I will refer to as poem 1 and is by Robert Herrick in the 16th Century. The title of the poem makes the reader think that it has a sexually orientated meaning to it. The second poem is "I Remember, I Remember", which I will be referring to as poem 2 and is by Thomas Hood in the 18th Century. The title of this poem suggests to the reader that it is a personal poem based on the poets own life experiences. Both poems talk about time and change in different ways. Poem 1 is written to instruct young people what to do with their time and poem 2 is written in first person narrative and talks about how different life is. Both poems encourage you to read them and put the same message across to enjoy what you have while it lasts. I think the time and change topic is very important and by studying and analysing each poem carefully, you can see a new perspective on life. A theme is something that you can find throughout a poem, play, book etc. It lets the reader/audience know what it is about and lets you understand the meaning of the piece more clearly.
Examine Duffys use of the dramatic monologue in The Worlds Wife anthology.
English Literature Project: Examine Duffy's use of the dramatic monologue in The World's Wife Name: Matthew Joseph Addai Date: 8th November 2010 The dramatic monologue is a poetic technique which allows poets to create and develop a persona, who addresses the reader through the telling of a story through their perspective, portraying their inner thoughts and feelings in the process. This poetic technique is used by many well respected poets, including Carol Ann Duffy, a feminist poet whose "World's Wife" anthology consists of poems in which this technique can be found. The aim of this essay therefore, is to look at how effectively Duffy makes use of the dramatic monologue in this collection, taking the poems "Mrs Midas" and "Frau Freud" as examples. Upon glancing upon the names of these poems and the content within them, one picks up on two things. Firstly, both poems make reference to the names of male figures that are historically famous, with the first making reference to the famous Greek myth of King Midas, whilst the second makes reference to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Another similarity that can be picked up on between all both poems (through their respective titles), is the fact that Duffy has used the dramatic monologue to create female partners for the male figures mentioned above. Each wife's purpose is to re-tell the individual stories, ideals and
Before You Were Mine by Carol Ann Duffy is an affectionate poem, essentially about how a daughter imagines her mothers carefree teenage years,
'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann Duffy is an affectionate poem, essentially about how a daughter imagines her mother's carefree teenage years, a decade before her daughter, the poet, was born. Her strong relationship with her mother is evident in the process. Without having really known her mother in her youth, she still misses her youthful nature. The poet regrets not having seen this facet of her mother's personality and somewhere along the way she knows that her birth is the reason for this. The title itself gives the first impression that the poem is dedicated to a lover and it is only when you read the third stanza that you can be sure that it is an ode from a daughter to her mother. The words 'Before You Were Mine' shows possessiveness, protectiveness, closeness and strong love. The title gives a good sense of the unique and possessive relationship of that of a mother and daughter. The title essentially means, 'before I was born' but the use of the words 'you' and 'mine' give it a very deep and intimate feel. The accurate visual description of the first stanza gives us a sense that poet may be looking at an old photograph of her mother and her friends laughing on a pavement. The description primarily serves to highlight the fun and frolic of her mother's glamorous youth. She didn't have a care in the world and all the time to pursue her interests. The poet calls
