Critical Essay Plan: Havisham Carol Ann Duffy
Things to remember
 Check every quote for supporting analysis: no analysis, no
marks.
 No informal language: text speak, contracted words, slang
Rules for quoting
You must use quotation marks
If the quote is less than one line it does not need to be indented or
on a separate line. For example, The poet shows her state of mind by
describing her eyes as “green pebbles”.
BUT
If the quote is more than one line it must be given a new line and
indented in your essay. For example, The poet shows her state of
mind through the description of her wedding dress
“the dress,
Yellow, trembling”
Paragraphs: Remember PEE
Point Sentence: Identify the technique and how it dramatises the
character of Miss Havisham. You do not need to explain the
technique.
Evidence sentence: Give evidence from the text that will support
your point. QUOTE.
Explanation sentence: How does the evidence support your ideas?
Question:
Explore how Duffy dramatises the character of Miss Havisham
through the use of literary techniques with close reference to the
text
Due Date:06/11/09
Word Count: No less than 400 words
Introduction: Remember ABC
A:Identify author and text: Carol Ann Duffy, ‘Havisham’
“Havisham” is a dramatic monologue written by Carol Ann Duffy in
1998.
B: Give a brief summary of the text: You need to mention that
this is a dramatic monologue of a fictional character from ‘Great
Expectations’.
The poet uses this device as a way to give a greater insight into one
of literatures most famous characters. Duffy imagines a woman
stuck in the past and still confused about her feelings for a man who
jilted her at the altar.
C: Comment on the question: How are you going to answer it and
show your understanding?
Duffy is able to show her confuses mind set and conflicted feelings
through various literary techniques.
For this essay think about what you see as the most the powerful
images created by Duffy. Think about what you see as the strongest
indicators that Miss Havisham is mentally unstable and conflicted
about her feelings for her ex fiancé. Pick out quotes and analyse
them fully. This guide will help you do this.
Paragraph 1: Stanza one
Oxymoron
Why is this so powerful? What other technique makes it more
powerful?
What does it tell us about her state of mind?
Metaphors
What are the metaphors that Duffy uses?
Why are they so effective? What connotations do they have?
What does this reveal about her state of mind? What are her
feelings towards the man?
How do both of these techniques establish her state of mind?
Do they work together to reinforce the bitterness she feels?
Paragraph 2: Stanza 2
Think about the sentence structure coupled with the word choice in
this paragraph.
What are the connotations of the words?
Enjambment
Why does Duffy use this?
What is the effect?
Where is the reader’s attention drawn?
What does it tell us about her state of mind?
Paragraph 3: Stanza 3
Why is the repeated enjambment so powerful at this point? What
changes in Miss Havisham’s tone?
Does she still feel violent bitterness?
How does Duffy illustrate this change?
Paragraph 4: Stanza 4
Remember to think about the symbolism of the colours.
How do they contrast?
The violent imagery returns. How is this shown? What technique?
The last line links back to the first how does it do this?
Conclusion:
It is a summary of your main points but there must be some
evaluation of the techniques.
What did you think worked more powerfully?
What techniques dramatised her state of mind more fully.
How do you feel about the character because of this?
Start the conclusion with a comment on the question.
In conclusion I feel that Duffy was thoroughly able to show Miss
Havisham’s fragile state of mind after being jilted at the altar. She
emphasizes the conflicted feelings she has for the man from the
very opening line. I feel that the oxymoron was especially powerful
because of the added alliteration ..................I was left feeling
sympathy for the woman but also frustration at her lack of
responsibility for her own predicament.
Think about the violent words used throughout the poem.
What connotations do the words have?
What is the effect of this continuous imagery?