Read the poem ‘Mrs Faust’ (copies on your desk)

What do Mrs Faust and her husband have?

Are there any differences in what they have / desire, as individuals?

What appears to be missing?

What is the tone of the poem?

Put these images into the order in which they would appear to illustrate the poem.

Objectives:

Understand key words and concepts (soul, hedonism) relevant to “Mrs Faust”

Develop an interpretation of the characters and relationships portrayed in the poem and how the language helps to build this up.

Who is Faust? What is he famous for?

Faust

Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend who makes a deal with the Devil to exchange his soul for knowledge.

Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus, tells the story of a man who, in order to enjoy wealth and power, makes a pact with the devil that he can enjoy all of these things for twenty-four years but must surrender his soul to the devil at the end of this time.

There is also a version by Goethe, written in 1832, and both of these stories are based the German legend.

Key words

1. B.A., M.A., PhD.2. Kudos 3. Yoga, Pilates, FengShui, therapy,

colonic irrigation4. Soho5. Fat Havana6. Smart bombs7. Went native, ape8. Helen of Troy9. Mephistopheles

“Mrs Faust” – what is this a poem about?

Key concepts:

The SOUL(soulless, where is

your soul?)

HEDONISM – the pursuit of pleasure

at all costs.

Key themes

POSSESSIONSEX

POWERDOMINANCE

Closer reading:

How are he, she and their relationship presented?

What hints/allusions/double meanings can you find?

What effect does the choice of language have? Any references to sex/power?

1. Stanzas 1 + 2 2. Stanzas 3 + 43. Stanzas 6, 7 + 84. Stanzas 9 + 105. Stanzas 11, 12 +

136. Stanzas 14 + 15

Stanza 5

He wanted more.I came home late one winter’s evening,hadn’t eaten.Faust was upstairs in his study,in a meeting.I smelled cigar smoke,hellish, oddly sexy, not allowed.I heard Faust and the other laugh aloud.

Ironic – double meanings

He seems greedy

Neglecting herself? Trying to get our sympathy?

She is excluded from his world of work.

Male dominance, phallic symbol. She finds it attractive

He is making a pact with the devil, but laughing. Doesn’t care? Has the last laugh? Smug?

Answer the following questions in full paragraphs, complete with quotations to support your views.

Does Duffy present Mrs Faust in a more positive light than her husband, or is she just as bad?

How does Mrs Faust seem to feel about her husband?

Who is the winner in this poem?

What are our expectations/ assumptions for a poem based on “King Kong”?

Objectives:

Develop interpretations of “Queen Kong”

Compare and contrast “Queen Kong” and “Medusa” the plot, characters, themes and styles of the two poems.

In your stanzas:

How are the characters/relationships presented?

What sort of narrator does QK seem to be? Is she reliable, biased etc.? How is this effect created?

Any interesting images or language uses? Is Duffy ‘borrowing’ expressions/phrases from elsewhere?

1. Stanza 1 and 22. Stanza 3 and 43. Stanza 5 and 64. Stanza 7 and 85. Stanza 9 and 106. Stanza 11

Developing your interpretations:

A:To what extent

does this relationship

fit/go against our expectations of ‘normality’?

How does the language help to

express this?

B:How does Duffy leave

the reader feeling about QK?

Pitying her? Admiring her?

Repulsed by her? Laughing at her?

How does the language help to encourage

your reaction?

Comparing “Medusa” and “Queen Kong” – starting with single words/phrases:

Comparing “Medusa” and “Queen Kong.”

GROUP 1: How are the

relationships and characters similar/different?

GROUP 3: How are themes presented (e.g. love,

relationships, men/women)? What interpretations/ reader reactions are

possible for each poem?

GROUP 2:• How are the poems’

uses of language similar/different?

• What about structure?