(473) Medusa - Carol Ann Duffy Analysis

Who is the author of the poem "Medusa"?

Carol Ann Duffy.

What themes are explored in Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Medusa"?

Betrayal, gothic appearance, and Greek mythology.

What transformation does Medusa undergo in Greek mythology?

She is turned from a beautiful mortal into an ugly Gorgon with snakes for hair.

What emotions are represented in the first stanza of "Medusa"?

Suspicion, doubt, and jealousy.

What does the metaphor of 'filthy snakes' in the poem symbolize?

The speaker's bitterness and resentment.

Which literary device is exemplified in the phrase 'bullet tears'?

Oxymoron.

How does the speaker in "Medusa" feel towards her lover?

She feels betrayed and vulnerable.

What does the speaker mean by saying 'Be terrified!' in the poem?

She is expressing anger and a sense of power over her lover.

What do the animals turning into stones signify in the poem?

The destructive impact of the speaker's feelings on everything around her.

What does the final line "Look at me now!" imply?

It can imply either a plea for attention or a threat of turning her lover to stone.

What is the significance of the line 'Love gone bad showed me a Gorgon'?

It symbolizes her transformation due to the pain that love caused her.

How does Duffy use juxtaposition in the poem?

To contrast the lively animals before and their lifeless state after being glanced at by the speaker.

What kind of narrative style is used in "Medusa"?

The poem is written in free verse.