2. AS Level Revision The World’s Wife by Carol Ann Duffy

3. Main Menu There are two ways to navigate through this learning resource. you can use the arrow buttons at the bottom left to run through the entire package or you can use this menu and the return to menu button at the top right to use the quick jump feature. What does the exam involve? Choosing your poems and activity 1 & Comparisons, making links and activity 2 Choosing your evidence and activity 3 Points to remember

4. What does the exam involve? There are two important assessment objectives to focus on in this open book examination. The first is AO4, so you will have to consider a variety of interpretations of the poems. The second is AO3, which requires you to focus on the language, form and structure. This is made easier by the fact that you will have your text in the exam.

5. Approaching the questions Many of the questions will specify just one poem for you to focus on, leaving it to you to choose which poems to compare it with. Other questions will focus on a theme and give you a completely free choice as to which poems to write about. Therefore, you need to be clear on how the poems can be grouped together.

6. Choosing your poems Over the following 10 pages you will find some typical examination style questions. Below each question there will be a choice of poems you may choose to write about in response to that question. Click on the selection of poems that you feel are the most appropriate choice for that question.

7. Mrs Midas, Mrs Sisyphus and Medusa. Question Time! How has Duffy used classical myths in order to comment on the nature of relationships between men and women? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; How has Duffy used classical myths in order to comment on the nature of relationships between men and women? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Mrs Quasimodo, Thetis and Penelope. Mrs Lazarus, Delilah and Pilate ’ s Wife. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 1/10

8. Queen Kong, Mrs Sisyphus and Salome. Question Time! In Mrs Darwin, Duffy uses humour in order to challenge history ’ s view of Darwin ’ s theory of evolution. Choosing three more poems, comment on how Duffy uses humour to promote her viewpoint to the reader. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; In Mrs Darwin, Duffy uses humour in order to challenge history ’ s view of Darwin ’ s theory of evolution. Choosing three more poems, comment on how Duffy uses humour to promote her viewpoint to the reader. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Elvis ’ s Twin Sister, Frau Freud and Mrs Icarus. The Kray Sisters, Salome and Circe. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 2/10

9. The Kray Sisters, Circe and Pope Joan. Question Time! “ Duffy presents male/female relationships as being essentially flawed and that it is usually women who find themselves suffering for this. ” How do you respond to this statement? Refer to at least 3 poems in your response. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; “ Duffy presents male/female relationships as being essentially flawed and that it is usually women who find themselves suffering for this. ” How do you respond to this statement? Refer to at least 3 poems in your response. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Mrs Quasimodo, Elvis ’ s Twin Sister and Demeter. Ann Hathaway, Mrs Beast and Mrs Sisyphus. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 3/10

10. Pope Joan and Mrs Faust. Question Time! In telling the story of Samson and Delilah from a female perspective (in Delilah), Duffy offers the reader a new insight into a biblical story. Using this and two other poems of your choosing, comment on how Duffy offers new perspectives on Bible stories. Two appropriate choices when answering this essay are; In telling the story of Samson and Delilah from a female perspective (in Delilah), Duffy offers the reader a new insight into a biblical story. Using this and two other poems of your choosing, comment on how Duffy offers new perspectives on Bible stories. Two appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Pilate ’ s Wife and Queen Herod. Salome and Pygmalion ’ s Bride. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 4/10

11. Queen Kong, Mrs Quasimodo and Eurydice. Question Time! “ In rewriting traditional children ’ s tales, Duffy is attempting to redress the origins of many of the stereotypes that she sees as impacting on women ’ s lives in the 21st century. ” What evidence can you find in at least 3 of her poems to support this viewpoint? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; “ In rewriting traditional children ’ s tales, Duffy is attempting to redress the origins of many of the stereotypes that she sees as impacting on women ’ s lives in the 21st century. ” What evidence can you find in at least 3 of her poems to support this viewpoint? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Pygmalion ’ s Bride, Mrs Icarus and Mrs Aesop. Mrs Beast, Little Red-Cap and Mrs Rip Van Winkle. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 5/10

12. Circe, Mrs Faust and Mrs Sisyphus. Question Time! How does Duffy bring an air of tragedy to the stories of women who were previously condemned or ignored? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; How does Duffy bring an air of tragedy to the stories of women who were previously condemned or ignored? Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Pilate ’ s Wife, Mrs Aesop and Salome. Mrs Lazarus, Medusa and Mrs Midas. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 6/10

13. Pope Joan, Mrs Darwin and Mrs Aesop. Question Time! Ranging throughout the anthology, or focussing on three poems of your choice, comment on how Duffy creates contrasting and distinctive female voices. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Ranging throughout the anthology, or focussing on three poems of your choice, comment on how Duffy creates contrasting and distinctive female voices. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; The Kray Sisters, Elvis ’ s Twin Sister and Mrs Beast. From Mrs Tiresias, Mrs Icarus and Mrs Lazarus. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 7/10

14. The Kray Sisters, The Devil ’ s Wife and Demeter. Question Time! “ The prevailing mood throughout the anthology is one of anger. ” Referring to at least 3 poems in your response, comment on how Duffy creates this mood of anger. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; “ The prevailing mood throughout the anthology is one of anger. ” Referring to at least 3 poems in your response, comment on how Duffy creates this mood of anger. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Mrs Beast, Penelope and Eurydice. Mrs Aesop, Mrs Sisyphus and Medusa. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 8/10

15. Penelope, Delilah and Thetis. Question Time! “ The most successful of all of Duffy ’ s poems in the collection are her love poems. ” With reference to at least three of her poems, comment on how successfully you think Duffy writes about love. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; “ The most successful of all of Duffy ’ s poems in the collection are her love poems. ” With reference to at least three of her poems, comment on how successfully you think Duffy writes about love. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Mrs Quasimodo, Pygmalion ’ s Bride and Circe. Ann Hathaway, Queen Kong and Demeter. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Q 9/10

16. Question Time! “ One of Duffy ’ s greatest achievements is in allowing us to sympathise with characters who are traditionally thought of as embodying evil. ” Comment on this statement, referring to at least 3 of her poems. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; “ One of Duffy ’ s greatest achievements is in allowing us to sympathise with characters who are traditionally thought of as embodying evil. ” Comment on this statement, referring to at least 3 of her poems. Three appropriate choices when answering this essay are; Salome, Mrs Quasimodo and Eurydice. The Devil ’ s Wife, Mrs Faust and Medusa. Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Circe, Queen Kong and The Kray Sisters. Q 10/10

17. Comparisons One of the keys to success in this exam is the ability to find similarities and differences between the poems you are writing about. Your ability to compare will help you to offer alternative interpretations of the text (the focus of AO4) as you can show that different poems suggest alternative attitudes, etc.

18. Making links Over the next series of pages you will find some Venn diagrams, each comparing 3 poems. Two of the circles are labelled with the correct poem, but the third is unlabelled. You must choose from the three choices which is the correct poem title to label that circle.

19. Question Time! Female beast Links with other women Relates relationship and poetry Had previous experiences with men Relationship ends in death of male Male beasts Women hunt men Shows love Use fairy tales Female takes on traditionally masculine role Sexual relationship Explicitly feminist stance Relationship allows self-discovery Uses images of nature to present relationship Unrealistic view of nature of relationship shown by narrator Males objectified Queen Kong Mrs Beast Which of these choices would match the green section? Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Anne Hathaway Little Red-Cap Mrs Quasimodo Q 1/5

20. Question Time! Demeter Which of these choices would match the green section? Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Anne Hathaway Queen Herod Mrs Midas Hunted for man Love a mother feels for her daughter Relates relationship and poetry Negative and positive emotions explored Sexual relationship between man and woman Sonnet form Senses used Loved him more than he loved her Feelings of love related to the seasons Relationship is life-changing Cyclical structure to poem Compares their relationship with others Relationship related to dream or fantasy Love leads to man’s death Bittersweet tone Male dies Q 2/5 Queen Kong

21. Question Time! Delilah Salome Which of these choices would match the green section? Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Pilate ’ s Wife The Devil ’ s Wife Mrs Lazarus Justifies actions she is condemned for in the bible Uses rhyme and half rhyme throughout Gives female perspective on the experiences of a male bible character Actions literally damage men Relationship shown as loving Dismissive of biblical heroes Explore male/ female relationships Alliteration to mimic cutting action Unapologetic tone Predominantly anachronistic Critical tone Alliteration represents hard feelings Females in control Sexually explicit Q 3/5

22. Question Time! Mrs Icarus Mrs Aesop Which of these choices would match the green section? Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue The Kray Sisters Frau Freud Mrs Beast Short and to the point Husband’s voice is presented Questions the validity of his work Men end as failures Unites women Conversational tone Laugh at their husbands Simple language choices highlight simple actions Sexually derogatory Shows effect on relationship of man’s behaviour Women more intelligent Uses his “achievements” against him Literally belittles her husband Repetition creates humour Humorous Teasing not angry Q 4/5

23. Question Time! The Kray Sisters Mrs Beast Which of these choices would match the green section? Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Elvis ’ s Twin Sister Frau Freud Penelope Uses Cockney Rhyming Slang Uses a traditionally masculine voice Uses accent of Southern States Explicitly feminist stance Creates a sense of geographical place Choices still benefit them Women have followed deliberate paths Focus on female/female relationships Portrays a male/ female relationship Sexually explicit Uses religious imagery Focuses on a new take on a male icon Uses historical events to place the poem Images of sisterhood Relates to female icons Uses historical figures Q 5/5

24. Choosing your evidence Choosing appropriate poems in order to answer your question and knowing the similarities and differences between them is just part of the battle to get a good exam grade. It is also important that you are able to choose effective quotations in order to prove your points. The right quotations tell the examiner that you have a detailed knowledge of the text (AO2), and give you the opportunity to make incisive points about the language and structure (AO3).

25. Over the following 12 pages you will find a series of statements that you might make in an essay. Beneath will be a choice of three quotations that you could use to justify that statement. Click on the quotation that you think is the most effective in proving your point. If you get it right, have a go at the next one. Choosing your evidence

26. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses enjambment in the poem “ Little Red-Cap ” in order to create a sense of ambiguity about the central character the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses enjambment in the poem “ Little Red-Cap ” in order to create a sense of ambiguity about the central character the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue I lost both shoes but got there, … sweet sixteen, never been, … and bought me a drink, my first. I took an axe to a willow to see how it wept. Q 1/12

27. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses black humour relating to King Midas ’ mistake to show the impact it has had on Mrs Midas ’ life the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses black humour relating to King Midas ’ mistake to show the impact it has had on Mrs Midas ’ life the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue In fact, I put a chair against my door, near petrified. He sat in that chair like a king on a burnished throne. And who, when it comes to the crunch, can live with a heart of gold? Q 2/12

28. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses one line stanzas in “ from Mrs Tiresias ” in order to highlight her annoyance with her husband the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses one line stanzas in “ from Mrs Tiresias ” in order to highlight her annoyance with her husband the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Life has to go on. His flirt ’ s smile. Then he started his period. Q 3/12

29. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy presents “ Mrs Aesop ” using crude parodies of her husband ’ s stories in order to show her feelings of contempt for her husband the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy presents “ Mrs Aesop ” using crude parodies of her husband ’ s stories in order to show her feelings of contempt for her husband the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue I laughed last, longest. … a heart blacker than the pot that called the kettle. … the bird in his hand shat on his sleeve, … Q 4/12

30. Question Time! If I made the point that in the poem “ Queen Kong ” Duffy both belittles and objectifies men the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that in the poem “ Queen Kong ” Duffy both belittles and objectifies men the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue I picked him, like a chocolate from the top layer of a box … My little man. I wear him now about my neck … Q 5/12

31. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses personification to demonstrate how important the bells are in the life of “ Mrs Quasimodo ” the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses personification to demonstrate how important the bells are in the life of “ Mrs Quasimodo ” the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Their generous bronze throats gargling, or chanting slowly … Our neighbours … Who raised their marble hands in greeting … The belfry trembled when she spoke for him. Q 6/12

32. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses a stream of consciousness in “ The Devil ’ s Wife ” to show how the voice in the poem is losing her mind the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses a stream of consciousness in “ The Devil ’ s Wife ” to show how the voice in the poem is losing her mind the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue Different. Fancied himself. Looked at the girls … But I cannot remember how or when or precisely where. I never not in a million years it was him. Q 7/12

33. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy uses ellipsis in “ Frau Freud ” in order to show the reluctance of the voice in the poem to totally embarrass her husband and contradict his ideas the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy uses ellipsis in “ Frau Freud ” in order to show the reluctance of the voice in the poem to totally embarrass her husband and contradict his ideas the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue I ’ m as au fait with Hunt-the-Salami as Ms M. Lewinsky - the average penis – not pretty … the weapon, the python - Q 8/12

34. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy ’ s use of anachronism in “ Salome ” gives the reader a new perspective on the sexual behaviour of the bible character the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy ’ s use of anachronism in “ Salome ” gives the reader a new perspective on the sexual behaviour of the bible character the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue and there, like I said – and ain ’ t life a bitch - was his head on a platter. hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter. I ’ d done it before... woke up with a head on the pillow beside me – whose? what did it matter? Q 9/12

35. Question Time! If I made the point that in the poem “ Mrs Beast ”, the voice in the poem shows greatest respect for women, is prepared to uses beasts to her advantage, but actively dislikes Princes the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that in the poem “ Mrs Beast ”, the voice in the poem shows greatest respect for women, is prepared to uses beasts to her advantage, but actively dislikes Princes the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue they ’ re bastards when they ’ re Princes. What you want to do is find yourself a Beast. But behind each player stood a line of ghosts unable to win. … the captive beautiful, the wives, those less fortunate than we. Q 10/12

36. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy compares the life of “ Elvis ’ s Twin Sister ” with the life of Elvis in order to make a comment on the nature of fame and celebrity the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy compares the life of “ Elvis ’ s Twin Sister ” with the life of Elvis in order to make a comment on the nature of fame and celebrity the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue pray for the immortal soul of rock ‘ n ’ roll. It puts my trademark slow lopsided smile back on my face. Long time since I walked down Lonely Street Towards Heartbreak Hotel. Q 11/12

37. Question Time! If I made the point that Duffy creates a sense of freedom for “ Mrs Rip Van Winkle ” while her husband slept the quotation that I would choose is: If I made the point that Duffy creates a sense of freedom for “ Mrs Rip Van Winkle ” while her husband slept the quotation that I would choose is: Incorrect – Try Again Correct – Click here to continue I sank like a stone into the still, deep waters of late middle age And while he slept I found some hobbies for myself. The Leaning Tower. The Pyramids. The Taj Mahal. Q 12/12

38. Points to remember You must make sure you write explicitly about how Duffy ’ s language and structure creates meaning. You should try to offer alternative interpretations of Duffy ’ s poems. Ensure that your comparison runs throughout your essay – don ’ t write about each text separately.

39. Thank you for using the AS Level Revision Learning Resource Are you sure you want to Exit? YES NO Produced by the Learning Bank