Jackie Kay
“Divorce”
Understanding questions
1.
What does the title of the poem first suggest to the reader?
2.
How do the first four lines reinforce this initial impression? Examine word
choice.
3.
“So part I must, and quickly”. Comment on the use of sentence structure
and word choice in this quote. What tone does this suggest about the
speaker?
4.
What does the father’s comments, “Are you off in the cream puff, Lady
Muck?” reveal about his opinion of his daughter?
5.
What technique does the writer use to build to a climax in the second
stanza till the last line?
6.
What kind of parents does the speaker wish for? Give examples.
7.
In the last five lines, the speaker’s words are blunt and aggressive building
to a dramatic and humorous climax. What language techniques does the
poet use to create this effect?
8.
Consider the poem as a whole. Do you think she is exaggerating her
grievances? Or do you think this hides some deeper hurt? Give reasons for
your answer.
First impressions
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Hidden meaning of the title – assume it’s a marriage
Written in the form of: an address
To a silent audience
Written in the immediate present tense
Language is formal register/childish words
Character’s voice is full of declarations, narrow, naive view of
the world (we find it humorous and overly dramatic at
points).
• Focus is on the self
Characterisation
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Written in first person “I”
Young person wishing to divorce her parents
Has a list of their faults/grievances
Has a list of her ideal parents traits
Unrealistic, uncompromising, overly-simplistic view of the world
Accusatory and sometimes aggressive phrases
Sees the parent/child relationship as something to be ended
Plenty of hyperbole to express her level of passion
She comes across as overly-dramatic, perhaps prone to
exaggeration, heightened emotions “Lady Muck”.
Theme
Parent/child relationships –
Questions for reflection:
1. How does this relationship normally work?
2. What makes them go wrong?
3. What problems are usually associated between children and
parents?
4. Looking at the difficulties of growing up – how do both parties
deal with change?
5. What happens to parents and children who don’t get along?
6. Why is this relationship so important to us, as a child or a parent?
7. How do our views of this relationship change as we get older?
Parent/Child relationship
The relationship in this poem is broken according to the speaker.
1.
According to the speaker, what is wrong with the relationship? Give
examples and explain in detail.
2.
What does she suggest is the solution to this broken relationship? Give
quotes to back up your answers.
3.
How much sympathy do we have with her because of her parents faults?
Give examples.
4.
What do her grievances tell us about the sort of child the speaker is in
terms of her attitude towards her parents?
5.
What is her fantasy of the ideal parents? Give examples and explain in
detail.
6. In your opinion, what do you think the relationship really like
between the parents and the speaker in this poem? Give reasons.
Structure
• A sonnet form (14 lines long, ending in a rhyming couplet) – traditionally
love poetry, so clearly ironic.
• Two stanzas divided – reflects a physical divorce – split in two.
Stanza 1 – lengthy explanations of everything that’s wrong.
Stanza 2 – Fantasising how parents should be and why divorce is her only
option.
• Link between the two stanzas: “I want a divorce” at the start of second
stanza. Emphatic simple statement, shows brevity.
• Rhyme and rhythm is quite childish, simplistic – again emphasises the
immaturity, lack of seriousness, overly-dramatic tone/language.
• Switches between long critical lists (enjambment between lines – no
punctuation at end of each line)of the wrongs her parents have done her
and long flowing lists of positives about the perfect parents she fantasies
about having.
• Builds to a climactic ending with short, simple statements emphasising
her heightened emotions and determination to end the relationship.
Language
Give quotes and explanations for each of these techniques from the
poem:
1. Negative criticisms
2. Aggressive accusations
3. Emphatic, simple statements
4. Punctuation
5. Hyperboles
6. Inversion
7. Repetition
8. Unintentional humour
9. Metaphors
10. Listing
11. Rhyming slang
Personal Response
1. Do we like/dislike this persona? Why?
2. Do you sometimes feel the same way as the speaker about your
own parent/guardian? When? Why?
3. Do you think the threat of a divorce is overly-dramatic? Why?
4. What would you say to this girl if she was your friend complaining
to you about her parents?
5. What do you think she will really end up doing in the cold light of
the following morning? Give reasons for your answer.
6. What do you think makes the perfect parent? Why?
7. Do you think your experience of being brought up by your
parent/guardian will shape the way you treat your own children
one day? Give reasons why.
Critical Essay
Character Essays Choose a poem which portrays an interesting character.
By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the poet makes
the character interesting.
Choose a poem which describes a person’s experience.
By referring to appropriate techniques, explain how the
description of the experience makes the poem more interesting.
Critical Essay
Theme Essays Choose a poem which reflects on an aspect of human behaviour in
such a way as to deepen your understanding of human nature.
Describe the aspect of human behaviour which you have identified and,
by referring to appropriate techniques, show how the poem brought you
to a deeper understanding of human nature.
Choose a poem which could be considered as having a powerful
message.
By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the poet effectively
conveys this message.
Choose a poem which has as one of its central concerns a personal,
social or religious issue.
By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the poem increases
your understanding of the issue.
Critical Essay
Atmosphere/mood/emotion essays –
Choose a poem which creates a particular mood or
atmosphere.
By referring to appropriate techniques, show how the poet
creates this mood or atmosphere.