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The poet, Carol Ann Duffy was born in Glasgow, Scotland on December 23, 1955. She lived there in Scotland up until she was six years old, when the family moved to Stafford, England. It is stated that her father worked for an electrical company it also “ran an unsuccessful bid for Parliament in 1883” (Britannica). As for her education, she attended schools with a religious community, and was taught by nuns. It was during this education where she started “publishing her poetry in magazines at age 14” (Britannica).

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Carol Ann Duffy attended Liverpool University, pursuing a degree in philosophy. Upon her graduation in 1977, Duffy started to write for a variety of creative outlets, ranging from television shows to books while simultaneously advertising her poetry (Poets.org). Something unique to her is that she is an openly lesbian poet, something uncommon in England at the time. Carol Ann Duffy wrote poetry for both children and adults, showing her ability to match her writing style to all different age groups. Her popularity skyrocket with her win in the National Poetry Competition in 1983, followed up with an Eric Gregory Award in 1984. (Scottish Poetry Library)

(Scottish Poetry Library and Poets.org)

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In 2009, Duffy accepted the position of poet laureate, an honorable position that no woman had previously ever held (Britannica). Duffy’s work was very well received and received notable accolades such as “the Scottish Arts Council Award, the Whitbread Book Award for poetry, and the T.S. Eliot Prize” (Britannica). She was also given a multitude of positions as “Officer of the Order of the British Empire”(Britannica) and was later promoted all the way to a “Dame Commander of the British Empire” (Britannica). All in all, she received high praise that was reflected in the many accolades that she received and continues to receive.

(Britannica)

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A theme that is repeated in the works of Duffy is love. Whether it be “romantic and sexual” or “daughterly and intensely maternal,” Duffy incorporates this theme all throughout her poems, giving them voice and purpose (Scottish Poetry Library). Something that Duffy tends to use in her poems are myths and fairytales that emphasize her imaginative perspective on the world. She uses a combination of many literary techniques and tones such as “tenderness and toughness, humor and lyricism, unconventional attitudes and conventional forms,” (Scottish Poetry Library) which has made her extremely successful. Lastly, another point of Duffy’s poetry worth mentioning is the emotion that she puts into all of her works, immersing her audience into the poem itself and making her such a key poet in today’s society.

(Scottish Poetry Library)

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Something that stands out about Duffy is the way that she doesn’t hesitate to speak out on her beliefs and ideas. For instance, in 1999 when the media came out with the claim that Duffy was being considered for poet laureate but was restricted due to her homosexuality, Duffy did not hesitate to speak on her beliefs and impatience (Britannica). Her openness on her sexuality and expressive nature are things that cause her to stand out from the rest. She also is a feminist who is paving the road for women and poets everywhere. As she is the first woman to be a poet laureate, she spoke out on the power of woman and how we are not to be underestimated or undermined due to presumed gender roles. (Britannica).