Mrs Tilsher's Class

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Carol Ann Duffy’s poems often relate to the influences and experiences of education, in both positive and negative lights. In Mrs Tilscher’s Class is a poem by Duffy that takes a very nostalgic look back on a year at primary school. We listen to Duffy reminisce about her school years, and are positively informed of Mrs Tilscher’s class. Duffy’s use of sensual language throughout the poem brings the experience to life, so the reader can see, hear and touch the scene Duffy describes. The majority of this sensual imagery is positive, such as “Mrs Tilscher chanted the scenery,” which reminds the reader of the ‘all singing all dancing’ primary school lessons that were so care free. The reminder of early days at school surface memories and personal thoughts that makes the poem all the more enjoyable for the reader as they can relate with the narrator and make the poem they’re own. Duffy also uses specific words to emphasize the light-heartedness of the scene she continues to describe. Words such as “laugh,” “glowed” and “coloured” radiate a child’s mind, and transforms the classroom into a place of riches. Visual similes such as “The classroom glowed like a sweet shop” encourages the reader to further reminisce about their childhood, remembering the positively happy time most children freely experience. The poems also highlights the security children have at school with the quote “Mrs Tilscher loved you.’” It suggests that when children are not protected by their guardians, their teacher’s act as a parental figure, implying that children are protected at all times. The idea of security adds to the positive view on primary schools and is reinforced when Mrs Tilscher “smile and turned away” after being asked an inappropriate question. Although patronising this quote justifies the idea of Mrs Tilscher being portrayed as a motherly figure after sheltering the children from
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