Rapture: Poet & Context

Narrative Progression: “Rapture” is a 52-poem sequence that tells a story of love - from its ecstatic beginnings to its excruciating end. Each poem stands alone, but they also connect to each other to form a comprehensive narrative.
Sonnets: Each poem is a modern sonnet. Duffy employs this traditional love poem structure, yet deviates from a strict interpretation, demonstrating her innovation within poetic form.
Symbolism and Imagery: Metaphors and similes within “Rapture” are often drawn from nature, weather, elements and space. These intensify the emotions expressed without reducing them to cliches.

Contemporary Poet: Carol Ann Duffy, poet laureate from 2009-2019, is recognized for her accessible yet profound exploration of life, love, and loss in contemporary times.
Personal Experience: “Rapture” is largely understood as a confessional work. It draws upon Duffy’s own experiences of love, making use of personal emotions and memories.
Lesbian Identity: Duffy’s lesbian identity has significant influence on her works. “Rapture”, with its absence of gender pronouns, can be interpreted as a universal representation of romantic love, transcending gender boundaries.

“Mean Time”: This collection of poems is another example of Duffy’s exploration of love and the passage of time. Comparing it to “Rapture” may draw out similarities and contrasts in how these themes are approached.
“Havisham”: In this dramatic monologue, Duffy explores the painful side of love through the voice of Miss Havisham from ‘Great Expectations’. It provides a distinct contrast to “Rapture” with a unique perspective on love and heartbreak.
“Before You Were Mine”: This poem illuminates the bond between mother and daughter, and may provide a contrast when exploring the romantic love in “Rapture”.

Language of Love: Duffy uses plainspoken, blunt language that can simultaneously communicate tenderness, bitterness, and longing. Her interpretation of love is often realistic, painful yet deeply moving.
Thematic Recurrence: Love, in its various forms, is a dominant theme throughout Duffy’s work. She often explores its connections with memory, time and loss.
Non-traditional Narratives: Duffy’s poets frequently inhabit non-conventional perspectives, offering fresh perceptions on commonly held beliefs and societal norms. This can be a powerful lens for reading “Rapture”.