Oranges and Duffy Death and the Moon

Question 1

conceit and tone of the poem

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

main themes explored

Answer 2

1. regret
   - poem = elegy of regret of not achieving her goal as a female writer
2. female suffering
   - “red cave” = widow mourning
3. death
   - represents the desire for the abolishment of patriarchal dominance.
4. isolation (duffy, setting)
5. silenced female voice/female struggles
6. futility of female progression

Question 3

how is this structurally significant within the anthology?

Answer 3

• last poem, suggests she has done all she can do, and the regret of not totally destroying the patriarchy haunts her

Question 4

analyse the quotes ‘Fish in my frozen pond’ ‘hard old face’ and ‘cold as cash’

Answer 4

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

Question 5

what other poems does it link to? how?

Answer 5

TLSGH and Tall
- futility of female progression
The Virgin’s Memo
- struggle of female writers, silenced female voice

Question 6

analyse the quote ‘I could touch the edges of the moon’

Answer 6

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

Question 7

analyse the quote “The ground gulped you”

Answer 7

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

Question 8

analyse the quote “soundless ears”

Answer 8

method: oxymoron?
effects: creates a sinister atmosphere
- emphasises Duffy’s isolation as a female writer
- alludes to the ever-silenced female voice

Question 9

analyse the quote “red cave”

open mouth of the widow

Answer 9

method: visceral imagery (internal organs)
effects:
- only colour and sound in the poem, female suffering highlighted

Question 10

analyse the quote “stuttered like Morse”

Answer 10

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

Question 11

analyse the quote “unreachable by prayer, even if poems are prayers”

Answer 11

• anthology = gospel so poems = prayers.

- The Virgin’s Memo, struggle of female writers, silenced female voice

Question 12

analyse the quote “its windows tender with light”

how does this link to oranges?

Answer 12

• 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

Question 13

analyse the quote “the black night is huge, mute, and you are further forever than that”

Answer 13

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