Mrs Midas Flashcards
which words suggests a happy domestic life at the start of the poem?
glass of wine, relaxed, gently, vegetables cooked.
How is the opening effective?
short sentence for impact: “it was late September”
“snapping a twig”
onomatopoeia shows her shock. “snapping” has connotations of violence. This is the moment everything changed.
which phrases show her confusion and disbelief at what she is seeing in the garden?
“now the garden was long and visibility poor”
“I thought to myself, is he putting fairy lights in the tree?”
“on”
“he sat on that chair looking like a king on a burnished throne”
simile shows that his priorities were power and wealth - not her
which phrases show that he is enjoying his new power?
“laugh” “toyed”
which phrases show that she is terrified by his new power?
“shaking” “scream”
“he was spitting out the teeth of the rich”
This metaphor shows the problem that never occurred to Mr Midas: he can’t eat. The sweetcorn kernels are the same shape, colour and size as gold teeth,
which phrases show the beginning of the isolation between the couple?
“I finished the wine on my own”
“I made him sit on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself”
“Separate beds”
“Him”
The minor sentence has impact and draws attention to her anger towards him.
how does the poem make use of dark humour?
“At least, I said, you’ll be able to give up smoking for good”
“The toilet I didn’t mind”
“turning the spare room into the tomb of Tutankhamen”
. This reinforces the earlier idea that he thought this gift would make him rich and powerful, like a king. But the word choice of “tomb” is associated with death, which shows the real legacy of his gift.
“unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents, fast food”
This shows that Mr and Mrs Midas had a passionate physical relationship. This will now be lost because he cannot touch her. “unwrapping” connotes the removal of clothes. “presents” makes their lovemaking sound loving and fun, as a present is given to bring joy and show love. “fast food” suggests urgency and hunger for one another.
what has Mr Midas denied Mrs Midas by choosing this gift?
a physical relationship and therefore a baby
how do we know Mrs Midas would have loved a baby?
“perfect” “precious”
