Analysis of Litany

Synopsis= A Litany is a series of petitions for use in church service or procession, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recruiting formula by the people or a tedious recital or repetitive series. This poem is set in the 1960's and it is centred around a group of mothers who are conscious to protect their children from the harsh realities of the world, therefore they code their language. However the daughter, who is the speaker of the poem is knowingly aware of what they are trying to cover. 

Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Certainly not Leukaemia, which no one could spell"

• There is a clear tone of sarcasm here which implies how the child is aware of the code that the mothers use against the children, this line could perhaps be a criticism of society for restricting children from the truth only for them to be so harshly exposed to it in their adult lives.

2.) "Wasps...Butterfly"

• The imagery used here gives a sense of an awe for nature, however the juxtaposition of the two species of wasps and butterflies is a metaphor for adults (who are wasps)  and the children (who are butterflies). The contrast of these creatures could be referring to the opposing feelings of sweet but deadly. 
• The juxtaposing animal imagery could also be a wider metaphor for society, the wasps are the danger associated with the real world as they are capable of stinging, whereas the butterflies play the role of the coded language the mothers speak as its exterior is very pleasant.

3.) "Salted my Tongue"

• This phrase conveys a sense of flavour, this could suggest that the speaker has added something to their monotonous surroundings so it is no longer plain. Duffy could be suggesting that putting up a facade is boring and to be real and genuine brings flavour (which ultimately makes it better).

4.) "Told me to f*ck off... Thrilled Malicious Pause"

• The pause in between these lines highlights the horrified silence from the middle class ladies sat around the child. The use of powerful/explicit language is the child's way of breaking the monotony in their life.
• "Thrilled" implies that the child is aware of what they have done and they are quite pleased about breaking the fake facade put up. 

5.) "The Terrible marriages Crackled, cellophane"

• There is an inclining tension in this line which mimics the marriages of the wives in the sitting room, they are failing but they refuse to acknowledge it until it reaches its limits and explodes. 
• "Cellophane" the cracks in the marriage are clearly visible to any eye, even a child's eye, despite its efforts to conceal and protect it with cellophane 

Links to Other Poems

• Confession= Both poems focus on the theme of oppression but from different means, in Litany the speaker is a victim of societal repression amongst the mothers whereas in Confession the speaker is subjected to religious oppression from the church.