A Comparison of Two Poems; "Stealing", by Carol Ann Duffy and "Hitcher", by Simon Armitage
A Comparison of Two Poems; "Stealing", by Carol Ann Duffy and "Hitcher", by Simon Armitage In this essay, I will be comparing two poems; Stealing, by Carol Ann Duffy and Hitcher, by Simon Armitage. I will be using several categories in which to structure my comparison, which include style of language and structure. In this piece, I hope to provide in depth analysis into the narrators feelings and the poets techniques. Finally I will be making a summary of my comments in a brief conclusion at the end, which will include my thoughts on both poems. The style of language in these poems have several similarities as well as differences. Firstly, in Stealing, Duffy has managed to fuse conversational English with typical poetic devices. The poem has been written in a colloquial style and shows use of slang, merged with metaphors and impressive techniques. For example; the narrator uses slang words and phrases such as "mate...pinch...nicked a bust" but can converse in a poetic style, using metaphors such as "my breath ripped out in rags". This contrast between the speech usually associated with members of the sub classes of society, and that found in the middle class is very effective. Consequently, Duffy gives the narrator a voice. In Simon Armitage's Hitcher, we see mainly basic English enhanced with some local 'lingo' and well known sayings. Often, the subject is using words
Assignment A- Response to Poetry
Assignment A- Response to Poetry In the modern world relationships between men and women may not be as straightforward as they were in the past because the role of women has changed. Examine what these two poems have to say about women relate to men in the modern world. Compare and contrast their views and decide which you identify with most strongly. * Valentine Carol Ann Duffy * I Wouldn't Thank You for a Valentine Liz Lochhead In your answer you should consider: * The attitude to men which emerges in each poem * The attitude to women which emerges in the poems * How the form and imagery contribute to each poems effect * The style and tone of each poem * Relevant comparisons and contrasts between your chosen poems For this poetry assignment I will be discussing the poems "Valentine" by Carol Ann Duffy and " I Wouldn't Thank You for a Valentine" by Liz Lochhead. The poets have similar views about relationships but express these views in contrasting ways. In order to analyse their contrasting styles it would be beneficial to look at their backgrounds. Carol Ann Duffy was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1955 but was brought up in Stafford, England. She worked as a free-lance writer in East London, and then she moved to Manchester where she currently teaches creative writing at the Metropolitan University. Collections include "Standing Female Nude" and "Selling
The Poem Havisham creates images and feelings of death, anger and destruction. Discuss how Duffy communicates this to the reader.
The Poem Havisham creates images and feelings of death, anger and destruction. Discuss how Duffy communicates this to the reader. Duffy's poem Havisham is based on the character Miss Havisham from the famous novel "Great expectations" by Charles dickens. Miss Havisham was stood up at the alter by her fiancée, since then she has not changed out of her wedding dress and her house remains decorated ready for the wedding which never happened. "Beloved Sweetheart Bastard" In this quote, we can clearly see that Miss Havisham is angry and living in hate about her fiancée whishing him dead. Miss Havisham is a lonely woman who now lives a life of hate towards men as one broke her heart and she cannot get over this. "Not a day since then I haven't wished him dead." This quote clearly shows Miss Havisham's hate towards this man. She wants him dead for what he did. In this poem, Duffy creates images in the readers mind as well as feelings. "I've dark green pebbles for eyes." This is creating an image of darkness and hate; "Dark Green pebbles" Dark colours are associated with hate. This quote also creates a feeling of fear, because somebody with dark green pebbles as eyes would be classed as scary and harmful. This poem is full of different feelings and emotions, which Duffy is trying to get across to the reader. Most of the feelings in this poem are to do with Death, anger
Essai on thoughs
Essay Both poems "World! Why do you hound me?" and "Poem" are both making the reader think by focusing on universal subjects and feelings such as human values in a rather superficial society or our own consciousness. Nevertheless the two poets manage to lead to a reflection from the reader in different ways. Juana Inés de La Cruz uses her own experience in life as an inspiration for her autobiographical poem. Indeed the "me" and "I" omnipresent throughout the poem are referring to her character, a young and good-looking woman at the court , the "prey" of the society, who would like the people to notice her for her "Understanding" rather than for her "Beauty". In contrast, Allama Mohammed Iqbal does not concentrate on one specific example but on a wider question asked from the very first line: "Are you Alive, Dead or DeadAlive?" He obviously means that there are three states in life including being completely free to do what we aim to, being unable to make our own choice or remaining an empty body without consciousness that is to say awareness of what you are. On top of that, "World! why do you hound me?" conveys a moral opinion on the ephemeral ("soon gone, the daily loot of Time") and superficial, material sides of life ("Beauty, Money, Luxury, Wealth, Pretty Face, forged crown, vanities") opposed to the mental activities ("Understanding, Truth"). Right from the
Comment on Duffy’s stealing.
Comment on Duffy's stealing Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy is written in first person narration. The speaker indicates directly to the reader that the most unusual thing he ever stole was a snowman. The speaker describes how he did so and how thrilling it was to learn that the children would cry in the morning as a result of the theft. He also informs the readers about other things he stole, which were frequently of no use to him. He rebutted why he was acting in such a way because he was bored and sick of the world. At the end of the poem, he suggests that the reader cannot understand his outlook. This poem is basically an informal and casual speech, in which the speaker communicates directly with the reader. As revealed from the last sentence, "You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?", the speaker is addressing to the reader and requesting them to respond and be involved. Sometimes, we can even hear the real-life voice of the speaker through the use of onomatopoeia. For instance, "I sigh like this-Aah", which appeals to the reader's sense of hearing, making the sigh more impressive and forms9 a strong impression in the mind of the reader. The application of pauses, further demonstrates that the speaker is interacting with the reader, as in a speech, we will not be able to complete our speech in one breath, there must be pauses. Furthermore, although the poem is
Discuss the ways in which Carol Ann Duffy explores the theme of alienation in Stealing, Education for Leisure and Originally
Discuss the ways in which Carol Ann Duffy explores the theme of alienation in "Stealing", "Education for Leisure" and "Originally" This essay analyses and evaluates the underlying theme of alienation in these three poems. It compares and contrasts the ways in which the different poems present alienation to the reader and how effectively this has been portrayed. Alienation is when a person is socially withdrawn or isolated from others, causing aggression or loss of friendliness. Duffy attempts to interpret and reveal the thoughts and feelings of those who are alienated. Each poem presents a different interpretation of people in various situations, some more affected by alienation than others. This essay also describes how the language, structure and imagery help to convey the theme of alienation successfully to the reader. Finally this essay suggests other interpretations of the poem and discusses to what extent the speakers in the poems are really alienated. Stealing is written in five stanzas with use of half and internal rhymes and there is a regularity in the line lengths. The internal rhyme makes phrases such as, "I wanted him, a mate with a mind as cold as the slice of ice within my own brain," stand out to the reader. This extended metaphor creates a repulsive image of open flesh and blood in the reader's mind, making the reader push the thought away perhaps, referring
Analysis of "Stealing" and "War Photographer" by Carol Anne Duffy
In the poems "Stealing" and "War Photographer", Duffy presents two very different characters, a thief and a war photographer. Although they are very different in many ways they are both people on the edge of society. Duffy offers a fascinating insight into their situation through exploring their thoughts, feelings and actions. In the first poem, "Stealing", Duffy allows the character to speak about his actions directly to the reader through a dramatic monologue, which has the effect of creating a sense of intimacy. The thief describes himself as a lonely and sad person who needs a friend in his life who is just as mean and sick as he is "I wanted him, a mate with a mind as cold as the slice of ice within my own brain". This indicates he has no friends nor family because nobody would steal a snowman unless they are mentally disturbed where as in this case that could be the answer. Whereas in the second poem, "War Photographer", Duffy describes the actions of the character. Because in this poem the war photographer is wanted by everyone for his pictures so people will know what is going on in the world and also the agony of pain in the photo's Carol shows this by saying "In his darkroom he is finally alone with spools of suffering set out in ordered rows". This also shows how sick and twisted the War Photographer is to take pictures of dying people whilst their loved
Comparison Between 'Before You Were Mine' And 'Stealing'
English Coursework Comparison Between 'Before You Were Mine' And 'Stealing' After reading 'Before You Were Mine' once I found it hard to understand exactly what this poem is about. But after reading it several more times, I think it is about Duffy Standing in Georges Square and trying to think or imaging what her mother would have been doing at that moment or place, ten years before she was born. I did not seem to get any clues about where Duffy is until the third stanza. 'Before You Were Mine' also seems to indicate that Duffy's mother could have died because she says "Your Ghost Clatters towards me". But her mother could still be alive and Duffy is just describing a ghost of her mother's former self. I knew who the persona was from the title and the first line, because she talks about herself and where she is. I think that this poem is almost a merge of and a story. This makes the story of the poem even more clear and stronger. The story, which I think is in this poem, is Duffy describing her mother's life ten years before she was born. She then describes all the things, which her mother has done and, maybe, she would have liked to have seen. This poem could be described as both narrative and Autobiographical, but I think it is mainly narrative. In the first stanza Duffy starts with the word, "I'm". This could mean that it is autobiographical. But then she
Mrs Beast - Carol Ann Duffy
Mrs Beast - Carol Ann Duffy The original story of Beauty and the Beast, teaches its young audience not to judge people by their appearances. Despite how a person may look on the outside, beauty comes from within. Carol Ann Duffy's dramatic monologue, 'Mrs Beast' is a complete contrast to the original fairytale. The Beast in the original is misunderstood but kind, loving and generous, as he is in Duffy's version. 'Belle'on the other hand has transformed from a kind and loving, young girl that views the world with childlike innocence, into an independent, cold hearted, power hungry, sadist. She introduces herself firstly by comparing her beauty to that of other beautiful and influential women throughout history"...stare into my face -Helen's face, Cleopatra's,...Gaze into my eyes -Nefertiti's, Mona Lisa's, Garbo's..." These are all beautiful women who's downfalls were caused indirectly, by the actions of the men in their lives. Mrs Beast continues and tells the reader to"...think again." Implying that although she is as beautiful as these women, she is not to be underestimated, she is not like them and will not befall the same fate. Before the first stanza comes to an end you are already witness to Mrs Beasts resentment towards the male species, she makes a mockery of 'The Little Mermaid', who alters herself in order to impress the Prince. Through the use of alliteration
Salome- Carol Ann Duffy- Analysis
Salome I'd done it before (and doubtless I'll do it again, sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? - what did it matter? Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted; the reddish beard several shades lighter; with very deep lines around the eyes, from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knew how to flatter... which I kissed... Colder than pewter. Strange. What was his name? Peter? Simon? Andrew? John? J knew I'd feel better for tea, dry toast, no butter, so rang for the maid. And, indeed, her innocent clatter of cups and plates, her clearing of clutter, her regional patter, were just what needed - hungover and wrecked as J was from a night on the batter. Never again! I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex. Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed. In tile mirror, I saw my eyes glitter. I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch - was his head on a platter. Q: What does each Stanza tell the reader about Salome? Stanza 1 In Stanza one, Salome seems careless and confused, and is just starting to realise what she'd done the night before. Quote: "What did it matter?" Strange..."