Elegy: Themes & Linking Poems

Themes in “Elegy”

Grief & Loss: The primary theme conveyed within “Elegy” is the anguish and sorrow experienced following the death of a loved one. Duffy vividly portrays the speaker’s profound loss, providing an intimate exploration of grief.
Mundanity of Death: Duffy emphasises the stark reality of death through imagery of everyday objects, underscoring how life continues despite immense personal loss.
Nature & Mortality: The reference to a blackbird and changing seasons offers a naturalistic picture of death as a inevitable part of life’s cycle, further deepening our understanding of mortality.

Linking Poems

“The Map-Woman” similarly utilises stakes of personal identity within its narrative; just as the speaker in “Elegy” is defined by their loss, the protagonist in “The Map-Woman” is characterized by the stories encased in her skin.
Similarly, “The Love Poem” engages with themes of intimacy and separation, which also resonate within “Elegy”.
“We Remember Your Childhood Well” shares a thematic concern with the persistence of memory, mirrored in “Elegy” where memories of the deceased constantly pervade the speaker’s consciousness.

Remember that to effectively approach Carol Ann Duffy’s poetry, it’s crucial to explore and discuss the connection between thematic elements and how they shape overall interpretation.