"War Photographer" Essay
"War Photographer" Essay Choose a poem which explores the theme of loneliness or isolation. Show how the poet explores the theme and discuss, to what extent, your appreciation of the theme was deepened by the poet's treatment. In your answer you may refer closely to the text and to at least two of the following; theme, imagery, contrast, mood or any other appropriate feature. "War Photographer", a moving poem by Carol Ann Duffy, explores the theme of isloation. The poem, based on an interview the poet had with "War Photographer", Don McCullin, reveals the dilemma within his work and how this work results in his isolation. Through the use of theme and imagery, Duffy successfully deepens the reader's appreciation of the theme of isolation. The opening line of the poem is ambiguous. Duffy, choosing not to expose the true and horrific nature to war, instead introduces the Photographer's "darkroom" where he will develop the photographs he has taken: "In his darkroom he is finally alone" This could suggests that the photographer uses his "darkroom" to reflect on the darkness of the events that he has winessed. The words "finally alone" imply that this place is a sanctuary for him, a haven to escape the brutality of warfare which he, himself has seen and captured. Metaphorically, this "darkroom" could signify a confessional box in a church in which he feels he can face up
In "Little Red Cap" discuss the use ofimagery, syntax and structure.
In "Little Red Cap" discuss the use of imagery, syntax and structure. Plan: Introduction to the collection of poems Similarities and differences between this poem and original fairytale Imagery - how has Duffy used the words used to create pictures in the reader's head? Syntax - word order. Why has she written sentences the way she has? Emphasis on a particular word. Structure - length of stanzas "Little Red Cap" is written by Carol Ann Duffy found in a collection of poems called "The world's wife", where she has given a voice to the women (fantasy characters and real people) who have generally been silent or their thoughts made clear through the voices of their husband's or partner's. Firstly, the title of the poem grabs your attention and reminds you of 'Red Riding Hood', a children's story. This is clever, as it sets the readers mind to thinking about the story, which means that the reader can connect all of the similarities in the poem to the children's story, for example; "What big eyes he had! What teeth!" The poem "Little red cap" is among others where Duffy has based this poem on a fairytale story, in this case, little red riding hood. However, this poem has a few differences to the original version of the story. For example, this poem uses imagery to create a very sexual feeling, where as the original fairytale was not in any way sexual, but had a more
"My Grandmother" by Elizabeth Jennings and "In Mrs Tilcher's Class" by Carol Anne Duffy
Poetry Essay: "My Grandmother" by Elizabeth Jennings and "In Mrs Tilcher's Class" by Carol Anne Duffy The following piece of writing will pick out both similarities and differences between two main poems: "My Grandmother" by Elizabeth Jennings Which has the more darker mood of the two poems and "In Mrs Tilcher's class" by Carol Anne Duffy which is the most brighter of both these particular poems. These are both poems that look back to the past retracing memories of good and bad experiences of betrayal and innocence of great significance in the poet's lives which gives a great personal effect to their poems. The poems are both linked in many ways that I will explain and prove further in the writing. The poems are both written by women at a similar period in each of their lives and are about women who have played an important role in their lives. I shall carry on with these points later in the writing. "My Grandmother" is Jenning's look to the past but truly shows you can only live in the present not the past, that life will still go on whatever the consequences. It is about the poets feelings of her Grandmother which you get an old, tight feel owning her own antique shop which is what she lived for and kept her like an antique: "She kept an antique shop-or it kept her" So again this gives an old, frail look to her outlived and past her sell-by date. Jenning's describes
A Critical Analysis of Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy
A Critical Analysis of Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy The first thing I noticed about Stealing was the question on the first line, this immediately tells us that he/she is talking to someone (or is perhaps being interviewed), however, because the poem is a monologue, we never know who. Neither are we told the gender or age of the thief, which I think all adds to the air of mystery the poem has. The thief doesn't give a particular reason for stealing but gives ambiguous comments which I have interpreted in a few different ways. Firstly the thief tells us of several things he/she has stolen, the strangest of which is a snowman. Many of these, we are told by the thief are 'things which I don't need,' which is why we can question what exactly the thief is trying to steal and why. After all what exactly is the thief trying to achieve by stealing a snowman? We are told that 'part of the thrill was knowing that children would cry in the morning', so perhaps metaphorically the thief sees the snowman as someone's happiness and is in fact trying to steal someone else's happiness for himself. I think this is very possible as the thief makes it clear that he/she is unhappy with life by making remarks such as 'life's tough' and 'sick of the world'. He/she also tries to reassemble the snowman in his/her yard, to me it seems the thief is doing this to try and make it (the snowman/ the
Duffy explores different kinds of relationships in ‘Valentine’ and ‘Before you were mine’. How does she reveal her thoughts and feelings about these relationships to the reader?
Duffy explores different kinds of relationships in 'Valentine' and 'Before you were mine'. How does she reveal her thoughts and feelings about these relationships to the reader? In 'Before you were mine', Duffy talks about the relationship between her and her mother, this relationship is very different from that of 'Valentine' when Duffy is explaining the meanings of love between two partners. In 'Valentine', Duffy uses the image of an onion to compare the love of two people. She comments on how, like love, an onion can 'blind you with tears' i.e. make your eyes water or cry. Later in the poem she talks about how the taste of an onion stays on the lips for a long time after you have eaten it 'it's fierce kiss will stay on your lips' - like a kiss from a lover. A kiss doesn't actually stay on your lips, but the memory of a first kiss with a person that you love can stay in your mind forever, it is something you may never forget. This is all use of an extended metaphor - the onion. In 'Before You Were Mine', the love that is discussed is different - the love between a mother and her daughter - parental love. Duffy explains how she has always admired her mother. She does this by using snapshots of her mother's past to make the reader conjure up an image in their head 'I'm ten years away from the corner you laugh on' - this example is talking
Duffy sometimes creates a character for the speaker of her poem - What methods does she use to do this in valentine and before you were mine?
Duffy sometimes creates a character for the speaker of her poem. What methods does she use to do this in valentine and before you were mine? Carol Ann Duffy is a very honest, non idealistic poet that usually writes against the conventional stereotype of what life and love between people is all about. She uses techniques such as metaphors and personal opinions to express a very meaningful incite into what the character and speaker of the poem thinks and feels. Valentine is usually associated with the 14th of February, a day where you send cards, flowers, usually roses; red things and cute things that represents the "loveliness" of love and an opportunity to show your partner you care and love them. Carol Ann Duffy goes entirely and at first shockingly, against this stereotype; instead of talking about romantic love, she writes about cynical love. This poem's basic structure is based on the presentation of this gift, "I give you an onion." The reader is able to get a visualisation of what is happening in the present tense. The reader is able to imagine the transfer of the onion from her hand into her lover's. As she is giving a present that is staggeringly opposing tradition; she has to justify the reasons behind why she has decided to give her lover an onion, to prove it is the right gift to the reader and her lover and the reasons behind why she has chosen it. For
Poems by Carol Ann Duffy.
Poems by Carol Ann Duffy Many of Carol Ann Duffy's poems are about people. Choose two poems, in which, particular people are described and explain how the structure and language of each poem makes the people interesting. Carol Ann Duffy is a famous poet she has written many great poems such as 'Valentine' and 'Stealing'. Both of the poems are about people and their feelings. In Valentine and Stealing Carol Ann Duffy has written them in a way, which the reader feels emotionally involved with the person in the poem. This is because the people and their feelings are expressed in a way, which they seem personal to the person who 's telling them. She makes the people in the poems interesting, making the reader want to read on. The two poems Valentine and Stealing are about people and their lives but they are shown in different ways. Stealing is about a man who tells us what he has stolen that's unusual. The Stealer then gradually starts to tell a story about the time he stole a snowman. In the story he tells us his feelings in why he steals. Valentine is a totally different poem to Stealing. Valentine is about a woman who gives her lover an onion for Valentines Day. The onion is symbolic, to describe there relationship and that they have problems as a couple. In Valentine Carol Ann Duffy describes the feelings of the woman to her lover. Valentine When you think of Valentine
Discuss how ‘A Woman’s Question’ by Adelaide Anne Procter and ‘Valentine’ by Carol Anne Duffy explore how women of different periods view their relationships
GCSE Coursework Essay-Poetry Discuss how 'A Woman's Question' by Adelaide Anne Procter and 'Valentine' by Carol Anne Duffy explore how women of different periods view their relationships 'A Woman's Question' was written in the 19th Century and 'Valentine' is a modern poem which was written in the 1990s. This fact is fairly obvious from not only the content of the poems, but the style in which they are written, too. It also affects how the women generally view their relationships. Both show evidence of how society viewed women, and despite the different times in which they lived, they both rebel against traditional ideas of the time in certain ways. Procter and Duffy view their respective relationships very differently. Procter seems to be quite insecure about her partner, and wants to know whether he is going to leave her, and also talks about how she wants him to be completely honest with her. Duffy on the other hand, is very realistic about her relationship and not over-romantic. This does not mean that she does not think love is important; she just does not depend on her partner and does not talk about love using elaborate, romantic phrases. This shows that she has a modern view of love. Although the theme of 'A Woman's Question' is not actually romantic, as Procter spends most of it talking to him about her insecurities, the language she uses in it is quite romantic
Three poems by Carol Ann Duffy - In Mrs Tilscher's Class.
In Mrs Tilscher's Class There are different contrasts of changes, which take place between the beginning and the end. At the beginning there is lots of fun and laughter. A "skittle o f milk", this shows that they are having fun. They might be playing a game. The classroom glowed like a sweet shop, sugar paper and coloured shapes were all the things of happiness. It shows the teacher loved children, and children loved her. It's magical and looks as if there is a party because of all the wonderful decorations. The poet describes these changes very well, he tries to emphasis and make the readers experience all of the things she went through. There are small statements, which the poet tries to describe very well. "A skittle of milk The word skittle might try to tell readers that the children are having fun by playing a game. Also the word milk, which might mean spread. The poet tries to persuade readers that children are having fun; by this he has said this (A skittle of milk). "The laugh of a bell" The word laugh means happiness, this is linked with the bell because both of them communicate with happiness. The bell ringing is a human sound. Laugh is positive and it associates with having fun. The poet does describe them well. The classroom was filled with decoration and then this is when the fun starts to end. A xylophones nonsense, someone is having fun
How does Carol Duffy create thecharacter 'Mrs Midas'?
Kelly Ann Mawhinney English 30/10/2005 How does Carol Duffy create the character 'Mrs Midas'? Carol Ann Duffy has done several poems including Mrs Midas, others include Havisham and Education for Leisure. These three are distrubing poems, she uses images in the poems to help convey what she wants us to see and imagine is happening. In the case of Havisham she use a distrubing character from the Charles Dickens book Great Expectations, and brings the character to life, so we can imagine what this woman looked like and how she reacted to life and her feelings about others. Where-as in Education for Leisure Duffy conveys a character in which we do not know if they are a woman or a men, but she again she uses images to convey what is happening in the poem, this images are powerful and you can imagine how the character is feeling and what is about to happen. Also in several of her poems she uses colours to help set the mood and show how the characters are feeling which is a good way for expressing how you feel and without words. In 'Mrs Midas' Carol Ann Duffy uses the same affects but this time her key characters are of both sexes, i.e. a man and a woman. This poem unlike the other poems is a lighter introduced in to what is happening. In the first stanza, she goes about setting the scene of the poem and the time of year in-which the poem is happening. The character in