Explore How Duffy Explores Childhood and the Loss of Innocence and Compare This to Pugh’s Poems.

777 Words4 Pages
Carol Ann Duffy’s poems often have the theme of childhood and loss of innocence. It is rare for her poems to take on the voice of perspective of a child, so Duffy explores her theme by referring to a child’s imagination or memory. ‘In Mrs Tilsher’s Class’ is a prime example of using an adult perspective in order to explore childhood. In this poem Duffy presents a nostalgic view of childhood which enhances the reader’s enjoyment as it allows the reader to think back to their own personal memories. Both ‘Lizzie, Six’ and ‘Sweet 18’ also explore childhood and the loss of innocence through the perspective of a character who is not the child, however in Pugh’s poem ‘Sweet 18’ the poem is dominated by the idea of growing up ahead of time, therefore portraying a rushed childhood. ‘In Mrs Tilsher’s Class’ Duffy begins the poem presenting the innocence of a childhood within a school environment. At the early stages of education all children become engrossed in the metaphorical ‘perfect’ world of knowledge. During the primary stages of education our imagination ‘could travel up the Blue Nile’, Duffy begins the poem by using metaphors to emphasise the innocence all children have at a young age. When the ‘chalky Pyramids rubbed into dust’, it shows that the day has ended and gives the reader the impression that school is a safe place for all children, a place with no fear. As a dramatic monologue with an implied listener, this poem allows the reader to reminisce about personal experiences. The poem shows a transition through school and the gradual loss of innocence. With the classroom that ‘glowed like a sweet shop’ Duffy again enforces school is safe; however Duffy challenges this interpretation by including a reference to Brady and Hindley. Many know about the Moor Murders; who took children and murdered them. It could be argued in a literary sense that the reader would

More about Explore How Duffy Explores Childhood and the Loss of Innocence and Compare This to Pugh’s Poems.

Open Document