Over: Themes & Linking Poems

Over: Themes & Linking Poems

Introduction to “Over”

• “Over” in Carol Ann Duffy’s collection is a careful analysis of endings in diverse facets of human life.
• This theme transcends physical death and delves into the endings of eras, relationships, and innocence.

Identification of “Over” in Selected Poems

• A strong constancy of “Over” is evident in several of Duffy’s poems, depicting a vast array of scenarios.
• Notably, “Originally” explores the idea of childhood ending, conceptualising the loss of innocence.
• “Valentine” metaphorically delves into the end of romantic infatuation, portraying the dissolution of love’s illusions.

Interrelations Between Over and Other Themes

• “Over” frequently overlaps and intersects with other themes within Duffy’s body of work.
• “Mrs Midas” demonstrates the inevitable change from luxury to barrenness, linking “Over” with themes such as transformation and deceit.
• Similarly, “Havisham” encapsulates the end of a love story gone wrong, tying “Over” together with motifs of betrayal and unrequited love.

Parsing The Aftermath

• “Over” is not about a clean break; rather, it focuses on the complications, the aftermath and the emotional nuances of endings.
• “Before You Were Mine” examines the aftermath of an era gone by, providing insights into a mother-daughter relationship post change.
• “War Photographer” contrasts the end of a war with its enduring impact, underlining the lasting effects of traumatic endings.

P.S.: Understanding Duffy’s exploration of “Over” enriches the comprehension of her perception of endings as intricate, multilayered, and something more than mere terminations.