Guiseppe - Roderick Ford

Question 1

What is Giuseppe about? (3 points)

Answer 1

Combines realism with myth to examine how humans can commit terrible acts of cruelty, and find ways to excuse the darkest of deeds

The poem suggests that in times of war normal morality is suspended. The mermaid, representing any outsider or enemy, is sufficiently ‘alien’ to allow us to suspend accepted standards

The detached, understated tone and the ‘alien’ figure of the mermaid are characteristic of the poet

Question 2

What is the structure of Guiseppe? (3 points)

Answer 2

Five stanzas of uneven length with lines also of uneven length

There is no rhyme scheme or regular metrical rhythm

However, the simile at the end of stanza two, the only poetic device, forms a horrific dramatic climax

Question 3

What is the language and imagery of Guiseppe? (3 points)

Answer 3

The poem works through free-verse narrative, using simple language to tell a terrible story

The tone is somewhat flat, implying suppressed emotion - shame that has no expression

The voice is that of the speaker, who tells the story as a dramatic monologue in the first person, recounting the observations of the various characters to excuse the act of murder