Carol Ann Duffy

• overview

  In this poem the ambiguity of the anthology title, Mean Time, suggests time can be cruelA man recalling his childhood memories.A dramatic internal monologue, talking to himself about the inadequacy of humansone sided torrent of self pity and self congratulationstream of consciousness from a bitter self obsessed adultshows loss and destruction of childhood
• structure


  4 regular octaves represents the predictability of the narrator's childhoodlots of disjointed lines/thoughts within stanzas shows narrator is easily distracted and has a lack of clarity
• and the Beatles were everywhere


  enjambement brings focus to proper noun showing how prominent they weresymbolise the 1960s
• many proper nouns


  based on fact
• that month. October

  temporal deixis firmly positions timeframe in 1964
• the clever smell of my satchel


  transferred epithet shows a sense of self congratulation
• convent girls


  isolated line of noun phrase shows his interest
• fizzing


  premodifying adjective implies happiness
• the Nile rises in April


  asking and answering his own questionsproper noun shows he is reciting facts
• a cowboy


  metaphor shows he thinks he is impressive
• famous


  adjective shows self obsession
• dominus, domine, dominum


  nouns shows he is reciting Latin in an internal monologue
• ... ellipsis shows element of thought
• the blazer the badge the tie


  tripartite list of isolated linesdefinte article
• for a year

  temporal deixis implies bitterness as he thought the monk should've been on display longer
• churchill way nelson drive


  proper nouns of road names named after leaders shows he wants to follow in their footsteps
• stamped


  verb shows desperation to make a mark on the world
• I want it back


  boulomaic modality shows desire to go back to the past
• I smiled


  enjambement shows he is no longer smiling
• stale wife


  premodifying adjective suggests she has gone off and that he resents her
• nobody


  isolated line emphasises that nobody plays question game with him
• thick kids wince


  cacaphonic derogatory phrase shows poor relationship
• my country


  possessive