Compare how language is used to present the attitudes of the speakers in four of the poems you have studied.
It is a better use of my time to mark work here rather than on paper as this way I am providing examples and feedback to the whole class. I would prefer it if you named your work so I know who has done what bu, if you're not comfortable with this, please leave it anonymous and I will provide feedback all the same.
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In “Havisham”, Duffy’s persona describes moments of imagined intimacy between herself and the partner who she now despises and this is quite revealing with regard to her attitude:
ReplyDelete“The lost body over me,
my fluent tongue in its mouth in its ear
then down till I suddenly bite awake.”
This clearly represents an element of confusion in the persona’s attitude. Whilst she has opened her poem with the shocking description of her “beloved” as “bastard”, here she seems to have lapsed into reminiscence of the carnal side of their relationship. The graphic description of the wanderings of the persona’s “fluent tongue” implies the physical and animalistic nature of their love, the word “fluent” clearly implying that there is still an element of longing in the persona’s attitude. However the enjambment between “ear” and “then” clearly separates this longing and erotic nostalgia from the reality of the speaker’s current attitude which is clarified by the metaphor “bite awake” in which the word “bite” represents the pain, anger and aggression which are the feelings which now dominate the speaker’s attitude.
Similarly, in “Anne Hathaway”, Duffy uses images of the sexual side of the speaker’s lost relationship to show her attitude:
“The bed we loved in was a spinning world
Of forests, castles, torchlight, clifftops, seas”
Here, the metaphor of the “spinning world” suggests that the physical, sexual aspects of their love are a source of great excitement and comfort to the speaker. Her attitude is therefore one of fond reminiscence. The romantic metaphor of “torchlight” is in stark contrast to the lover’s tongue in “Havisham” exploring the physical aspects of “mouth” and “ear”. Whilst both speaker’s have lost their loved partner, in “Havisham” the speaker’s attitude is one of anger, bitterness and sorrow which focuses on the physical aspects of their love whereas in “Anne Hathaway” the speaker seems to take comfort from the fantastical memories of a soft, compassionate and exciting (yet still sexual) love.
In 'Mother' Simon Armitage shows the attitude of the speaker as wanting: 'that opens on an endless sky.....to fall or fly'. This implies the speaker is attempting to be set free. The word 'opens' is associated with a new beginning suggesting Armitage believes he is doing the right thing by wanting freedom. However, the enjambment 'fly or fly' implies Armitage is taking a risk. 'fall' suggests he is scared about what could happen to him without he mother being there right by his side. But 'fly' implies he knows there may be a possibility of coping alone. Using enjambment here suggests he is confused proving he is unsure on giving up with her love.
ReplyDeleteConversely, in Ann Hathaway Duffy shows the speaker as needy: 'Living, laughing, love' this alliteration shows how the speaker’s attitude towards her husband’s death has made her confused. The word 'Living' suggests she is unsure on her husband’s state. His death has increased her mentality. Also 'Laughing' is associated with fun and happiness suggesting she thinks he is still alive proving she doesn’t want to accept the fact he has gone; she doesn’t want to let go. Interestingly both poets show the speakers attitude towards love in a different way. Duffy uses the alliteration 'living laughing' to show how she still needs love whereas Armitage uses 'opens' to portray he doesn't need his mother’s love any longer. Whilst both poets show love in different ways they both show some type of confusion within the speakers actions.
This is good, focused analysis, well done. The main thing to think about is the way in which you deploy the language you choose, for example:
ReplyDeleteFirstly, right at the beginning, you describe the persona's attitude as "wanting". I would specify exactly what he is "wanting" here: liberation from his life as a child; freedom from his mother etc.
Secondly, in your analysis of Anne Hathaway, you use the phrase "increase her mentality". This is a bit vague and could be construed as quite a blunt comment on the state of her mental health. I would instead use the word "confusion" or specify which part of her "mentality" (which literaly means her mind or conciousness) has been increased.
That said, this is great work which focuses on language and structure and makes a good point of comparison at the end, well done.
In “Anne Hathaway” by Carol Ann Duffy the the speaker's attitude is very positive even though she is coping with the loss of her husband.
ReplyDeleteThe alliteration in “My living laughing love” emphasises that although her husband is dead, their love is still “living”. Her attitude is concentrated on keeping their love alive as she may be struggling to let go, rather than becoming upset over her loss. This shows their love is very deep creates a very romantic image.
However, in “November” by Simon Armitage, a more negative image is created as the persona’s attitude contrasts with the persona in “Anne Hathaway” when faced with loss. “We have brought her here to die and we know it” is sharply contrasting to Duffy’s “living laughing love” as he has given up all hope and can no longer have faith to keep his loved one alive.
Interestingly, the attitudes both poets show towards loss are very different. The contrasting words “living” and “die” emphasise this and show how one attitude is focused on keeping the memories alive, whereas the other is focused on coming to terms with death.
In “Anne Hathaway” Duffy presents the attitude of the speaker coping with loss. “My living laughing love” this alliteration shows that although someone very close to her has passed away she is still keeping him alive through the memories that they shared together, this emphasises that their love is pure and that it will keep strong though out the years to come of them being apart thus creating a very romantic image. “The bed we loved in was a spinning world” this metaphor reflects the passion through fantasy and sensuality through the language portraying the love, “spinning world” suggests unearthly and that their love was out of this world. However in “November” Armitage portrays the speaker as also having to cope with loss. “One thing we have to get, John, out of this life” this shows that they are already letting go as they are prepared for the loss and know that it is coming it could also show that they want her to pass away so she is not suffering anymore and so that they can all get on with their lives, compared to Duffy’s “Living laughing love” Armitage uses “We brought her here to die and we know it” this shows that they have given up all hope and they are no longer trying to keep her and the memories alive, this emphasise that both poems are dealing with loss but in different ways, as Duffy portrays a very romantic image but the sadness of losing a loved one but coping with the memories that are left behind to keep the person alive, Armitage shows a very different view that once the person is gone there is nothing left and they will just move on with their lives.
ReplyDeleteTwo answers to comment on here:
ReplyDelete1 (17:01): Great detail and I particularly like the contrast of "living" and "dead" and the ways in which they have dealt with death. Also very well written, I wouldn't really change anything.
2 (18:28)Good detail again and I like the quotations integrated into your explanations. Only thing to add is some direct comparison of langauge at the end.
In 'Mother any distance', Simon Armitage depicts her attitude towards their relationship as being possesive and reluctant to let go; "the line still fedding out unreeling years between us. Anchor. Kite". This use of enjambment incorporated into the poem portrays the increasing distance of love between the mother and the son. The word 'still' reveals a very paranoid mother who does not agree with the fact that there seperation does lay ahead and is going to increase. The reason for this is because she appears to sound like she is afriad of what it may lead to as she is moaning of possible future consequences. Furthermore, where Simon Armitage includes the short sentences of "Anchor" (being the mother) and "Kite" (being the son) it mirrors the fact that she is acting possesively with an astonishing amount of security revealing a fearful yet arogant attitude of the mother.
ReplyDeleteWhere Simon Armitages use of the language reveals a very possesive and agressive character, Robert Browning interprets the laboratory in a similar way; "Brand, burn up, bite into its grace". The use of alliteration and rule of three begins to conclude her attitude and persona in the process of gaining what she wants. It reveals a viscious side to her because of the hard emphasis on the first letter of each alliterative word. She appears to enjoy the pain and want the victim to suffer conveying how possesive and arogant she is towards him in order to win her goal. Where Simon Armitage uses the word "Anchor" to show the mothers agressive and secure personality towards her own son, Robert Browning uses the word "Burn up" to result in the same effect. Both female characters conclude their attitude towards recieving what they want as being too protective and malicious. - Antonia
Antonia- excellent, original analysis here. My only criticism is in your understanding of "Mother any distance..." as the speaker here is not the mother, as you make out, but the son (hence the first line of the poem).
ReplyDelete