English language and literature

In learning stations of 4 students in each, answer 4 questions. Each learning station will answer question 1.

1.What is your favourite description and why?

2. What ideas and connotations are suggested by the setting (time and place) of the poem?

3. Mrs Midas adds in pieces of extra information as asides, to help her narrative along. Identify a couple of these and suggest why she does this.

4. Identify examples or evidence of humour and word play – what does it add to the poem and your view of the speaker?

5. There are a number of idioms and well-known phrases which are referenced in the poem – find two and comment on the effectiveness of their inclusion.

6. What themes might be present in the poem?

7. What is your over-riding feeling about what kind of person Mrs Midas

8. Comment on Duffy’s use of foreshadowing in verses one and two.

9. Comment on Duffy’s use of imagery in stanza two in creating a more menacing mood.

10. Examine how Duffy uses language in verses three and four to illustrate the consequences of King Midas’ wish.

11.By referring to literary techniques, comment on how Duffy portrays the speaker’s fear and astonishment at her husband’s actions in stanza 4.

12. Identify and comment on the effectiveness of Duffy’s use of humour in stanza 5.

13. Show how Duffy conveys Mrs Midas’ desire for and fear of her husband in verses seven and eight.

14. Identify and explain the speaker’s tone the final stanza.