JUNE 2019 QUESTION: ‘Duffy celebrates the fact that modern women now enjoy
advantages and opportunities that women in the past never had.’ Examine this view.
You must refer to at least two poems in your answer. [25 marks] 03/05/2022
Timed - I get 56 minutes - I am going to spend unlimited time planning but then only 45
minutes writing.
EBI from last time - make sure to use sufficient evidence / analysis of methods on all the
important poems (the main )
PLAN:
Duffy celebrates how women have received more freedoms than previously (especially as a
result of female revolution) but she is still angry at how women have been treated for
centuries and is making the reader question ideas surrounding objective truth. Despite this
she does argue that there are still some barriers in women’s way, including women’s own
internalisation and continuation of the patriarchal structures.
BREAK DOWN - advantages and opportunities are very different
Sections:
1. Duffy celebrates how women do have more freedoms compared to before and how
this is a result of female revolution and fighting
a. TLOSGH - the uncontrollable force of laughter and how this represents the
second wave of feminism
b. Gave women a voice - ‘Geraldine Ruth’
c. Infectious force that gradually effects the teachers
d. Made more prominent because of the contrast between the beginning and the
end of the poem
i. Stifling use of lists at beginning - learning facts to being able to chase
dreams
e. She is celebrating the opportunities that modern women now have
f. Secondary poem = ‘anon’ = ‘baton’ passed down and this is her and she is
not anonymous
2. Despite arguing that women do have more opportunities, she explores how modern
women still have to suffer and fight patriarchal expectations and how this is a result
of living with the patriarchy structures, demonstrating that Duffy is showing that
modern women still have disadvantages that women in the past had
a. Beautiful - the male gaze and the repression patriarchal expectations of
femininity still exist and have existed throughout time
b. This throughout time as it exists from Helen of Troy who is from a Greek
legend all the way to Diana
c. Women are expected to fulfil roles in society
i. E.g. Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe are supposed to be these sensual
and desirable women and they are reduced to this - objectification and
male gaze
1. ‘Harder, harder’
2. ‘Deep, dumped … filmed more, quiet please, action, cut, quiet
please … cut.’ - repetition and fast paced.
3. Cleopatra’s power stems from her ability to manipulate Caeser
sexually
4. ‘She played with him … Caesar’s head between her teeth.’
5. They are defined by their sexuality and men
advantages and opportunities that women in the past never had.’ Examine this view.
You must refer to at least two poems in your answer. [25 marks] 03/05/2022
Timed - I get 56 minutes - I am going to spend unlimited time planning but then only 45
minutes writing.
EBI from last time - make sure to use sufficient evidence / analysis of methods on all the
important poems (the main )
PLAN:
Duffy celebrates how women have received more freedoms than previously (especially as a
result of female revolution) but she is still angry at how women have been treated for
centuries and is making the reader question ideas surrounding objective truth. Despite this
she does argue that there are still some barriers in women’s way, including women’s own
internalisation and continuation of the patriarchal structures.
BREAK DOWN - advantages and opportunities are very different
Sections:
1. Duffy celebrates how women do have more freedoms compared to before and how
this is a result of female revolution and fighting
a. TLOSGH - the uncontrollable force of laughter and how this represents the
second wave of feminism
b. Gave women a voice - ‘Geraldine Ruth’
c. Infectious force that gradually effects the teachers
d. Made more prominent because of the contrast between the beginning and the
end of the poem
i. Stifling use of lists at beginning - learning facts to being able to chase
dreams
e. She is celebrating the opportunities that modern women now have
f. Secondary poem = ‘anon’ = ‘baton’ passed down and this is her and she is
not anonymous
2. Despite arguing that women do have more opportunities, she explores how modern
women still have to suffer and fight patriarchal expectations and how this is a result
of living with the patriarchy structures, demonstrating that Duffy is showing that
modern women still have disadvantages that women in the past had
a. Beautiful - the male gaze and the repression patriarchal expectations of
femininity still exist and have existed throughout time
b. This throughout time as it exists from Helen of Troy who is from a Greek
legend all the way to Diana
c. Women are expected to fulfil roles in society
i. E.g. Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe are supposed to be these sensual
and desirable women and they are reduced to this - objectification and
male gaze
1. ‘Harder, harder’
2. ‘Deep, dumped … filmed more, quiet please, action, cut, quiet
please … cut.’ - repetition and fast paced.
3. Cleopatra’s power stems from her ability to manipulate Caeser
sexually
4. ‘She played with him … Caesar’s head between her teeth.’
5. They are defined by their sexuality and men
