mrs midas

• “unwind“ “relaxed”

  word choice - both words have denotations on tranquility and comfort and suggests the house was in a peaceful state.
• ”gently blanching the windows”

  word choice - gently has denotations of soft and sweet reinforcing the domestic peace going on.
• “visibility poor”

  word choice - this has denotations of darkness and not being able to see and suggests mrs midas didn’t know what was to come.
• “is he putting fairy lights in the tree?’

  rhetorical question - mrs midas doesn’t want that question to be answered because its comical and unlikely to be true.
• ”doorknobs gleamed”

  word choice - gleamed has denotations glistening and sparkling and subtly hints to everything he touches turning into gold
• “he sat in that chair like a king”

  simile - just as a king is surrounded by riches and gold so too is mr midas, this is also subtly hinting to king midas.
• “strange, wild, vain.”

  list - shows the variety of complex emotions mrs midas is feeling.
• ”i poured with a shaking hand”

  word choice -shaking has denotations of fearful and anxious and suggests mrs midas is worried about what was going on
• “those halcyon days”

  word choice - halcyon, an idyll or special time. In mythological terms it was used to mean calm weather during winter. This foreshadows the cooling of their relationship
• “And who… can live with a heart of gold?”

  Pun – literally impossible (a heart of gold would kill you), and metaphorically, it challenges the idea that being purely good or obsessed with wealth is sustainable. Reflects on human flaws.
• “He was thin, delirious.”

  Shows Midas suffering – irony of starving despite having riches. Gold cannot sustain life. Suggests madness brought on by greed and isolation.
• “I miss most, even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch.”

  Repetition and sensual imagery emphasize loss of intimacy and love. Despite everything, she still longs for emotional and physical closeness.
• “I made him sit on the other side of the room and keep his hands to himself.”

  Humorous, but also tragic. Distance in their relationship starts here. Shows Mrs Midas’s fear and emotional separation.
• How does the tone of "Mrs Midas" begin?

  It starts with a calm and relaxed feeling
• What does the phrase "the smell of itself" suggest about the kitchen?

  It conveys a sense of comfort and homeliness
• What does the comparison of the pear to a lightbulb signify?

  It emphasizes the shock and glow of the pear
• What does Mrs Midas think when she sees the gold twig?

  She wonders if he is putting fairy lights in the tree
• How does Mrs Midas react to her husband's laughter?

  She feels frustrated and confused
• What does the phrase "spitting out the teeth of the rich" imply?

  It suggests the absurdity of his new condition
• What does Mrs Midas mean by "I couldn’t believe my ears"?

  She is shocked by what he has done
• What does Mrs Midas do with the cat?

  She locks it in the cellar
• How does Mrs Midas feel about her husband's wish for gold?

  She sees it as selfish and foolish
• What does the phrase "heart of gold" imply about living with Mr. Midas?

  It suggests challenges due to his greed
• What does Mrs Midas dream about?

  She dreams of bearing his golden child
• What does Mrs Midas do after her dream?

  She decides he has to move out
• How does Mrs Midas feel when she thinks of him in certain lights?

  She feels a mix of longing and loss
• What does the phrase "golden trout on the grass" symbolize?

  It symbolizes the remnants of his greed
• What does Mrs Midas miss the most?

  His warm hands on her skin
• What does Mr. Midas do that shows he is secretive?

  He draws the blinds.
• What does the colloquialism “You know the mind” imply?

  It suggests shared values with Mrs. Midas.
• What famous event does Mrs. Midas allude to?

  The kings of France and England meeting.
• How is Mr. Midas's vanity conveyed in the simile “like a king on a burnished throne”?

  It emphasizes his sense of self-importance.
• What does Mrs. Midas's question reveal about her feelings?

  Her frustration and impatience are growing.
• What does Mrs. Midas serve for starters?

  Corn on the cob.
• What happens to the corn on the cob in Mr. Midas's mouth?

  It turns into gold.
• What does the word “toyed” suggest about Mr. Midas's behavior?

  He is becoming agitated by his gift.
• What does “a shaking hand” indicate about Mrs. Midas?

  She is starting to become worried and afraid.
• What does the alliteration in “glass, goblet, golden chalice” emphasize?

  The connection between the three items.
• What does Mrs. Midas do after she starts to scream?

  She makes him sit away and locks the cat.
• What does the phrase “I couldn’t believe my ears” suggest about Mrs. Midas's reaction?

  She is in shock about the situation.