history

• what is history about?

  female perspective on history, ignored by men.

  • Duffy argues that women can't be erased from history and women are always present.
• Personification of 'History'

  presenting female voices and how they've been abused
• internal rhyme

  hidden history of women , connection between lines = connection between history
• 'toothless, half-dead'

  semantic field of rotting away , not perfect and beautiful like women 'should' be

  • effect of being not cared for , women's history has decayed
• 'smelling of pee.'

  caesura - amplifies statement , women left unattended as they grow old
• 'been' 'seen' 'watched'

  passive verbs , women can only be passive as they are deemed to be less important
• 'shit wrapped in a newspaper posted onto the floor'

  imagery of softness contrast with gross imagery. Disquieting audience

  • women abused by society , their knowledge and wisdom is undermined by society who doesn't care about female perspectives