duffy context/critics w poems

Question 1

Captain of the 1964 Top of the Form Team

Answer 1

“She writes in an everyday, conversational language” - British Council

Question 2

Litany

Answer 2

Duffy was raised a Catholic but became an atheist as a teen
“Duffy’s themes include language + the representation of reality” - Woods

Question 3

Nostalgia

Answer 3

“Her recollection of the past is always physically realised, often recalling all 5 senses” - Swale

Question 4

Stafford Afternoons

Answer 4

“Time is personified as mean or spiteful” - Baty
Duffy moved to Stafford at 6

Question 5

Brothers

Answer 5

Duffy grew up with 4 brothers
“Duffy’s poems explore how time is inevitably cruel” - Woods

Question 6

Before You Were Mine

Answer 6

“Having a child turns you into an echo” - Duffy
In Duffy’s other poem ‘The way my mother speaks’, she recalls her mother with fondness

Question 7

Confession

Answer 7

Duffy was raised a Catholic but became an atheist as a teen
“Poetry + prayer are very similar” - Duffy

Question 8

The Good Teachers

Question 9

Like Earning a Living

Answer 9

“She writes in an everyday conversational language” - British Council

Question 10

The Cliche Kid

Answer 10

“All childhood is an emigration” - Duffy

Question 11

Pluto

Answer 11

1930 - discovery of Pluto

Question 12

Beachcomber

Answer 12

“A strain of nostalgia for childhood + the mysteriousness of its contours run through her poetry” - Forbes

Question 13

Small Female Skull

Answer 13

“Exploration of the deepest recesses of human emotion, both joy and pain” - O’Reilly

Question 14

Moments of Grace

Answer 14

“Her recollection of the past is always physically realised, often recalling all 5 senses” - Swale

Question 15

First Love

Answer 15

“Duffy’s poetry was filled with lost loves and yearning for the past” - Viner

Relationship w Adrian Kay

Question 16

Crush

Answer 16

“Duffy’s poetry was filled with lost loves and yearning for the past” - Viner

‘She has an optimistic side that Larkin did not, most visible in her many love poems’ - Randolph

Question 17

Never Go Back

Answer 17

“Insight into such disturbed minds” - O’Reilly

Question 18

The Grammar of Light

Answer 18

“Many of Duffy’s poems reflect Larkin’s” - Quinn

Question 19

Valentine

Answer 19

“Examines love in many forms” - O’Riordan

Question 20

Sleeping

Answer 20

“Insight into such disturbed minds” - O’Reilly

Question 21

Close

Answer 21

“Memories return to linger over moments of transient happiness” - Lewison

“Examines love in many forms” - O’Riordan

Question 22

Havisham

Answer 22

“Strong feminist edge” - Poetry Foundation

“Exploration of the deepest recesses of human emotion, both joy and pain” - Elizabeth O’Reilly

Question 23

The Suicide

Answer 23

“Insight into such disturbed minds” - O’Reilly

Question 24

The Windows

Question 25

Room

Answer 25

“Many of Duffy’s poems reflect Larkin’s” - Quinn

Question 26

Mean Time

Answer 26

“Time is personified as mean or spiteful” - Baty

Question 27

Prayer

Answer 27

“Poetry + prayer are very similar” - Duffy

Grew up Catholic - became atheist at 6