#Mrs Midas

• What perspective does Carol Ann Duffy take in "Mrs Midas"?

  • Persona of King Midas' wife
  • Represents a female perspective
  • Explains separation from her husband
• What narrative style is used in "Mrs Midas"?

  First person narrative in dramatic monologue
• What are the consequences of King Midas' actions in the poem?

  Isolation, loss of relationship, and chance for a baby
• What key themes are explored in "Mrs Midas"?

  Greed, consequences, and loneliness
• How does the imagery in "Mrs Midas" reflect the domestic scene?

  It contrasts normalcy with the consequences of greed
• What does the phrase "the kitchen filled with the smell of itself" suggest?

  Calmness and normalcy in the domestic scene
• What does the personification of steam in the kitchen imply?

  It gives the kitchen a living, pleasant atmosphere
• What is the significance of the line "It sat in his palm, like a lightbulb. On."?

  It marks the moment of Midas' wish and its immediate effects
• What does the line "He sat on his chair like a king on a burnished throne" imply?

  His pleasure in newfound powers and growing division
• What does the alliteration in "glass, goblet, golden chalice" reveal?

  It highlights the transformation from glass to gold
• What does "It feeds no one... slakes no thirst" signify?

  Gold cannot satisfy basic human needs
• What is the turning point in the poem indicated by "It was then I started to scream."?

  It marks the realization of the consequences
• What does the phrase "Separate beds." convey?

  It shows the end of their physical relationship
• What does "Unwrapping each other, rapidly like presents, fast food" suggest about their past relationship?

  It reflects their lost passion and intimacy
• What does "Now I feared his honeyed embrace" imply?

  His love now poses a danger to her
• What does the reference to "the tomb of Tutankhamun" symbolize?

  It symbolizes the death of their relationship
• What does the question "Who ... can live with a heart of gold?" reveal?

  Mrs Midas' concern about Midas' selfishness
• What does the dream of bearing a child with "amber eyes holding their pupils like flies" signify?

  Her lost hopes for a living child
• What does "So he had to move out." indicate?

  It signifies the ultimate consequence of separation
• What does "The woman who married the fool who wished for gold" imply about Mrs Midas' feelings?

  She feels foolish and lacks self-respect
• What is Mrs Midas' final reflection on her husband's actions?

  It reveals her anger and sense of loss
• What does "I miss most ... his touch" signify?

  Her longing for the intimacy they lost
• The kitchen … with the smell of … , …


  Filled, itself, relaxed
• It’s … breath gently … the windows

  Steamy, blanching
• It sat in his … , like a … , on.

  Palm, lightbulb
• He sat on his chair like a … on a … throne

  King, burnished
• He picked up the glass, … , … … , drank

  Goblet, golden chalice
• It … no one

  Feeds
• … no …

  Slake, thirst
• Seperate …

  Beds
• … each other, … like presents, fast …

  Unwrapping, rapidly, food
• Now I feared his … …

  Honeyed, embrace
• The kiss that … turn my … to a … of …

  Would, lips, work, art
• He was below, … the … room into the … of Tutankhamen

  Turning, spare, tomb
• Who can … with a heart of …

  Live, gold
• poured a glass of ... , begun to

  wine, unwind
• The kitchen was filled with...

  the smell of itself
• ... the windows

  Blanching
• The dark ground seem to...

  drink the light of the sky
• ... in his hand was gold

  twig