Includes a range of pre-reading tasks focused on diction and context, plus reading, writing and discussion activities for close analysis of the poem’s techniques and devices. The language in this poem is quite harsh, emphasising the anger ‘Medusa’ feels for this man. She is the UK’s poet Laureate and is the first female to ever have held this distinguished position. Here is an analysis of ‘Medusa’which is from her collection entitled The World’s Wife. Essays for Carol Ann Duffy: Poems. She is literally taking the life away, but because the poet put these active verbs before the animals, it highlights how deathly Medusa’s look is. My bride’s breath soured, stank Carol Ann Duffy’s poems in her work, The World’s Wife, belong to this category. The poem is written in first person, earlier tense narrative, The poem is a remarkable monologue coming from Myra Hindly’s perspective of life in prison. It makes the poem an ideal example of “L’ecriture feminine”. Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a … In this stanza, the narrator describes how they have become. The poem as a whole is very figurative, mirroring, The imagery further portrays how ‘Medusa’ undergoes the transformation and changes into someone else. Information on different aspects of the poem 'Medusa' by Carol Ann Duffy Join the conversation by. The white colour of the milk reflects the purity and innocent mind of the persona. Today is World Poetry Day, a day to appreciate and support poetry around the world. (…) Medusa Lyrics. (Medusa was a character in Greek mythology with snakes for hair, that could turn a person to stone just by looking at them) in this first stanza, Duffy uses the S-sound to make a reader imagine a hissing, the kind of noise one would associate with serpents. Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a hideous creature after being raped by Poseidon. Sat 17 Jan 2015 03.50 EST. hissed and spat on my scalp. She then seemingly questioned why he has cheated, almost pleading by saying “wasn’t I beautiful” the use of the past tense is really interesting here and once again points to the low self-esteem of the narrator. I think it is obvious that her self-esteem is incredibly low. In 'Medusa', Carol Ann Duffy creates a personification of jealousy that flickers from mythical re-imagining, through metaphor to a vividly specific instance of 'Love gone bad.' It is very much a double entendre as it could be taken as the narrator pleading with their partner to look at them. And here you come IN MRS TILSCHERS CLASS (…) Her appearance as well as her special power, in reality, make her a slave of loneliness. The narrator has a hesitation that her lover is being unfaithful and rude which has she has been cursed and has also made her into a harsh and angry Gorgon. She turns all these animals into rocks of different proportions, and each one is bigger than the one before. Here are other papers written by Joseph: Carl Jung; Stephanie Brooks Ted Bundy; Is Video Games Bad For The poem has a dark, almost gothic tone (no surprise with a title like ‘Medusa’) but is also tragic and Duffy skillfully creates sympathy for a character that could easily just be considered to be hideous in nature. LJ, has been a Poem Analysis team member ever since Novemer 2015, providing critical analysis of poems from the past and present. However, the poem ends with the direct statement “look at me now.” This phrase was placed as a sentence of its own unlike the rest of the poem. Higher English Carol Ann Duffy learning resources for adults, children, parents and teachers. The poem, which can be read in full here, opens up with one of the aforementioned tricolons. from the mouth of a mountain. in a heap of shit. Portraying The Unheard Female Voices. ANALYSIS Medusa Carol Ann Duffy. 'Medusa' by Carol Ann Duffy Watch. Thetis- Carol Ann Duffy Form It is written in free verse- reflects her shape shifting ability. The myth has been altered by Duffy in many aspects within the poem to display themes such as paranoia and jealousy. The Worlds Wife explores Duffy’s strong and, at times, controversial views on the women who have been traditionally overshadowed by their husbands. Once again, we have a poem from Carol Ann Duffy, superimposing her thoughts about a fictional and mythical creature onto our minds, just like she did with the biblical figure of Salome [give that a read if you can find it and see the similarities]. Medusa - Carol Ann Duffy Poem Analysis . She wants revenge. She has progressed; she looked in the mirror, and saw a ‘dragon’, this shows how she herself feels that she changed; she has become more powerful. That’s why she has to be happy with what she actually has. Dirt The Devil was one of the men at work, ... Medusa I flew in my chains over the wood where we’d buried the doll. Emphasising how it can ruin a person’s confidence and lure them to a place where they shun other people, or turn them to stone. Moreover, the tone of the speaker doesn’t reflect any sense of disgust. The physical attributes of Medusa depict how jealousy turns a person into a formidable and fierce creature. In this stanza, Duffy furthers the comparison between the narrator and the character of Medusa by describing the narrator’s partner in ways you’d associate with a Greek hero (in the original story of Medusa she was killed by Perseus). The poet furthermore links this metaphor to the theme of feminism when she describes the women in the poem overpowering the man that hurt her. Giving this line its own stanza makes it very impactful. Are you joining in with my game of hangman? Because if so there is no K! Carol Ann Duffy - Poem Order & Themes Little Red Cap: Acts as an introduction to the collection and expresses the journey of a young girl, distorting the fairytale of Little Red Riding Hood, with a very possible autobiographical account of Duffy's own introduction into the world of love, sex and literature. It is packed with rhymes and half rhymes which gives the poem an almost musical flow. Carol Ann Duffy includes the poem "Medusa" in her poetry collection entitled The World's Wife (1999). Duffy projects her character, as someone who is suffering internally and finding an answer. A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy. This is a terrifying statement. Thank you! She has transformed into a stronger creature, that is more threatening and free than the woman she was before has been. In strict stanzas- reflecting the conformity exposed upon her by society and men, and her ultimate capture. From the subject matter of the poem, it is clear that the poet presents the mental working of a lady who has been suffering from mental agony for a long time. By taking on characters from various myths, religious texts and fairytales, she transformed them into a sister, a wife or feminised character of themselves, altering the angle of perspective readers would previously have. The World’s Wife was published in 1999 and presents the female perspective on stories where the male … The narrator addresses the reader as the person they love and then describes them, again with three descriptors, as “perfect man, Greek God, my own.” Her jealousy then comes to the fore as she states that she knows he (the reader) will betray her and so he is better off as stone. Medusa Carol Ann Duffy. In essence, bringing the reader a slight calmness before the big scare, much like a horror director would. But now we have another character from ancient folklore, the Medusa. This stanza continues much in the vein of the previous, detailing the things medusa is turning to stone. The metaphor, “skittle of milk,” is very effective. hissed and spat on my scalp. Once again the things she is transforming grow in stature. Carol Ann Duffy. The biggest and best secrets behind the greatest poetry revealed. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. The first sentence in this stanza is short and sharp and addresses the reader directly. Carol Ann Duffy Photograph: Alan Mccredie/Writer Pictures. I glanced at a buzzing bee, “a skittle of milk” Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a hideous creature after being raped by Poseidon. Subscribe to our mailing list to reveal the best-kept secrets behind poetry, We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously. ‘Medusa’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a feminist representation of the mythical character of Medusa. First it is ‘I glanced’ which is less definite than ‘I looked’ suggesting that she was first looking at these objects with not much purpose, but as she learned of what happens when she does, it is then ‘I looked’ as she is more sure of what she can do and more determined to do so. The use of the imperative is sublime: 'Be terrified. At this point, we can only guess as to whether the narrator’s partner has been adulterous or if this is all in Medusa’s imagination. Please support Poem Analysis by adding us to your whitelist in your ad blocker. Nov 26, 2018 - A very detailed lesson on Carol Ann Duffy’s Medusa that supports students to analyse and interpret the poem’s key themes. Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! the use of enjambement and rhyme help to hurry the poem,and abrupt pauses The actual item that is turned to stone is described in an almost “happy” way a “buzzing bee”, a “singing bird” but then the reality hits as they become “dull grey pebbles” and “dusty gravel”. There is a lexical field of destruction and disgust ‘shattered’ ‘filthy’ ‘stank’ that connotes the negative feelings of envy and fury that the poet is feeling. I stared in the mirror. In aid of this, we thought we’d give a GCSE poem analysis from the AQA GCSE English Anthology: Medusa from poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy’s collection of poems, ‘The World’s Wife’. Duffy also explores the physical effects of emotional distress when her suspicion, doubt and fear transform into a filthy snakes. Carol Ann Duffy: Poems essays are academic essays for citation. Be terrified. The whole poem is free verse, which signifies the freedom the poet now feels. Rather it depicts her doubtfulness about herself. TES English MP3 readings & commentaries, teaching resources, worksheets and activities on &';Medusa' by Carol Ann Duffy. You can see a pattern emerge as the objects she turns to become more significant, starting with a bee and then a bird. Her power is tragic however. Before highlighting another transformation, this time changing a dragon into a volcano. It employs many clever features. I’m foul mouthed now, foul tongued, yellow fanged. Moreover, the style of the poem closely resembles the form of a “gyno-text”. Album The World’s Wife. (…) The Devil’s Wife Lyrics. The World’s Wife written by Carol Ann Duffy is a collection of poems that touches the themes of feminism, equality, loss and rebirth. Any input would be much appreciated . History is steeped in the greatness of men; the Western literary canon proclaims its male authors’ work as timeless and science lauds the contributions of male scientists. Perhaps history has told her that he will be unfaithful? Jeanette Winterson. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Highlighting that Duffy is in her youth and is inexperienced. Wasn’t I fragrant and young? The lines such as, “Wasn’t I beautiful?/ Wasn’t I fragrant and young?” reflect her doubtfulness. The language of the first person narrator is violent, mixing classical idea with base colloquialism ('shit') and onomatopoeia like machine gun fire. The bee was ‘buzzing’, the bird was ‘singing’ and the pig was ‘snuffling’ before she turned them all into rocks. It contains examples of sibilance (a form of alliteration) It uses tricolons, which are groups of three to emphasise emotions. in the grey bags of my lungs. Carol Ann Duffy is Scotland’s most famous contemporary female poet. There are some elements of black humour here as the cat turns to stone and shatters the dish it was drinking from and the pig is transformed into a boulder and rolls into a pile faeces. She is a very clever poet who uses simple words in a complicated way, often to make political points. The login page will open in a new tab. In the poem Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy, who is the 1st female poet Laurate, destructive power of jealousy is described from Medusa’s point of view. She knows that there are some things she can’t change. Medusa – Carol Ann Duffy. I looked at a ginger cat, Discover the best-kept secrets behind the greatest poetry. (…) Throughout these transformations, there is an interesting visual parallel between the original object and what it is turned into. ‘Havisham’ by Carol Ann Duffy presents some important themes such as heartache, pain, mental rage, and passion. grew in my mind, which turned the hairs on my head to filthy snakes. The self-loathing littered throughout the poem is particularly tragic and once again highlights the effects that infidelity or suspected infidelity can have on a person’s life. the poem particulars Myra hindlys reflection on the crimes determined along with ian brady, known as the moors murders. Medusa takes a pause to reflect on herself. spattered down. Sign up to find these out. 0. reply. I think that using the character of Medusa as a metaphor for a jealous lover was a stroke of genius. The poem alludes to the Greek myth of King Midas, who was granted a wish to have everything he touched turn to gold. A suspicion, a doubt, a jealousy In Medusa, Carol ann Duffy presents the character as a very jealous and vengeful woman. There are themes such as jealousy, feminine dignity, and doubtfulness. The metaphor works so well and through this comparison, Duffy is able to really get at the heart of the feelings of a jealous person. The character of Medusa is a symbolic representation of jealousy in ancient Greek mythology. So better be for me if you were stone. This humour helps to ease the tension after the drama of the third stanza and creates a lull before a further harrowing crescendo. The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a hideous creature after being raped by Poseidon. The physical attributes of Medusa depict how jealousy turns a person into a formidable and fierce creature. The Worlds Wife by Carol Ann Duffy depicts women as victims’ Analyse three poems showing how far you agree with this statement. She then uses the oxymoron “bullet tears” this has the effect of helping portray the grim image that is being put across but softens the narrator so we can be sympathetic with them. Apart from that, Duffy, by using the symbol of Medusa, portrays those women who suffer just like the mythical character. This paradox creates an interesting dynamic as the reader you get to see the comparison between the previously beautiful item and the horrid item it transforms into. In the text, Medusa doesn’t stand on the negative side. Medusa - Carol Ann Duffy Poem . Lee-James, a.k.a. Her jealousy is portrayed through the violent animalistic images of creatures the speaker is compared to; growing in size as her power builds. Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a hideous creature after being raped by Poseidon.The poet furthermore links this metaphor to the theme of … Nowadays, he helps Will manage the team and the website. Get an answer for 'Write an analytical essay to compare and contrast the poems "Warming Her Pearls" and "Medusa" by Carol Ann Duffy.' These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy. This shows how she is learning to use her power, and perhaps mirrors the increasing knowledge she is gaining as well as confidence in her self. “Mrs Midas” is a poem written by the contemporary Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy, the former Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. ‘Medusa’ is a poem in free verse divided into 8 (mostly) equal stanzas. This is shown when she first ‘glanced at a buzzing bee’ then at a ‘singing bird’ then ‘ginger cat’ and finally ‘snuffling pig’. She blames her actions, these transformations, on love. The, Scientific Glass, Inc: Inventory Management, Robert Mondavi and the Wine Industry Case Analysis. The comparison of milk bottles to skittles is also effective. Posted on September 1, 2015 by rumand8. Album The World’s Wife. Despite the absence of human companionship, Medusa maintains her dignity. as though my thoughts. The character of Medusa is a symbolic representation of jealousy in ancient Greek mythology. 1. The narrator then speaks metaphorically about how these emotions have turned her into a Medusa-like character. My bride’s breath soured, stank. You could sort of imagine a ginger cat being turned into a red brick and a dragon into a volcano. ... CAROL ANN DUFFY english comparsion essay help The inclusion of the detail of, “milk,” is particularly effective. (…) It is through advertising that we are able to contribute to charity. Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy The poem Medusa explores the theme of jealousy and anger; the poet illustrates this using the extended metaphor of a Greek mythological creature Medusa, whose story describes her as a beautiful maiden that is turned into a … ‘Medusa’ by Carol Ann Duffy contains several themes. Please log in again. - The theme of tragedy is also explored by alluding to Medusa's powers when turning animate objects into stone; Carol Ann Duffy used this power in a relationship context - Lastly, the theme of conflict is explored through ambiguity to literally demonstrate the speaker's contrasting views. Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy Theme 1 Evil Transitioning in the grey bags of my lungs. It reminds us of games played at school highlighting how innocent the poet was. What's your thoughts? Poetry is pleasure. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. The only themes I came up with were Jealousy, Self Loathing and loneliness but I don't seem to be be able to back it up. Carol Ann Duffy, ‘Mrs Midas’. She can’t even have anyone around her as her eyes can turn them into stones. Carol Ann Duffy is the most humane and accessible poet of our time, and Rapture is essential reading for the broken-hearted of all ages' - Rose Tremain The effortless virtuosity, directness, drama and humanity of Carol Ann Duffy's verse have made her our most admired and best-loved contemporary poet. Duffy metaphorically expresses that Medusa’s tears are as harmful as bullets, especially to herself; they make her mad. rhymes and half rhymes which gives the poem, In Mrs Tilscher’s Class By Carol Ann Duffy. Last modified on Thu 22 Feb 2018 09.40 EST. Although she is seemingly describing her physical appearance it is clear she is actually talking about how she now perceives herself. “The Devils Wife” is actually a poem written by Carol Ann Duffy. Or it could be a threat as looking at Medusa would result in your death. She makes the husband sound guarded, but at the same time like he is mean by describing his tongue as being like a sword. There are themes such as jealousy, feminine dignity, and doubtfulness. (…) A Comparison of Before You Were Mine and Pluto; Men, Women, and Representation in Duffy's ‘The Worlds Wife’. Moreover, when she confronts her appearance, she becomes doubtful of her self gratification. View Test Prep - Medusa.pptx from ENGLISH 092 at William Jessup University. The poem, however, tells this well-known story from the perspective of Midas’s wife, using humor and wit to explore the foolish … But could it be assumed from the next two lines that the reader is supposed to be her husband or partner? This commonly used, rhetorical device is a tool to emphasise a point, in this case, the emotions being felt by medusa, those pertaining to jealousy. Themes in Medusa ‘Medusa’ by Carol Ann Duffy contains several themes. This shows how enjoyable school was for, Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy Im foul mouthed now, foul Discuss the use of imagery in the poem "Medusa" by Carol Ann Duffy Ultimately, the entire poem is an extended metaphor for a woman consumed by jealousy as she parts from her lover. (…) The world’s wife is a compilation of poems published in 1999 and written by Carol Ann Duffy, a modern feminist poet. Are you terrified? This low self-esteem gives the narrator a self-image of someone that has breath that “stinks” she uses another tricolon to describe her mouth. All the content of this work is his research and thoughts on How is the theme of jealousy explored in Medusa by Carol Ann and can be used only as a source of ideas for a similar topic. She wants revenge. In this stanza, it details medusa turning things into stone. In this poem, the poet highlights those who kept themselves hidden for the negative response of society. Duffy often uses dark humour in her poems and writes in monologues filled with rhetorical questions which encourage the reader to try and see life through the eyes of the narrator (as is the case with Medusa).

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