The laughter of Stafford girls’ high

• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High


  This poem is used as a bridge between the more abstract and universal messages and her more personal poetry.
• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High

  Poem has been described as ‘an allegory (story that represents another idea or event) of the rise of feminism, sweeping away dowdy post-war austerity and buttoned-up emotional sterility.’
• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High

  The girl’s epidemic of laughter is an extended metaphor for feminism which disrupts the patriarchy - the laughter is a symbol of liberation and rebellion.
• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High


  The grammar school and teachers represents the old-fashioned patriarchal attitude.
• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High


  The language of the poem focuses on the contrast between the old and the young.
• The Laughter of Stafford Girls High

  Ultimately the status quo is subverted - after initial resistances, eventually the teachers too are liberated by the laughter.
• A05 - 3 critical texts (context)


  Stafford Girls’ High School was established in 1907 - Duffy would of attended in 1965-1970.
• A05 - 3 critical texts (context)


  The term ‘women’s liberation’ was first used in 1964 at the same time as the poem was set- Friedan’s ‘the Feminine Mystique’ was published in 1963.
• A05 - 3 critical texts (context)

  ‘The feminine mystique’ = The book hypothesizes that women are victims of a false belief system that requires them to find identity and meaning in their lives through their husbands and children - this system causes them to lose their identity.
• A02 - Form


  The poem is in the form of a mock-epic allegory (mock epic is a piece of writing which adopts the elevated heroic style of an epic poem for satirical reasons - it is relevant and deliberately does not show the appropriate respect towards a serious institution.)
• A02 - Form (use of lists)


  Duffy uses lists as a disruptive force in the poem.
• A02 - Form (use of lists)


  The extensive use of lists could be a way of disrupting the patriarchal grammar and language that imposes rules women are expected to obey.
• A02 - Form (use of lists)


  The lists could be a criticising how schools force everyone to be the same and focus on memorising facts without questioning if the knowledge is actually useful.
• A02 - Form (use of lists)


  In stanza 9 Duffy lists past poet Laureates perhaps to critics the fact they are all male or to suggest women have aspirations to achieve great things too.
• A02 - Form (use of lists)


  In stanza 41 Miss Dunn’s liberation is shown through a list of climbing devices to reveal her own personal ambitions to climb Everest.