Write: Structure & Language Techniques

Write: Structure & Language Techniques

Poetry: Structure & Devices

Form & Structure

• Enjambment: Often used for dramatic effect, such as in “Stealing” where the structure echoes the erratic, impulsive nature of the subject.
• Free Verse: Many poems, such as “Education for Leisure”, are written in free verse, reinforcing the sense of freedom or rebellion.

Use of Rhyme

• Half Rhyme: Creates a dissonant effect to reflect instability or unease, as in “Mrs Lazarus”.
• Rhyme Scheme: Duffy often breaks from conventional rhyme schemes, such as in “Mean Time”, to reflect the disruption caused by emotional turmoil.

Literary Devices

• Metaphor and Simile: Duffy’s poems often include powerful metaphors and similes, seen in “Valentine” and “Havisham”, used for creating vivid, emotive images.
• Personification: Frequently used to portray emotions and abstract ideas as tangible beings, such as in “War Photographer”.

Examining Language

Tone

• Solemn/Dark Tone: Many of Duffy’s poems like “Prayer” and “War Photographer” use dark, solemn tones to reflect serious themes.
• Humorous/Ironic Tone: Used in balancing tragedy with comic elements, as seen in the satirical “The World’s Wife” collection.

Characterisation

• First Person Narration: Duffy often adopts the voice of her characters directly, such as in “The Devil’s Wife”, adding intimacy and authenticity to their experiences.
• New Character Perspectives: Duffy takes classic stories and Revives them with new perspectives, as in the character of the hitman wife in “Mrs Midas”.

Imagery

• Symbolic Imagery: Important for adding depth and richness to her work, like the onion in “Valentine” being a symbol of love.
• Visual & Sensory Imagery: Highly descriptive passages engage the reader’s senses, as in the chilling, vivid description of the war zone in “War Photographer”.