In Paris with You & Quickdraw

Both poems use figurative language to describe emotional feelings

‘Wounded’ love can cause emotional pain – violent metaphors are used

‘You’ve wounded me’ (Q)‘‘I’m one of the talking wounded’ (Paris)

Also...’blast me through the heart’ ‘pellet’ ‘silver bullets’

Extended metaphor in Quickdraw

In both poems, the language of suffering is used

• ‘hostage’ (P) – trapped, accepted his miserable circumstance- held hostage by ex partner. Lonely, fearful, powerless. He has trapped himself in memories.

• ‘Down on my knees’ – desperation, begging for what? Love? Another chance? Mercy?

Both appear powerless but are not?

Both poets reject romantic cliches, and write amusingly about the experience of love

• (Q) the extended metaphor of the gun fight is a comic device – it dramatises, fictionalises the domestic dispute. Over-exaggerating the scale and consequences – hilarious! Masks the real pain?

• (P) 1. amusing – different facets of speaker’s attitude ( angry and then more cooperative)

• 2. rejects cliched romantic break activities ‘Louvre’ etc . Use of colloquialism ‘sleazy..sodding’ contrasts romance – gritty and irreverent. Unromantic language

Both poems use the first person viewpoint and the second person address

• (P) frequent assertion of ‘I’ ‘I’m in Paris..’ anaphora at end of poem – shows self-centredness? Spoken to the partner in Paris with him – direct and personal involvement for the reader.

• (Q) more even usage of ‘I ‘ and ‘you’ to show even battle and reciprocated aggression? ‘You’ve wounded me’ – accusative tone

In both poems, the theme of betrayal is explored

• (P) – cynical speaker ‘Don’t talk to me of love’ implies former suffering? Unable to use the word ‘love’ and replaces it by ‘Paris’

• (Q) – you’ve wounded me’ – been deliberately hurt – victim. When they thought they were part of same side.

Both poets use structural device to show closeness or separation

• (Q) –line break ‘then blast me/through the heart’ the literal breaking of the line mimics the breaking of the relationship. Duffy subverts the conventional sonnet structure of 14 lines to create 16 – she challenges the idealised love that sonnets are supposed to portray.

• (P) –indented stanza changes the tone – slightly more honest? More considerate? SO the break in structure signifies a glimpse into his vulnerability?

Both poets reject a regular rhyme scheme

Compare how Duffy and Fenton present the themes of love, pain and conflict

• Timed essay on Monday 5th March• You can create a plan and use it in the exam• What are your targets from the last timed

essay?