Studied by 3 peopleVerse 1 and 2: Setting the scene for the conflict
"We grew Fondante d'Autumne"
Word choice: Connotations of a golden pear. Makes them sound a bit posh/full of themselves because of French name Shows she is pleased with her life
"Sat in his palm like a lightbulb. On"
Simile: Compares the pear to a lightbulb because they are similar shape and it has turned to gold Single word sentence "On" suggests her surprise and shock, emphasised
"A glass of wine, began to unwind
Assonance: Long sound makes it sound she is beginning to relax and enjoying the routine of cooking
"I thought to myself, is he putting fairy lights in the tree?
Sentence Structure: Question at the end of verse
Verse 3 and 4: Beginning realisation
Verse 3 and 4: Beginning realisation
"Doorknobs gleamed"
Word Choice: Connotations of something shiny and precious
"Sat in his chair like a burnished throne
Simile Compares his chair to a throne because when he sat on it, it turned to gold. Suggests he thinks of himself as a king who deserves riches, feels like he is in control Pompous
"The look on his face was strange, wild, vain"
List and Word Choice List builds up adjectives which become more odd to show that he has lost all reason So proud of being rich and powerful that he forgets the consequence of his wish
"Spitting out the teeth of the rich"
Metaphor Compares corn on the cob to teeth made out of gold Suggests danger as he can't eat anything because it turns to gold. Shows greed because he would be likely to show off his wealth
"Picked up the glass, goblet, golden chalice, drank"
List and word choice Colours are used effectively to show the theme of gold "A fragrant bone dry white from Italy" suggests a pale, golden wine, a bit posh and what they were used to Links to the glass which turns to gold the moment he touches it Repetition of "g" sound implies that it has turned to metal golden chalice
Verse 5 and 6: Her reaction
Verse 5 and 6: Her reaction
Repetition of "I" several time in the verse
This emphasises that she is beginning to take control over the situation Needs to protect herself and anything that would keep her connected to her normal world Ironically, the wish did not make him powerful, but left him without any control
"The toilet I don't mind"
Humour Attempt at making a joke to try and rationalise what was going on Shows her anger and loss of the relationship
"at least i said, you'll be able to give up smoking for good
Humour Sarcastic comment She refers to his addiction
"Look, we all have wishes; granted. But who has wishes granted? Him"
Sentence Structure The comma changes the meaning; separates "granted" to suggest that she understands that people wish for things. The lack of a comma in the next sentence emphasises how unreasonable he was about having the wish granted Single word sentence "Him" sounds forceful and angry
"It feeds no one, aurum, soft, untarnishable; slakes no thirst"
Sentence Structure The list emphasises how empty and pointless the gold is. The latin word for the element makes it impersonal, like you can't do anything with it. "Soft" suggests it serves no purpose as you can't do anything with it
"I gazed, entranced"
Word choice "gazed"
"Near petrified"
Word Choice Connotations of scared to death, but also like something turned into stone. Double meaning
"Those halycon days"
Word Choice Connotations of happy and calm, comfortable times Creates a nostalgic and sad tone for what she has lost. Shows the dire consequence of his greed
"separate beds"
Sentence structure Short minor sentence to highlight how panicky and quick her reaction is. Followed by an almost "afterthought"
"Spare room into the tomb of Tutankhamun"
Metaphor Golden pyramid to show how powerful he was, tomb suggests death, no escape. Mrs Midas trying to avoid certain death. Mood of hopelessness Assonance on long "oo" sound is melancholic to show the breakdown of the relationship.
"unwrapping each other, rapidly, like presents, fast food"
Simile Simile compares their love making to presents and fast food
"his honeyed embrace"
Word choice Connotations of the colour gold, like honey
"his child, his perfect ore limbs"
Metaphor Compares the baby to a golden statue, perfectly formed and beautiful, but lifeless
"Its little tongue like a precious latch"
Simile Compares the tongue to a latch, something that can attach to you. "Precious" because it is her baby and she would love it, but also because it is made out of gold
"Its amber eyes holding their pupil like flies"
Simile Shows the baby would be dead and emotionless, despite their beauty
"I woke up to the streaming sun"
Symbolism Reference to the golden colour of the sun in the morning - it feels like she cannot escape the gold anywhere
Verse 9 and 10: Breakup
"so he had to move out"
Sentence structure Short, blunt sentence with single syllable words emphasises the urgency to get away from him. Growing isolation because they have lost everything
Note 
Flashcard (27)