Summary English Literature A | Skirrid Hill - Show Notes

Show -

Stanza 1 -

- “Curlews” - criticism
- Scopophilia / voyeurism

Stanza 2 -

- “We” - plural, vulnerability of women, potentially outnumbered
- Imbalance of expectations of men and women
- “Slow-motion tennis match” - game, physical image, ‘throw away’ metaphor
- ^ turning heads, following models until moving onto the next

Stanza 3 -

- “Featherless” - fragility, vulnerability
- Criticism, alludes back to curlews
- “Curtains” - hiding, cover / theatrical, performance
- “Slip” - contrasts the graceful expectation, suggests rushing
- ^ however suggests pace and ease, gliding

Stanza 4 -

- “Crocodile” - animalistic imagery, predator-prey analogy
- “Flashing” - teeth / camera flash
- “Pit” - inescapable, vulnerable
- “Teeth” - predatory, violent - animals tend to show teeth before an attack
- ^ attack could be media criticism after the show
- “Leaving” - escape

Stanza 5 -

- “Pianist” - comparison to professional, creativity
- “I” - first person narrative, singular (contrast to “we”)
- “Paint” - artistic
- “Fine to bold” - confidence, transformation