Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy

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  • Created by: Bethany
  • Created on: 22-04-19 17:14
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  • Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy
    • Themes
      • Isolation
      • Anger
      • Boredom
      • Marginalised society
    • Structure
      • No rhythm/ rhyme scheme
        • Replicates chaotic lifestyle and natural speaking voice
      • 5 5-line stanzas
    • STANZA 1
      • "most unusual thing I ever stole?" - Q/A format
        • Talking to audience/direct address
      • "Midnight." - single words = memory/story feel
      • "mute/...mate" - half-rhyme = beauty from violence
        • "mate" - lonely
      • "with a mind...within my own brain" - someone he relates to
        • Psychologically disturbing: he relates most to inanimate, icy objects
      • "I started with the head." - Methodical, pre-planned
        • Psychologically disturbing: he relates most to inanimate, icy objects
    • STANZA 2
      • "Better off dead than giving in" - prefer to die than not getting what they want
        • Major dissatisfaction
      • "not taking/what you want" - life opportunities = ironic
      • "Part of the thrill...in the morning" - emotionally violent
      • "Life's tough." - full stop gives sense of finality to statement
        • Feels bitter - tough on the speaker?
        • Also empathetic - understanding linked to own life
    • STANZA 3
      • "Sometimes...don't need" - general comment about life
      • "joy-ride cars" - denotes immaturity/teenagers
      • "just to have a look" - see how others live/lifestyles
      • "mucky... pinch" - colloquial language/ informal
      • "I watched...like this - Aah" - cinematic description
      • "Mirrors." - glamorising theft
    • STANZA 4
      • "It took some time." - Back to snowman
      • "he didn't look the same" - realisation his joy isn't like other people's
      • "I took a run/and booted him" - lashing out from boredom
        • Enjambment = fast/unexpected actions
      • "sick of the world" - aggression = cry for help; doesn't want to be marginalised
    • STANZA 5
      • "nicked a bust of Shakespeare" - sign of major disrespect/doesn't recognise cultural significance?
      • "stole a guitar...learn to play" - wasted creative talent
      • "You don't...do you?" - Direct address; starts & ends w/ question
        • Sign of loneliness/marginalised feeling
        • Audience finds it strange the speaker stole a snowman

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