Questions and Answers ‘Divorce’ Explain how the speaker’s of irritation is conveyed in lines 1-6. The speaker’s sense of irritation is conveyed quite clearly in the opening statement of the poem. She uses full words instead of shortening them down. i.e. she says not’ instead of This makes it clear she wants ‘did ‘didn’t’. the listener to understand how angry she is and that she did not agree to do anything. The word choice in these lines also exemplifies her anger. She identifies the idea of an agreement with the word The agreement alluded to is ‘promise’. staying together forever. She is saying here that she never made any contract or treaty or oath to stay with this person. What is the speaker’s attitude to her parents (line 6-14)? In lines 6-14 the speaker is annoyed and aggravated by her parents. This is first expressed at her mother who she feels is ungrateful. She states that her mother ever said a kind word’ showing that she feels her mother is ‘never, indifferent towards her or does not love her properly. The build up here of ever’ suggests that she can’t remember it ever happening. ‘never, She mocks her father’s mocking of her with you off in the cream puff, ‘Are Lady Muck?’ It is clear from her derisory follow up this day and age?’ – ‘in that she thinks her father’s nickname for her is derogatory and it upsets her. How does the tone change in the second stanza and how is this achieved? The tone goes through several changes in the second stanza. The first one is when the tone shifts from attacking to authoritative. She is no longer picking on her parents but stating simple facts. want a divorce’ is a clear statement ‘I about her desires. It is a direct assault on her parents stating that she wishes to leave them. The stanza then takes on a whimsical and poetic tone. She begins to talk about other parents but manages to make them sound mythical and fantastical through the word choice. She says are parents… whose ‘there faces turn up to the light’. The use of makes us think about goodness ‘light’ and sunshine and makes these parents sound happy.
‘Divorce’ Questions and Answers Explain how the speaker’s of irritation is conveyed in lines 1-6. The speaker’s sense of irritation is conveyed quite clearly in the opening statement of the poem. She uses full words instead of shortening them down. i.e. she says ‘did not’ instead of ‘didn’t’. This makes it clear she wants the listener to understand how angry she is and that she did not agree to do anything. The word choice in these lines also exemplifies her anger. She identifies the idea of an agreement with the word ‘promise’. The agreement alluded to is staying together forever. She is saying here that she never made any contract or treaty or oath to stay with this person. What is the speaker’s attitude to her parents (line 6-14)? In lines 6-14 the speaker is annoyed and aggravated by her parents. This is first expressed at her mother who she feels is ungrateful. She states that her mother ‘never, ever said a kind word’ showing that she feels her mother is indifferent towards her or does not love her properly. The build up here of ‘never, ever’ suggests that she can’t remember it ever happening. She mocks her father’s mocking of her with ‘Are you off in the cream puff, Lady Muck?’ It is clear from her derisory follow up – ‘in this day and age?’ that she thinks her father’s nickname for her is derogatory and it upsets her. How does the tone change in the second stanza and how is this achieved? The tone goes through several changes in the second stanza. The first one is when the tone shifts from attacking to authoritative. She is no longer picking on her parents but stating simple facts. ‘I want a divorce’ is a clear statement about her desires. It is a direct assault on her parents stating that she wishes to leave them. The stanza then takes on a whimsical and poetic tone. She begins to talk about other parents but manages to make them sound mythical and fantastical through the word choice. She says ‘there are parents… whose faces turn up to the light’. The use of ‘light’ makes us think about goodness and sunshine and makes these parents sound happy.
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