With close reference to two poems, discuss ways in which Clarke presents women.
Pont 1: In Lunchtime Lecture, the woman is presented as majestic and perfect beyond death
and free from the troubles of life - inspiring
‘white, fine skull, full up with darkness’
‘small, perfect’
‘bone purity’
‘no mistakes’
‘she’s a tree in winter’
‘bough in fine relief’
Point 2: In Death of a young woman, the woman is depicted as fragile in her illness but
fierce and strong in her fighting of it. – once again inspiring us
‘The stretched white sheet of her skin’
‘fragile as a yacht’
‘sail finally slackened’
‘Short, fierce life’
Point 3: Gillian Clarke however does present woman within her poetry in a beautiful, calm
and perfect light which makes worse the tragedies that take place
Shocked at the illness and death of such a young woman and realise the grief
her family and loved ones are left with
Women was destroyed by ‘some plague or violence’ and has now been taken
from her peace and rest and treated as an inanimate object ‘bones’ as she is
‘stripped white’ of what makes her human and like us.
Conclusion:
women are presented as fragile yet strong and inspirational this encourages
us to treasure and cherish women as they hold their own important role in
society.
Pont 1: In Lunchtime Lecture, the woman is presented as majestic and perfect beyond death
and free from the troubles of life - inspiring
‘white, fine skull, full up with darkness’
‘small, perfect’
‘bone purity’
‘no mistakes’
‘she’s a tree in winter’
‘bough in fine relief’
Point 2: In Death of a young woman, the woman is depicted as fragile in her illness but
fierce and strong in her fighting of it. – once again inspiring us
‘The stretched white sheet of her skin’
‘fragile as a yacht’
‘sail finally slackened’
‘Short, fierce life’
Point 3: Gillian Clarke however does present woman within her poetry in a beautiful, calm
and perfect light which makes worse the tragedies that take place
Shocked at the illness and death of such a young woman and realise the grief
her family and loved ones are left with
Women was destroyed by ‘some plague or violence’ and has now been taken
from her peace and rest and treated as an inanimate object ‘bones’ as she is
‘stripped white’ of what makes her human and like us.
Conclusion:
women are presented as fragile yet strong and inspirational this encourages
us to treasure and cherish women as they hold their own important role in
society.
