Misc. Notes on World's Wife
The World’s Wife- Carol Ann Duffy Notes
Context on CAD
-Born in 1955
-Scottish
-Lesbian
-Studied Philosophy
-Appointed Poet Laureate in 2009
-Writes mostly in dramatic monologue
-Known for social commentary/serious insights in humorous poems
In World’s Wife:
-Writes from the POV of female characters, usually ones with male counterparts
-Purpose is to raise awareness of such understated characters
-and to reinvent them opposed to traditionally held views- finding fresh ways of looking at familiar things.
Why does she write sonnets/dramatic monologue?
Sonnets- similar to prayers, easy to learn by heart, about things that matter to us (love). Like magic, spells.
Little Red Cap
Context:
Based on Little Red Riding Hood-fairytale, and CAD’s relationship with Adrian Henri- Red cap and the wolf representing her and him. Describes their relationship- she was 16 and he was 39. He was a famous poet/music artist, and she learned from him as a teenager.
Themes:
Challenge idea that young girl must be innocent-traditional norm
Challenge idea that wolf must always be the bad guy- quite ambiguous throughout the poem
Imply that women in literature are repressed.
Title gives reader first impressions- reminder fairytale “What big eyes, what big teeth”
Impressions broken soon
Devices:
Imagery
Used to create sexual feelings
Instead of being innocent, she is a “Lolita”- sexually precocious young girl
Not good v bad like original- girl is sly, gets what she wants. wolf is a well learned, literary rogue. Nonchalant
“Away from home, to a dark tangled thorny place”. loss of innocence
Symbolism
Used to initially illustrate innocence
“sweet sixteen, never been, babe, waif, and bought me a drink”- here it begins very innocent, but soon progresses into words (babe, waif) which represent older, more sexually mature females
“And went in search of a living bird – white dove” paired with “one bite, dead”
Context on CAD
-Born in 1955
-Scottish
-Lesbian
-Studied Philosophy
-Appointed Poet Laureate in 2009
-Writes mostly in dramatic monologue
-Known for social commentary/serious insights in humorous poems
In World’s Wife:
-Writes from the POV of female characters, usually ones with male counterparts
-Purpose is to raise awareness of such understated characters
-and to reinvent them opposed to traditionally held views- finding fresh ways of looking at familiar things.
Why does she write sonnets/dramatic monologue?
Sonnets- similar to prayers, easy to learn by heart, about things that matter to us (love). Like magic, spells.
Little Red Cap
Context:
Based on Little Red Riding Hood-fairytale, and CAD’s relationship with Adrian Henri- Red cap and the wolf representing her and him. Describes their relationship- she was 16 and he was 39. He was a famous poet/music artist, and she learned from him as a teenager.
Themes:
Challenge idea that young girl must be innocent-traditional norm
Challenge idea that wolf must always be the bad guy- quite ambiguous throughout the poem
Imply that women in literature are repressed.
Title gives reader first impressions- reminder fairytale “What big eyes, what big teeth”
Impressions broken soon
Devices:
Imagery
Used to create sexual feelings
Instead of being innocent, she is a “Lolita”- sexually precocious young girl
Not good v bad like original- girl is sly, gets what she wants. wolf is a well learned, literary rogue. Nonchalant
“Away from home, to a dark tangled thorny place”. loss of innocence
Symbolism
Used to initially illustrate innocence
“sweet sixteen, never been, babe, waif, and bought me a drink”- here it begins very innocent, but soon progresses into words (babe, waif) which represent older, more sexually mature females
“And went in search of a living bird – white dove” paired with “one bite, dead”