Mrs Midas

Question 1

“It was late September.”

Answer 1

A relaxed atmosphere and a scene of domesticity is established. The time of year reflects the poem’s central ideas. The golden colours of Autumn and that it is a transitional stage.

Question 2

“its steamy breath gently blanching the windows.”

Answer 2

Personification of the condensation on her windows also adds to the warm and relaxed atmosphere. This reflects Mrs Midas’ mood and contrasts with her husbands behaviour to follow.

Question 3

“under the pear tree snapping a twig.”

Answer 3

The appealing atmosphere is shattered and the harsh consonant sounds creates an unpleasant tone. This contrasts with the soft sounds associated with the start of the stanza.

Question 4

“dark of the ground seems to drink the light of the sky,”

Answer 4

Personification gives the poem a more sinister and ominous feel. It foreshadows a problem occurring.

Question 5

“sat in his palm, like a lightbulb.”

Answer 5

Simile - contrasts the lack of light in the first lines of the stanza with the brightness of the pear and twig. It conveys the shape of the pear and the intensity of the light emanating from it.

Question 6

“On.”

Answer 6

Minor one word sentence - adds dramatic and comedic effect. Mrs Midas is in complete disbelief which is represented by the fact that a lightbulb should not be on if its in his palm.

Question 7

“Is he putting fairy lights in the tree?”

Answer 7

The whimsical and humorous imagery continues with the rhetorical question. It has a very conversational tone and there is a dramatic irony as she’s reaching for what on earth could be happening.

Question 8

“the Field of the Cloth of Gold”

Answer 8

Mrs Midas is reminded of a history lesson where the kings went to show off their wealth and everything was covered in gold. It emphasises Midas’ desire to show off his new gift.

Question 9

“strange, wild, vain.”

Answer 9

This tripartite structure reflects Midas’ greed and selfishness. He is excited by his new power and is which was motivated by greed. It also emphasises Mrs Midas’ criticism of her husband.

Question 10

“What in the name of God is going on? He started to laugh.”

Answer 10

Her question again highlights her disbelief. ‘Laugh’ suggests the difference between their reactions. She is in dismay and whereas he appears to find it amusing.

Question 11

“For starters, corn on the cob. […] spitting out the teeth of the rich.”

Answer 11

Comedic because Mrs Midas is attempting to return to a sense of normality by continuing on with her usual chores. The humorous metaphor conveys the negative effects of his new gift. The appropriate choice of food allows for effective imagery of Midas spitting out the corn that has now turned into gold. He can’t enjoy simple pleasures like eating now.

Question 12

“with a shaking hand,”

Answer 12

‘Shaking’ suggests that Mrs Midas’ anxiety is growing more prominent. She is realising the severity of the situation.

Question 13

“the glass, goblet, golden chalice, drank.”

Answer 13

Alliteration and hard consonant sound of ‘g’ adds to the drama and seriousness of the situation. The blend of the vowels also links to the splendour of the item.

Question 14

“It was then that I started to scream. He sank to his knees.”

Answer 14

A dramatic opening to the next stanza. They are both accepting the reality of what is happening and the consequences.

Question 15

“I made him sit on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself.”

Answer 15

Theme of change - Midas still seeks to maintain a physical relationship with his wife. Her behaviour reflects the new distance in their relationship brought on by the circumstances.

Question 16

“I couldn’t believe my ears:
how he’d had a wish.”

Answer 16

The enjambment between stanzas creates a deliberate pause which underlines Mrs Midas’ utter shock in response to her husband’s confession.

Question 17

“Look, we all have wishes; granted. But who has wishes granted? Him.”

Answer 17

‘Granted’ creates a comedic pun whilst the rhetoric question conveys Mrs Midas’ disgust for her husband. The one-word minor sentence also adds to her disapproval.

Question 18

“It feeds no one; aurum, soft, untarnishable, slakes no first.”

Answer 18

The list of criticisms from Mrs Midas towards her husband’s choice of wish reflect her true emotions. She explicitly states his foolishness and exposes the uselessness of gold.

Question 19

“you’ll be able to give up smoking for good.”

Answer 19

Comedic line contrasts with her more serious comment previously. The stanza ends on a more positive note with Mrs Midas evaluating a pro of the situation.

Question 20

“Separate beds.”

Answer 20

Minor sentences - summarises the full effect Midas’ actions have had on their relationship in a single statement.

Question 21

“near petrified”

Answer 21

‘Petrified’ is a pun because she’s not only scared but she will also be literally petrified if she is turned into gold when he touches her. Mrs Midas transitions from being confused, to angry then to scared.

Question 22

“turning the spare room into the tomb of Tutankhamun.”

Answer 22

Metaphor - comedically symbolises how their relationship is now effectively dead.

Question 23

“You see we were passionate then … unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents,”

Answer 23

‘You see’ conveys Mrs Midas’ chatty and informal tone as she narrates her story. The simile emphasises their close sexual relationship before Midas was granted his wish. This juxtaposes ‘separate beds’ and underlines the negative impact it has had on their relationship.

Question 24

“And who, … can live with a heart of gold?”

Answer 24

‘Heart of gold’ usually has positive connotations which are associated with a kind person. However in this case the metaphor is inverted because the literal meaning is implied. It is impossible to live with a heart made of solid gold.

Question 25

“I bore his child, its perfect ore limbs, its little tongue like a precious latch.”

Answer 25

A superficial, initially attractive fantasy is presented to the reader. The imagery has connotations of gold with ‘ore limbs’. ‘Ore’ is the beginning of metal and it will be the beginning of a life. ‘Latch’ suggests that the tongue of the baby will be solid gold too.

Question 26

“holding their pupils like flies.”

Answer 26

Simile - the fantasy descends to a disturbing image. A sense of lifelessness is established as Mrs Midas comes to terms with the fact that she will never have a baby with her husband.

Question 27

“streaming sun”

Answer 27

Personification - she will forever wake up to a world dominated by gold in every waking moment.

Question 28

“So he had to move out.”

Answer 28

Declarative statement - marks the finality of their relationship.

Question 29

“And then I came home, the woman who married the fool who wished for gold.”

Answer 29

‘And’ isolates and underlines her determination to remain apart from her husband. The use of third person clearly shows that she blames him for his stupidity. Also references how the poem is a retelling of a Greek myth.

Question 30

“Golden trout”
“a beautiful lemon mistake.”

Answer 30

This series of images fully demonstrate how his foolish decision has impacted his life and relationship. The food is inedible. The oxymoron of ‘beautiful lemon’ and ‘mistake’ emphasises that beauty can be deceptive and useless.

Question 31

“thin, delirious; hearing, he said, the music of Pan from the woods.”

Answer 31

List of adjectives reveal his physical deterioration as a result of his ‘gift’. The reference to another Greek god who was the god of shepherds and flock which is ironic because it was a Greek god that gave him this ‘unlimited wealth’. It is also ironic that this gift could result in such emotional poverty.

Question 32

“Pure selfishness.”

Answer 32

Minor sentence - conveys Mrs Midas’ anger at her husband making a wish that has destroyed their physical relationship and her dreams of having children. It also refers to the poet’s main concern of the poem which is how the myth of Midas impacted the people around him. No one focuses on the poor wife who is left with nothing.

Question 33

“I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.”

Answer 33

In this poignant line she fondly recalls their intimate relationship and grieves its loss. The repetition of ‘hands’ emphasises how his touch was a symbol of their intimacy which is now lost forever. This also conveys the importance of touch to Mrs Midas. It is ironic because ‘his touch’ was the root of the problem.

Question 34

Form and structure

Answer 34

This poem is in the form of a dramatic monologue and told from the perspective of Mrs Midas. It explores her true feelings towards the situation with her husband. It is made up of eleven stanzas each with irregular line length which symbolises the chaos and unpredictability of her life. She always fears she will turn to gold. A comedic tone is dispersed throughout and the final stanzas sum up the negative consequences of Midas’ wish being granted.