AS English Literature- Duffy and Larkin

Synopsis= This poem has an inconsistent focus, it begins nostalgic and pleasant but moves back to childhood and teenage memory, in the later stanzas Duffy still uses childhood imagery but in the present tense where they feel immobile, ending with reality and the speaker coming to the realisation that she is losing her memories. The inconsistent focus of this poem mimics the fast moving pace of time and memories and how these have a permanent imprint on our later lives. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.)  "Dried ink on the palms suddenly ran wet" Here dried ink refers to when you are younger in school when it was typical to jot your crushes name on your hand, this is significant as it "ran suddenly" mimicking that nervous feeling when around your crush. This would cause your hands to go clammy and it could also portray how our first love slips away. "Palm" can be easily hidden showing that although memories are a part of us we can mask them from anybody...

Synopsis= The programme "Top of the Form" was a BBC radio and TV quiz for secondary schools in the UK running from 1948-1986. Therefore this poem is based upon a speaker who was on this programme during the 60's and won, however since this victory they have been unable to move past this moment of their childhood and this theme is prevalent throughout the poem. Key Quotations + Analysis= 1.) "Fizzing hope" "Fizzing" has connotations of sugary/fizzy drinks such as coke, which has further allusions to childhood as this was a drink commonly consumed during our school years.  The word choice fizzing also suggests that the speaker believes his youth was so special it was worth celebrating as champagne bottles are also known as "fizz". However it is significant that over time a fizz dies out and becomes flat, which mimics the significance of his memories. They are still "fizzing" to him but to everyone else they are flat.  2.) ...

Synopsis= Nostalgia is classed as a desire to return to a former time in our lives which is heavily conveyed in this poem. It is set in the past in the perception of mercenaries from Switzerland who had to leave their homes in search of fortunes. Nostalgia can also be classed as a mental illness that is incurable, sickness is portrayed in this poem both physically as the mercenaries would often suffer from severe altitude pains and pain of being removed from their home setting. Key quotations + Analysis= 1.) "Crude coins clenched" This imagery gives the impression that the coins are worthless, just like the memories in their head, it also portrays money in a negative light which suggests that the mercenaries are bitter tat they've had to leave their home for the sake of earning money. The use of consonance conveys the harshness of nostalgia to a persons mental health and the blunt, severe feeling of the altitude pains that the Swiss mercenaries felt. It could also...

Synopsis= This poem is based upon a relationship that has decayed over time, so much so that what is left is the shell of a marriage forged together through the commitments tied to their children and their family home. Key Quotations + Analysis 1.)  "Like a drawing, erased, coloured in" Drawings are a form of art, conveying that the relationship may have once been beautiful and precious.  Drawings are time consuming and require effort which imply that the couple put everything into this relationship but it still failed to be a success. "Erased" could show that they are aware of each others imperfections, yet instead of accepting them like an unconditional form of love should, he is erasing parts of her that he doesn't approve of.  "Coloured in" portrays that the couple may be presenting a false front to the public eye.  2.) "Pity of bells" The word choice "bells" heavily alludes to marriage bells, which indicate celeb...

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...