Mrs Midas Flashcards
What’s your first quote for ‘Love’?
“Unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents, fast food.”
Explain, “Unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents, fast food.”
The simile of fast food shows the desire in their previous relationship
What’s your second quote for ‘Love’?
“honeyed embrace”
Explain, “honeyed embrace”
The word choice of ‘honeyed’ suggests that something so sweet could kill her, and also the colour of honey is gold
What’s your third quote for ‘Love’?
“I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch”
Explain, “I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch”
The list emphasises the grief the speaker has for her relationship, and the repetition of ‘hands’ pushes forward the sensory imagery
What’s your first quote for ‘Contrast’?
“Snapping a twig”
Explain, “Snapping a twig”
The word choice of ‘snapping’ sounds violent, which contrasts with the relaxing beginning of the poem
What’s your second quote for ‘Contrast’?
“He toyed with his spoon, then mine, then with the knives, the forks”
Explain, “He toyed with his spoon, then mine, then with the knives, the forks”
The list emphasises the amount and ease with which Mr Midas is turning things into gold, and the word choice of ‘toyed’ shows the playful nature of Mr Midas
What’s your third quote for ‘Contrast’?
“under the cover of dark.”
Explain, “under the cover of dark.”
The word choice of ‘dark’ contrasts with the brightness of his golden curse
What’s your first quote for ‘Identity’?
“Visibility poor”
Explain, “Visibility poor”
This means that the speaker couldn’t understand what was occurring that well, but also that the speaker doesn’t understand what she is seeing
What’s your second quote for ‘Identity’?
“I dreamt I bore his child.”
Explain, “I dreamt I bore his child.”
This reveals one of the speaker’s wishes, which was for a child, which is now something she’ll never get
What’s your third quote for ‘Identity’?
“the woman who married the fool”
Explain, “the woman who married the fool”
This displays the speaker’s thoughts of herself as she’s disappointed in herself and her husband
What’s your first quote for ‘Emotional conflict’?
“I started to scream.”
Explain, “I started to scream.”
This line contrasts with her husband’s playfulness, which displays the seriousness of the relationship
What’s your second quote for ‘Emotional conflict’?
“My dream milk burned in my breasts.”
Explain, “My dream milk burned in my breasts”
The word choice of ‘burned’ shows the pain the speaker feels about her wish of having a child will never be met
What’s your third quote for ‘Emotional conflict’?
“the dark of the ground seems to drink the light of the sky”
Explain, “the dark of the ground seems to drink the light of the sky”
The simile sounds ominous, hints at the sad ending of the relationship, and the word choice of ‘light’ links to his golden curse
What’s your fourth quote for ‘Emotional conflict’?
“Look, we all have wishes; granted. But who has wishes granted?”
Explain, “Look, we all have wishes; granted. But who has wishes granted?”
The use of wordplay adds humour and also emphasises the shock the speaker feels
