Mrs Midas

Question 1

It was late September

Answer 1

The poem begins in ‘late September’ a time during the transition of summer to fall. The setting of an
autumn landscape brings to mind the colours yellow and orange, foreshadowing Mr. Midas’s ability to turn
everything he touches into gold.

It is also illustrates a period in which something comes to an end. In the Midas household this period gestures towards the end of their relationship but there is a contrast
between the natural processes of autumn and the unnatural events surrounding Midas.

Question 2

He was standing under the pear tree snapping a twig

Answer 2

The
action of “snapping a twig”
holds connotations of violence and foreshadows the troubles the Midas’s will face

Question 3

The kitchen filled with the smell of itself, relaxed, its steamy breath gently blanching the windows

Answer 3

Personification of kitchen creates a warm appealing atmosphere

Question 4

then with my fingers wiped the other’s glass like a brow

Answer 4

Simile introduces importance of sense of touch to mrs M - she later loses this ability

Question 5

Snapping a twig

Answer 5

Atmosphere is shattered by the final line gives connotations of something violent, harsh, consonant sounds in the final phrase contrast with softer sounds earlier in the stanza

Question 6

Now the garden was long and visibility poor

Answer 6

Mrs m’s disbelief over what is happening is emphasised by the length of time she takes to comprehend what she is saying (long sentence)

Question 7

The dark of the ground seems to drink the light of the sky

Answer 7

Personification sounds threatening reflects idea of life being drained from something

Question 8

Hand was gold

Answer 8

Contrast between lack of light in first two lines and brightness of golden pear and twig

Question 9

Like a Light bulb.on.

Answer 9

Simile seems unnatural perhaps mrs m’s realisation

Question 10

Is he putting fairy lights in the tree?

Answer 10

Structure adds dramatic effect question in last line again highlights mrs m’s shock and disbelief

Question 11

He

He

Answer 11

The name Midas is not mentioned which highlights blame mrs m puts on her husband

Question 12

The field of the cloth of gold and miss Macready

Answer 12

Mrs m is reminded of a history lesson taught by miss macready fields of the cloth where kings of England and France met to show off their wealth

Question 13

Like a king on a burnished throne

Answer 13

Simile and burnished reflect grandeur and wealth

Question 14

Look on his face was strange wild vain

Answer 14

List of facial features reflects his greed and selfishness as well as him contemplating what has happened

Question 15

What in the name of god is going on? He started to laugh

Answer 15

Question reflects mrs m’s disbelief contrasted with laugh - why? He sees what his selfishness has brought him? Is it cruelty

Question 16

I served up the meal

Answer 16

Comic effect mrs m continues to go about her domestic chores despite absurd situation

Question 17

Spitting out the teeth of the rich

Answer 17

Horror of what is happening becomes apparent represents the fact that his greed and desire for wealth has brought him to this / comic as he is literally spitting out his teeth

Question 18

Shaking

Answer 18

Further emphasises mrs m’s anxiety over what is happening

Question 19

Glass,goblet,golden chalice

Answer 19

Alliteration/harsh consonant sounds add to the drama/ seriousness of situation

Chalice often associated with last supper

Question 20

It was then I started to

Answer 20

Dramatic opening as both accept full reality of what has happened

Question 21

Scream

Answer 21

Demonstrates mrs m’s horror

Question 22

He sank to his knees after we had both calmed down I finished the wine

Answer 22

Horror/shock is combined with comedy it seems absurd that both Would have calmed so quickly and that mrs m would continue with her drink

Question 23

Keep his hands to himself

Answer 23

Midas still seeks a physical relationship with his wife - represents distance in their relationship brought on by this

Question 24

I locked the cat in the cellar. I moved the phone. The toilet i didn’t mind

Answer 24

Further comedy combined with mrs m’s disbelief/ shock - series of short sentences

Question 25

How he’d had a wish. Look we all have wishes

Answer 25

Enjambment reflects mrs m’s disbelief as she hears Midas’s confession

Question 26

Granted. But who has wishes granted

Answer 26

The pun on granted the rhetorical question and the short one word sentence all convey a sense of disgust from mrs m

Question 27

Him.

Answer 27

Short sentence. Blunt impersonal word to convey disgust and anger

Question 28

You’ll be able to give up smoking for good

Answer 28

Humour on a more positive note Midas will now have to stop smoking

Question 29

Separate beds

Answer 29

Summarise the full effect on their relationship in one short statement