POETRY REVISION
Plan for approaching poetry:
Create a nutshell argument – pick two key emotions that are experienced and explore
them, how do these feelings affect them? It will usually be the same emotion, but the
effect of that emotions will be different, end nutshell argument by saying the impact
of both poems – how do they leave you? But say which poem’s effect is stronger on
the reader e.g. both poems leave us aware of how unsatisfied the personas are but
poem 2 leaves a more depressing image of unequal love.
Main checklist to work by for part A:
Feedback for Part A: need to mention impact on the reader more, have at least 3
quotations for each poem in each paragraph to help develop the analysis more –
consider patterns, punctuation and always comment on the first and last line, is there
a contrast? What impact does this have?
Feedback for Part B: same approach as part A – define the question, what emotions,
who is involved, what makes the relationship (for example) unequal, what is the
impact of the inequality, what is the impact on the reader? Always state what the
relationship is and the impact of that label e.g what is the inequality and what is the
effect of that inequality on the relationship. Mention imagery, form, voice, last line, is
the title relevant?
Context is only rewarded in Part B!!
, WARMING HER PEALS
CAROL ANN DUFFY
Themes it is best suited to: Challenging, strong emotions, unrequited love, erotic love,
longing, distance, infatuation, fantasy
- Captures desire and passion by using tangible images to bring it to life
- Encourages the reader to feel pity for the persona because of their deep
desperation
- Constant comparison between the characters mentions captures their
separation
- Starts by being very close then ends with emphasis on her loneliness
- The pearls represent literal connection, warmth, scent, and is suggestive of
wealth and class
First Line: ‘Next to my own skin, her pearls’ – creates an intimate, almost secret
connection, sets up the maid’s quiet longing, expressed through the tactile image of
the pearls warming on her body
Last Line: ‘I feel their absence and I burn’ – subtle desire has intensified to something
painful and consuming, the desperate ending highlights how the maid’s internal
feelings have escalated
First to Last Line effect: The shift shows how her longing has grown into obsession and
emotional suffering.
Impact on the reader: Duffy places the readers close to the speaker’s thoughts, so we
are made aware of how deep and strong these feelings are, making the readers feel
almost uncomfortable at how intimate it is. The imbalance of power shown heightens
the persona’s emotional strain and makes the readers feel a growing sense of
sympathy. Unresolved ending leaves us unsettled and pitiful.
Context: In line with the class divide in Victorian households, same-sex attraction had
to remain hidden at this time which deepens the longing.
Main quotes:
Intense desire:
- “all day I think of her – resting in the Yellow room” – enjambment shows how
constant it is
- “… undressing, taking off her jewels” – ellipsis implies were are entering a
dream/fantasy/desire
- “slipping naked into bed, the way – she always does…” – sensuous imagery,
enjambment shows how constant this fantasy is, very worn
Constrained:
- “in her looking-glass my red lips part as though I want to speak”
Plan for approaching poetry:
Create a nutshell argument – pick two key emotions that are experienced and explore
them, how do these feelings affect them? It will usually be the same emotion, but the
effect of that emotions will be different, end nutshell argument by saying the impact
of both poems – how do they leave you? But say which poem’s effect is stronger on
the reader e.g. both poems leave us aware of how unsatisfied the personas are but
poem 2 leaves a more depressing image of unequal love.
Main checklist to work by for part A:
Feedback for Part A: need to mention impact on the reader more, have at least 3
quotations for each poem in each paragraph to help develop the analysis more –
consider patterns, punctuation and always comment on the first and last line, is there
a contrast? What impact does this have?
Feedback for Part B: same approach as part A – define the question, what emotions,
who is involved, what makes the relationship (for example) unequal, what is the
impact of the inequality, what is the impact on the reader? Always state what the
relationship is and the impact of that label e.g what is the inequality and what is the
effect of that inequality on the relationship. Mention imagery, form, voice, last line, is
the title relevant?
Context is only rewarded in Part B!!
, WARMING HER PEALS
CAROL ANN DUFFY
Themes it is best suited to: Challenging, strong emotions, unrequited love, erotic love,
longing, distance, infatuation, fantasy
- Captures desire and passion by using tangible images to bring it to life
- Encourages the reader to feel pity for the persona because of their deep
desperation
- Constant comparison between the characters mentions captures their
separation
- Starts by being very close then ends with emphasis on her loneliness
- The pearls represent literal connection, warmth, scent, and is suggestive of
wealth and class
First Line: ‘Next to my own skin, her pearls’ – creates an intimate, almost secret
connection, sets up the maid’s quiet longing, expressed through the tactile image of
the pearls warming on her body
Last Line: ‘I feel their absence and I burn’ – subtle desire has intensified to something
painful and consuming, the desperate ending highlights how the maid’s internal
feelings have escalated
First to Last Line effect: The shift shows how her longing has grown into obsession and
emotional suffering.
Impact on the reader: Duffy places the readers close to the speaker’s thoughts, so we
are made aware of how deep and strong these feelings are, making the readers feel
almost uncomfortable at how intimate it is. The imbalance of power shown heightens
the persona’s emotional strain and makes the readers feel a growing sense of
sympathy. Unresolved ending leaves us unsettled and pitiful.
Context: In line with the class divide in Victorian households, same-sex attraction had
to remain hidden at this time which deepens the longing.
Main quotes:
Intense desire:
- “all day I think of her – resting in the Yellow room” – enjambment shows how
constant it is
- “… undressing, taking off her jewels” – ellipsis implies were are entering a
dream/fantasy/desire
- “slipping naked into bed, the way – she always does…” – sensuous imagery,
enjambment shows how constant this fantasy is, very worn
Constrained:
- “in her looking-glass my red lips part as though I want to speak”
