1
Q
Significance of repetition “what if” throughout.
A
- Lament on if those dead would return.
2
Q
Different Duffy purposes.
A
- Metaphor for female oppression ie. silenced in grave.
- Rebirth of female voice, women resurrected –> links to “gospels.”
- Personal tone reflecting universal grief.
3
Q
Used throughout
Example of asyndetic lising.
A
- “shifted, stirred, kicked off.”
- Verbs become more dynamic, trying to escape due to lack of comfort.
4
Q
Sig of end stop line: “I wish.”
A
- Finality of death.
5
Q
Sig of: “her bare feer walk along the gravel path between graves.”
Mythology THROUGHOUT anthology.
A
- Reference to Robert Graves poem: “Theseus/ Ariadne.”
- Thesus abandons Ariadne in poem.
- Neglected women in History?
- “between the graves”: literal “graves” OR writer –> name = graves.
6
Q
Sig of “nobody died. nobody wept.”
A
- Repetition of “nobody.”
- Emphasises perfect world of no suffering.
- Cycle of being forgotten.
7
Q
Sig of: “covering of the earth.”
A
- Emmulates bed-sheet.
- Comfort in grave vs societal expectations on women.
8
Q
Sig of “heavy door.”
A
- Metaphor for impenetrable barrier between dead and alive.
9
Q
What is “grooves of her dates” referring to?
A
- Inscription on tombstone.
10
Q
Domestic imagery throughout poem. Sig?
A
- “kissed for a bride”/ “shroud like washing blown onto grass.”
- Even in death, women confined to gender roles.
- “washing”: every-day item –> idea of woman’s death becoming insignificant.
- “Falls on grass”: rejection of gender roles.
11
Q
Form of poem.
A
- Elegy.
- Poem of serious reflection, typically for the dead.
12
Q
Sig of beginning with “but.”
A
- Conjunction.
- North-West starts in same way.
- In media res: “but” represents interruption of speaker’s constant thoughts of loved one/ grief.
13
Q
Sig of: “why do I shout.”
A
- Link to “Loud.”
- Idea of triviality in women speaking up due to inevitable rejection.
Feminine Gospels
flashcards
Decks in class (19)
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