White Writing

Question 1

“White Writing” metaphor throughout.

Answer 1

• Refrain: “I write them in white.”
• Metaphor for not needing to write vows, make oaths to express their love.
• “White” = hidden, need to be discrete as lesbian?
• Tone of love letter/ Duffy reinventing her own wedding vows.
• Motif of writing in anthology ie. Virgin’s Memo/ Anon.

Question 2

Anaphora throughout.

Answer 2

• “No vows, prayers, laws, rules, news… written.”
• Exemplifies rejection of same-sex marriage.
• Official, restrictive language “laws”/ “rules” –> oaths take the freedom of love away?

Question 3

Structure of poem significance?

Answer 3

• Anaphora: “no…”
• Refrain: “I write them in white.”
• Each stanza = 4 lines.
• Tight structure to poem, eternal love.

Question 4

Personal connection.

Answer 4

• “lips”/ “palm against palm lifeline, heartline.”
• Juxtaposes extrospective natural imagery throughout.

Question 5

Light/ dark imagery throughout. Significance.

Answer 5

• “flame.”
• “bright”
• “last gold sun.”
• Radiance of their love.
• “Moonlight”
• Can be more open in the dark, no one to see their relationship.

Question 6

Natural imagery.

Answer 6

• “words on wind”/ “walk on sand.”
• “foam on a wave… lift up skirts in sea, wade.”
• Isolated from society? Need to hide relationship?
• Waves wash off their love? Temporary due to their being no marriage?
• At one with nature. Open spirituality vs Christian restriction of “prayers.”

Question 7

Use of rhyme? Significance.

Answer 7

• Full rhyme e.g., “flame”/ “name.”
• Positive affirmation of their love.
• Echos musicality of wedding vows.
• Half rhyme: “yours”, “years.”
• Unity but not legally recognised/ public perception of their unity being incomplete.

Question 8

Temporary/ incomplete imagery.

Answer 8

• Half-rhyme: “years”/ “yours.”
• “foam on wave”: wash off their love.
• “behind clouds”: fleeting moments.

Question 9

Sig of “your soul a flame.”

Answer 9

• Metaphor for eternal love.
• Fire = passion + warmth.

Question 10

Sig of “window of your maiden name.”

Answer 10

• Don’t need marriage, sharing surnames, to declare their unity.

Question 11

Sig of “no news written.”

Answer 11

• Ref to them not being able to share news w/ friends and fam.
• Need to be discrete as lesbian couple (motif throughout poem!)

Question 12

Sig of “no laws written to guard you.”

Answer 12

• No legal/ financial protection for same-sex couples prior to 2004.
• Full rhyme suggests they can guard each other.

Question 13

Sig of “No…” being in middle of stanza in last stanza.

Answer 13

• No completedness to their relationship as no complete structure to the poem.
• Because no legal recognition of their union.

Question 14

When was gay marriage legally recognised in UK?

Answer 14

• 2014.