Oranges and Duffy Death and the Moon Flashcards
conceit and tone of the poem
- somewhat metaphysical.
- D sets up the impossible action of touching the moon to discuss if her desire for the end of patriarchal dominance is actually achievable
- uses the completely feminine symbol of the moon to represent has realised that we still haven’t fully achieved a feminist and completely equal society.
- Overall tone = melancholic, regretful
main themes explored
- regret
- poem = elegy of regret of not achieving her goal as a female writer - female suffering
- “red cave” = widow mourning - death
- represents the desire for the abolishment of patriarchal dominance. - isolation (duffy, setting)
- silenced female voice/female struggles
- futility of female progression
how is this structurally significant within the anthology?
- last poem, suggests she has done all she can do, and the regret of not totally destroying the patriarchy haunts her
analyse the quotes ‘Fish in my frozen pond’ ‘hard old face’ and ‘cold as cash’
method:
- consonance of the F sound, lexical field of nature as harsh
effect:
- mirrors the hostility faced by non-conformists to society’s norms/D’s own experiences
- stagnation of life = society’s unprogressive views
what other poems does it link to? how?
TLSGH and Tall
- futility of female progression
The Virgin’s Memo
- struggle of female writers, silenced female voice
analyse the quote ‘I could touch the edges of the moon’
method:
- Hyperbole, confident tone (enjambment throughout stanza)
effect:
- realises her global scope of influence, confidence to influence society?
- promise of change through more progressive laws ie gay marriage legalised but changing people’s mindsets through poetry is the ultimate challenge for her
analyse the quote “The ground gulped you”
method: personification of nature as hostile, image of ultimate consumption/greed.
- ground (represents society) unjustly destroys the privilege of equality
- Duffy as one woman cannot compete with the powerful force of nature
analyse the quote “soundless ears”
method: oxymoron?
effects: creates a sinister atmosphere
- emphasises Duffy’s isolation as a female writer
- alludes to the ever-silenced female voice
analyse the quote “red cave”
open mouth of the widow
method: visceral imagery (internal organs)
effects:
- only colour and sound in the poem, female suffering highlighted
analyse the quote “stuttered like Morse”
method: simile of Morse code
effects: indicates a further barrier which prevents any form of societal change
- emphasises D’s difficult task breaking them down
analyse the quote “unreachable by prayer, even if poems are prayers”
- anthology = gospel so poems = prayers.
- The Virgin’s Memo, struggle of female writers, silenced female voice
analyse the quote “its windows tender with light”
how does this link to oranges?
- D’s as an outsider in society (sexuality/gender),
- house represents conventionality.
- physical barrier of the house represents metaphorical barriers blocking her from societal acceptance
- Oranges: when J looks into the house with the happy, conventional family inside
analyse the quote “the black night is huge, mute, and you are further forever than that”
method: lexical field of distance
- vastness of distance = huge amount of progression to be made,
- links to TLSGH ending (death of Mrs Mackay). futility of female progression