Stuffed

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STUFFED

Carol Ann Duffy

KEY THEMES:

  • Male Dominance
  • Control
  • Possessiveness
  • Sexual Fantasy
  • Self Obsession

Narrative Voice

  • Taxidermist
  • Disengaged sense of self
  • Misogynistic

Poem builds up in a violent crescendo as the animals become weaker until the narrator is finally assaulting a woman.

Verbs become increasingly more aggressive as the poem progresses.

Rhythmic structure to echo the control the persona craves.

IMPORTANT QUOTES:

I

  • each stanza begins with this personal pronoun, reflecting the self-centred nature of the narrator. He is self-obsessed and sees himself as superior. The use of the pronoun can also suggest that he only cares about himself, foreshadowing the final stanza where it is implied that he rapes a woman.

I fix the grin of Crocodile

  • fix - manipulation and control, he has power over these defenceless animals. Could be suggested that this is the kind of control he wants over women. Introduces the theme of dominance.
  • Crocodile - personal pronoun suggesting that the crocodile is special, perhaps because the narrator identifies with such a predator or because he has taken control over something that was once so dangerous.

spiv

  • a flashy dresser who is involved in disreputable dealings. Shows the narrator's inflated sense of self-worth as well as suggesting he is not to…

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