Mrs Midas

Question 1

“relaxed, its steamy breath
gently blanching the windows.”

Answer 1

Language used to describe the
scene connotes the calm,
peaceful mood of Mrs Midas

Question 2

“wiped the other’s glass like a brow.”

Answer 2

Introduces importance of
sense of touch to Mrs M –
she is later no longer able to
touch Midas. Window is
unclear – she doesn’t really
see what is happening?

Question 3

“under the pear tree snapping a twig.”

Answer 3

Calm atmosphere is shattered by the final line:
‘snapping a twig.’ – connotes something
violent. Harsh consonant sounds in final
phrase contrast with softer consonant and vowel sounds earlier in the stanza.

Question 4

“visibility poor,”

Answer 4

visibility poor’ – suggests disbelief
over what is happening emphasised by
the length of time she takes to
undestand what she is seeing

Question 5

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

Answer 5

Personification: ‘dark of the ground
seems to drink the light of the sky’
– sounds ominous. Suggests the idea of
life being drained from something.
“dark” connotes something
sinister/ night/ end of things

Question 6

“the twig in his hand was gold”

Answer 6

Contrast between lack of light in first two lines and brightness of ‘gold’ twig and pear ‘like a lightbulb.’
This image seems unnatural and symbolises Mrs Midas realising what has happened

Question 7

“He”

Answer 7

Third Person (‘He’ rather than name) - she blames her husband.
Implies troubled relationship

Question 8

“The look on his face was strange, wild, vain”
“like a king on a burnished throne.”

Answer 8

Husband described as king like.
(Simile) “vain” – connotes greed
and selfishness “strange, wild” –
connotes being out of control/
frightening. ‘burnished’ reflects
grandeur/ wealth.

Question 9

“glass, goblet, golden chalice, drank”

Answer 9

Alliteration/ harsh sounds
add to the drama/ seriousness
of the situation. Reminds us of
a poisoned chalice –
something attractive that
brings misery.