A picture of otto

Question 1

Who wrote a picture of otto

Answer 1

Ted hughes

Question 2

When was a picture of otto published and in what collection

Answer 2

1998 in the Birthday letters collection

Question 3

What is the theme of a picture of otto

Answer 3

Death

guilt

Question 4

What is the tone of a picture of otto

Answer 4

Anger

reasoned

Question 5

What is the context behind a picture of otto

Answer 5

He refers to the picture of otto in Plaths archives of otto standing at his university blackboard

Otto died in 1940 due to complications of diabetes.

Plath writes in her diaries “i identify ted with my father at certain times/Ted in far is a male presence is a substitute of my father.”

Question 6

What is a quick overview of a picture of otto

Answer 6

This autobiographical collection focuses on the relationship between Hughes and his former wife. In this particular poem, Hughes addresses Plath’s father, Otto, whom Plath depicted as an overbearing tyrant

Hughes meets Otto in the underworld, and, rather than confront him in anger, expresses sympathy for and solidarity with him. Hughes suggests that Plath’s perception of both men was just that: her perception, rather than the objective truth of who they were. In this way, the poem seeks to complicate the mythology surrounding Hughes and Plath’s relationship, while also suggesting more generally that there are many sides to any story.

Question 7

What is the structure of a picture of otto

Answer 7

Regular quatrains
Loose iambic pentameter
orphan line

Question 8

What is the form of a picture of otto

Answer 8

Dramatic monologue addressing Otto
Apostrophe poem
free verse

Question 9

What are quick language techniques of a picture of otto

Answer 9

Intertextual allusion “But like Owen” to ww1 poet Wilfred Owens poem “strange meeting” that outlines speaker coming face to face with a german soldier in hell that he killed

Extended metaphor of hell shown through letter to Aurelia plath “if theres an eternity, i am damned in it”

Imagery of light and dark to show confusion, guilt, pain of journey through hell.

Blunt direct lines - “She could hardly tell us apart in the end.” shows resentment of plaths judgement of him and her father

Allusion to blackboard in Plaths archives