English Literature: Carol Ann Duffy Stealing

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"The most unusual thing I ever stole? A snowman. Midnight."
Starts with controversial tone - 1st Person. Short sentences emphasis loneliness and isolation
1 of 21
"He looked magnificent; a tall, white mute"
Connection with non-living
2 of 21
"I wanted him, a mate'
Lonely - desires companionship
3 of 21
"...with a mind as cold as the slice of ice..."
A metaphor: Cold and unnatural emotions
4 of 21
"I started with the head"
Sounds disturbing
5 of 21
"Better off dead than giving in, not taking what you want"
Wants the snowman
6 of 21
"He weighed a ton; his torso, frozen stiff, hugged to my chest, a fierce chill piercing my gut"
Juxtaposition - literally close or metaphorically emotionally attached. 'Piercing' strong verb - something (loneliness, conscience) getting to him - suggests painful, secretive, know he's doing wrong.
7 of 21
"Part of the thrill was knowing that children would cry in the morning. Life's tough."
He's sadistic - gets pleasure out of pain. Caesura, punishing others for his pain, envious
8 of 21
"Sometimes I steal things I don't need"
Pointless, life of petty crime.
9 of 21
"I joy-ride cars to nowhere"
No destination - metaphor for no purpose
10 of 21
"I'm a mucky ghost, leave a mess"
Wants to be remembered. Feels like a ghost to others
11 of 21
"I watch my gloved hand twisting the doorknob"
Thinks about what he's doing
12 of 21
"A stranger's bedroom. Mirrors. I sigh like this - Aah.
Wishes he could have this, self mockery - italics place emphasis.
13 of 21
What does Stanza three reveal?
History - uncomfortable about, hides behind snowman
14 of 21
"He didn't look the same"
Made of snow - going to look different
15 of 21
"I took a run and booted him. Again. Again. My breath ripped out in rags"
Using violence - repetition done it so many times it has tired him out. Alliteration - agressive.
16 of 21
"Then I was standing alone amongst lumps of snow, sick of the world"
Back to square 1, alone once again - hates everyone
17 of 21
"Boredom."
Possible answer to his problems
18 of 21
"I'm so bored I could eat myself"
Self destruction
19 of 21
"I nicked a bust of Shakespeare one, flogged it, but the snowman was strangest"
Realises what he did was peculiar
20 of 21
"You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?"
Full cycle, none the wiser why he has done it. Talking to himself, doesn't understand himself.
21 of 21

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

"He looked magnificent; a tall, white mute"

Back

Connection with non-living

Card 3

Front

"I wanted him, a mate'

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

"...with a mind as cold as the slice of ice..."

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

"I started with the head"

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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