AS English Literature- Duffy and Larkin

Synopsis= This poem is based on a character in "Great Expectations" called Miss Havisham who is an archetypal spinster that was jilted on her wedding day and remains stuck in time. As a result the poem explores the bitter resentment of the speaker towards traditions and celebrations such as marriage. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "dark, green pebbles for eyes" The colour green has clear connotations to jealousy and envy, conveying that the speaker is envious of the life she lived before she met the man that jilted her, or envious of the life she could have had with him if he hadn't jilted her. Pebbles implies that the speaker has developed a heart of stone since her heartbreak and she is emotionless, it also could link to the allegorical story Medusa who turns anything in her vision to stone.  Pebbles are almost immortal which could convey that the trauma has immortalised her, she will never be at rest for what he did. 2.) "A red balloon bursti

Synopsis= Its clear to see that this poem is based off a relationship that has been crushed through one partners decision to be deceitful and commit adultery against their partner. As a result the speaker of this poem demonstrates the effects, both short term and long term, that this act of deceit has Key Quotations + Analysis=  "Wash Themselves. Now" This line conveys the sense that the speaker is trying to cleanse herself of her husbands deceit from her body, it could also portray that her husband is attempting to wash himself clean of the guilt caused from his sins.  "Now" implies that she must constantly cleanse herself to feel sane and her mind must be washed frequently as the thoughts of her husbands deceit fill her mind. "Sweet Darkness" Here Duffy's use of an oxymoronic phrase links to the similar phrase 'ignorance is bliss' , connoting that when the speaker was unaware of her partners deceit it was much better, she would

Synopsis= This poem reflects on a broken relationship which the speaker is in mourning for, during this process they become very aware of the transient nature of time and the fact that it is finite, it is a force that will inevitably bring about change and it is an unstoppable force. Duffy could also be using this poem to critic the statement of "living in the meantime"  Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "We will be dead"  This line gives a tone of fatalism to the poem which adds emphasis to the inevitable nature of time. The speaker feels as if they are subservient to time and it is beyond their control.  "Will" is a modal verb which accentuates that the effects of time are definite and no one can oppose it, it could also relate to how time will out live the relationship and any relationship formed as "we" is a plural therefore it includes everyone. This furthermore emphasises the sheer power of time  2.) "The clocks slid back... st

Synopsis= Duffy focuses this poem on the impact that is left after going through a first love and the surreal feeling of falling in love that takes over a persona briefly. It is clear to see in this poem that the speaker is now disconnected from their first love but the memories of it are reflected on nostalgically and with pleasure Key Quotations + Analysis= Waking, with a dream of first love forming real words, as close to my lips as lipstick, I speaker your name, after a silence of years, into the pillow, and the power of your name brings me here to the window, naked, to say it again to a garden shaking with light. This was a child's love, and yet I clench my eyes  till the pictures return, unfocused at first, then almost clear, an old film played at a slow speed. All day I will glimpse it, in windows of changing sky,   in mirrors, my lover's eyes, wherever you are. And later a star, long dead , here seems precisely  the size of a tear. Tonig

Synopsis= Despite being a short poem, Duffy is conveying a literal and metaphorical message within 'Drunk' by demonstrating the reasons for and effects of using escapism's, in this case in the form of alcohol. Some critics see the intoxication of the speaker as being metaphorical of a broken relationship. Key Quotations + Analysis= Suddenly the rain is hilarious The moon wobbles in the dusk What a laugh. Unseen frogs belch in the damp grass The strange perfumes of darkening trees. Cheap red wine and the whole world a mouth. Give me a double, a kiss. 1.) "The moon wobbles" Alcohol has distorted the speakers vision, they cant see straight as they cannot see past the broken relationship. The word choice "wobble" is somewhat immature which could connote that the speaker uses alcohol to become more joyous and humorous. The moon is symbolic of many things  Insanity= The speaker feels delusional which we could evidently blame