The Long Queen Flashcards
C- Who does the poem allude to?
Queen Elizabeth first
C- Elizabeth 1 childhood
Her father showed poor treatment to women and her mother was beheaded so didn’t have strong parental figures.
C-Elizabeth 1 significance
There was no shortage of suitors for Elizabeth 1 however she never married or had children so known as ‘The virgin Queen’
Title ‘The Long Queen’ meaning
Echoes long live the queen, Duffy introduces the hope of creating an image of woman that endures through history
‘For the cold weight of her crown’ Technique
Harsh consonances
‘For the cold weight of her crown’ Meaning
imply her coronation was received with little passion and disliked
'’Spinsters and hags, matrons, wet nurses, witches, widows..’ Technique
Asyndetic listing
‘Spinsters and hags, matrons, wet nurses, witches, widows..’ Meaning
Focuses on the women she reigned over displaying the extent of her empowerment, symbolising womanhood
‘What were her laws’ Technique
Rhetorical question
‘What were her laws’ Meaning
Mythical sense to her ruling as women value her power. Duffy elevates her as a figure
‘Royal red’ Meaning
Connects coming of age and women hood to her regal self, using celestial connections to exemplify the significance.
‘Sore flowers’ Technique
Oxymoron
‘Sore flowers’ meaning
Duffy transforms childbirth into something more realistic through the use of this oxymoron.
Illustrating the queens ability to resonate with other woman.
Specifically the adjective ‘sore’ which emphasises the pains attached to a powerful moment.
‘Long Queen. All her possessions for a moment of time’ Technique
Caesura
‘Long Queen. All her possessions for a moment of time’ Meaning
shows she can stand alone powerfully and does not require help from others. Opposes gender stereotypes of time
