Mrs Midas

Question 1

Snapping a twig

Answer 1

Word choice and harsh consonant sounds like breaking the peaceful, domestic scene of their home life. Snapping suggests breaking apart, destroying or splitting something and this foreshadows the breakup of the marriage. The first time we are introduced to Mrs M’s husband he is destroying something natural with his gift, foreshadowing how his gift will destroy their love.

Question 2

Separate beds

Answer 2

Short abrupt sentence highlights the damage Midas gift has done to their once loving relationship. Then it transpires, on separate floors, indicating the widening gulf between them.

Question 3

So he had to move out

Answer 3

Short blunt statement starts the next stanza and marks the complete breakdown of her marriage, reflects the matter of fact approach to the consequences of his actions.

Question 4

What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed

Answer 4

The final stanza stresses Mrs Midas anger and reflection at her husbands pure selfishness in making his wish which has not only affected him but also deprived both of any physical relationship and also wife’s chance to have a baby.

Question 5

But lack of thought for me. Pure selfishness.

Answer 5

The stanza resonates with a sense of loss and grief. She is still left alone with nothing but a wishful regret full sense of loss for the man she married.

Question 6

His hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.

Answer 6

The repetition of the word hands and adding the word warm emphasises the nature of this loss, she is never to feel her husbands warm touch again.