Key Quotes and Analysis Of Mrs Midas Part 2 Flashcards
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “Separate Beds. In fact, I put a chair against my door, near petrified.”?
T- Turning point, Contrast, Sentence structure
E- Noticeable change/turning point in mood in the second half of the poem. Focus is on the damage Midas has caused to their relationship. Beginning of Stanza 7 summarises the full affect in the single statement. Minor sentence emphasises sudden realisation of another consequence.
E- Contrast of how they used to love each other and how she is now terrified of coming into contact with him.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “turning the spare room into the tomb of Tutankhamun.”?
T- Alliteration, Word choice
E- Alliteration contributes to humour. Tuankhamun has connotations of impressive wealth. “ tomb” has connotations of death - this symbolises that their relationship and dreams are dead.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “We we’re passionate then, in those halcyon days; unwrapping each other rapidly, like presents, fast food.”?
T- Contrast, Simile
E- Contrast between past and present. “halcyon days” refers to their glory days of their relationship. Simile highlights separateness of couple. They enjoyed a fulfilling, intimate relationship before Midas’s wish. Physical relationship is important to Mrs M. This can no longer be much to her horror.
What is the evaluation for the quote “But now I feared his honeyed embrace, the kiss that would turn my lips to a work of art”?
E- she is now petrified of being touched by him.
E- Fear that one kiss would be enough to kill her.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “And who, when it comes to the crunch, can live with a heart of gold?”?
T- Inversion
E- Inverts phrase which usually has positive connotations of kindness and empathy. She is not in his heart - the desire for wealth is.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “That night, I dreamt I bore his child, it’s perfect ore limbs, it’s little tongue like a precious latch, it’s amber eyes holding their pupils like flies. My dream-milk burned in my breasts.”?
T- Word choice, Imagery
E- This description expresses her sadness over being deprived of the opportunity to have a child.
E- Word choice - there is initially an attractive quality to his dream child with “perfect ore limbs” and “amber eyes”. However this image becomes quite disturbing when the baby is described as “holding their pupils like flies”. This will only ever be a fantasy as she will be unable to have a child with her husband when he has this “gift”. Yet another consequence of his actions.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “I woke to the streaming sun.”?
T- Word choice
E- “streaming sun” has connotations of golden hues shining brightly - suggest her world is dominated by gold.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “So he had to move out”?
T- Sentence structure
E- Blunt short sentence. The consequences of his gift continue to destroy their relationship. He had to leave because of his actions.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “I drove him up under cover of the dark”?
T- Tone
E- She is clearly concerned with appearance and waits till dark to move him out. An element of humour in this act.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “And then I came home, the women who married the fool who wished for gold.”?
T- Symbolism
E- She returns home, alone, Leary blaming her husbands stupidity for their enforced separation. Despite visiting initially, she kept her distance in case she was affected by his “gift”. Wary of danger.
What is the evaluation of the 4th paragraph?
E- stanza presents image of solitary, distanced, detached life of Midas.
E- She sees signs of her husband’s presence before she sees him.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “That was the last straw”?
T- Sentence structure
E- She has finally had enough. Short sentence mimics her snapping. After this last encounter she could take no mor and was finished.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed but lack of thought for me. Pure selfishness.”
T- Sentence structure
E- Final stanza stresses Mrs M’s anger and frustration at her husband.
E- What hurts most is her husband’s total egocentricity - there was no consideration for her whatsoever.
E- “Pure selfishness” isolated in a minor sentence emphasises her anger.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “I think of him in certain lights, dawn, late afternoon, and once a bowl of apples stopped me dead.”?
T- Tone
E- She still love her husband and in certain lights when there are golden hues she thinks of him fondly. Tone - wistful, regretful.
What is the technique and evaluation for the quote “I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.”?
T- Word choice, Repetition
E- Word choice - “miss” suggests she pines after the physical contact which was lost.
E- Repetition - of “hands” is a powerful symbol which reiterates how much their physical relationship meant to Mrs M. Emphasises the fact his touch is lost forever.
E- Final line sums up her regret at the loss of physical contact with her isolated husband.
