Carol Ann DuffyCarol Ann Duffy

Two PoemsTwo Poems

ThemeTheme

Mrs TMrs T

Discovering identityDiscovering identity

““impatient to be grown”impatient to be grown”

Standing...Standing...

Asserting identityAsserting identity

““I fill myself with wine I fill myself with wine and dance around and dance around bars”bars”

CharacterCharacterMrs TMrs T

The girl is The girl is imaginative:imaginative: “You could travel up the “You could travel up the Blue Nile”Blue Nile”

Uncomfortable: Uncomfortable: “untidy, “untidy, hot...fractious”hot...fractious”

DependentDependent on another for on another for affection: “Mrs Tilscher affection: “Mrs Tilscher loved you”loved you”

Strong: Strong: “ran through the “ran through the gate...impatient to be gate...impatient to be grown”grown”

Standing...Standing...

ImaginativeImaginative: “the Queen of : “the Queen of England gazing on my England gazing on my shape”shape”

At times, At times, uncomfortableuncomfortable in in her own body: “My breasts her own body: “My breasts hang slightly low”hang slightly low”

Dependent: Dependent: “I [am “I [am concerned]with the next concerned]with the next meal”meal”

Ultimately strong and Ultimately strong and independent:independent:“Little “Little man...”man...”

StructureStructure

innocent and happy: “The laugh of a bell” innocent and happy: “The laugh of a bell” (Mrs (Mrs T)T)practical but exploited: “for a few francs” practical but exploited: “for a few francs” (SFN)(SFN)But Duffy cleverly hints at how the poem will But Duffy cleverly hints at how the poem will progressprogressable to console herself with her imagination able to console herself with her imagination and humour: “and humour: “the bourgeoisie will coo” (SFN)the bourgeoisie will coo” (SFN)aware of the darker side of human nature: aware of the darker side of human nature: “Brady and Hindley...the faint uneasy smudge”“Brady and Hindley...the faint uneasy smudge” (Mrs T)(Mrs T)

Four stanzasThe first two lead the reader to believe we know the persona

A A clear turning point:clear turning point:

““Over the Easter term...” Over the Easter term...” (Mrs T)(Mrs T)

““Little man, you’ve not the money” (SFN)Little man, you’ve not the money” (SFN)

Skilful linking Skilful linking within the poem:within the poem:

““Enthralling books...appalled” (Mrs T)Enthralling books...appalled” (Mrs T)

““Six hours...Twelve francs” (SFN)Six hours...Twelve francs” (SFN)

And a And a positive climax positive climax asserting the strength of asserting the strength of the character described:the character described:

““It does not look like me.” It does not look like me.” (SFN)(SFN)

““...impatient to be grown.” ...impatient to be grown.” (Mrs T)(Mrs T)

LanguageLanguageEffective use of Effective use of sentence structure sentence structure to convey ideas:to convey ideas:

““Coloured shapes.” - minor, memories Coloured shapes.” - minor, memories (Mrs T)(Mrs T)

““And do try to keep still” – imperative, power that And do try to keep still” – imperative, power that Georges has over her Georges has over her (SFN)(SFN)

Use of Use of sound: sound: “chanted...Tana. Ethiopia. Khartoum. “chanted...Tana. Ethiopia. Khartoum. Aswan.” Aswan.”

““Magnificent she murmurs moving on”Magnificent she murmurs moving on”

DirectnessDirectness: : “Belly nipple arse...”“Belly nipple arse...”

““This was better than home.”This was better than home.”

Animal imageryAnimal imagery: “the bourgeoisie will coo.”: “the bourgeoisie will coo.”

““a line of kids, jumping and croaking”a line of kids, jumping and croaking”

ThemeTheme

Both poems explore ideas of identityBoth poems explore ideas of identity

‘‘In Mrs Tilscher’s Class’ describes a girl In Mrs Tilscher’s Class’ describes a girl struggling to find her identity, distinct from the struggling to find her identity, distinct from the teacher she worshipped and the child that she teacher she worshipped and the child that she once wasonce was

‘‘Standing Female Nude’ depicts a woman Standing Female Nude’ depicts a woman struggling to assert her identity, independent struggling to assert her identity, independent despite the attempted dominance of the artist despite the attempted dominance of the artist and what poverty has forced her to do to and what poverty has forced her to do to survivesurvive

Choose a poem in which the speaker’s Choose a poem in which the speaker’s personality is gradually revealed.personality is gradually revealed.

Show how, through the content and Show how, through the content and language of the poem, aspects of the language of the poem, aspects of the character gradually emergecharacter gradually emerge

Choose two poems by the same poet which Choose two poems by the same poet which you consider similar in theme and style.you consider similar in theme and style.

By referring to theme and style in both By referring to theme and style in both poems, discuss which poem you prefer.poems, discuss which poem you prefer.