History

Question 1

What is the main conceit of the poem?

Answer 1

History is personified as an old woman who is ignored and disrespected.
* Duffy subverts the idea of the perfect woman
* The woman sees the emotion and humanity in history

Question 2

What are the main language methods in History?

Answer 2

• Conceit- naturalistic description
• asyndetic listing
• historical refernces

Question 3

What are the key structural methods in History?

Answer 3

• Broken rhythm fluctuates between iambic and dactylic metre reflecting the stuttering life of the woman

Question 4

What quotes support the method of: conceit-naturalistic description?

Answer 4

‘smelling of pee’
‘coughed and wheezed’

Question 5

What quotes support the method of: asyndetic listing?

Answer 5

‘Bannockburn, Passchendaele, Babi Yar, Vietnam’

Question 6

What quotes support the method of: historical references?

Answer 6

‘the basilicas rise’
‘watched as the air of Rome turned to stone’
Mary ‘gasping for breath’
‘the little hands from the trains’