https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov Carol Ann Duffy en-us 2019-01-28 15:37:21 UTC 2023-04-19 12:27:33 UTC hello@padlet.com nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324979398 Sisyphus, in Greek mythology, the cunning king of Corinth who was punished in Hades by having repeatedly to roll a huge stone up a hill only to have it roll down again as soon as he had brought it to the summit. This fate is related in Homer’s Odyssey, Book XI.]]> 2019-01-28 15:38:41 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324979398 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324979811 Maculine Rhyme]]> 2019-01-28 15:39:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324979811 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980162 comic rhymes and half-rhymes]]> 2019-01-28 15:39:46 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980162 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980431 The rhyming words are all expressions of irritation and anger.  ]]> 2019-01-28 15:40:11 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980431 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980780 With the use of two consecutive similes comparing him to a hawk and shark ]]> 2019-01-28 15:40:39 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980780 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980971 The use of 'alone' and 'dark' help portray ]]> 2019-01-28 15:40:57 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324980971 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981131 The analogy to Noah and his wife helps the reader ]]> 2019-01-28 15:41:12 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981131 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981355 .  The length of the first and the last lines are about the same, whereas the length of each line decreases as it reaches line 16 and starts to increase again.  This is similar to ]]> 2019-01-28 15:41:32 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981355 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981505 The last stanza begins with a ‘volta’.  A volta signals a turn ]]> 2019-01-28 15:41:46 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981505 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981720 The poem is anachronistic because, although the characters are taken from ancient Greek mythology, ]]> 2019-01-28 15:42:06 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324981720 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324982373 The form of the poem is]]> 2019-01-28 15:43:05 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324982373 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324982550 How does the poem fit into the collection as a whole?]]> 2019-01-28 15:43:21 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324982550 nicola_leedham https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324983214 Look here...]]> 2019-01-28 15:44:27 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/324983214 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325080156 Masculine rhyme: Duffy uses masculine rhyme throughout because she ends the lines with harsh sounds -J]]> 2019-01-28 18:27:06 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325080156 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325083356 The poem is anachronistic because, although the characters are taken from ancient Greek mythology, Duffy uses it as a way to talk about modern stereotypes and ideals about work. She uses colloquial UK language and tone to give a comedic effect and to make it appeal to a modern audience e.g. "feckin", "bollocks" -J]]> 2019-01-28 18:32:39 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325083356 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325085060 The Rhyming Words are all expressions of irritation and anger:
The constant use of cacophonic words force the reader to 'spit' out the words in the same irritative and aggressive manner as Mrs Sisyphus (our narrator). The word choice in the poem including the title, directly alludes to the negativity that trails throughout the poems entirety. Even the title 'Mrs Sisyphus', lacks euphony, and indirectly has the connotation of a "hissy-fit", an expression of irritation and anger stereotypically had by women. 

The constant repetition of short, masculine, harsh 'K' sounding words make the poem uncomfortable to read, and fill the poem with not-so-subtle tones of irritation and anger, and this is highlighted to the reader to demonstrate the females perspective of her husbands "redundant" work, which causes her irritation and anger. The rhyming words tie each line together within each stanza, and connect the poem as a whole through the negative emotions.]]> 2019-01-28 18:35:39 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325085060 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325086370 A volta signals a turn in the thought, argument or tone of a poem and is found at the end of the poem.

The composition of two quatrains in the final stanza gives a feeling that it is full/complete however the volta of the poem gives a sense of futility and provides no solution. This technique is also seen in Anne Hathaway, with both Shakespeare and Sisyphus being more involved in their work than their wives. This is ironic as the whole issue presented in the poem is that Sisyphus is giving more attention to his work that his wife, making her feel incomplete. 

The volta of the poem articulates the wife's predicament by emphasizing the amount of time Sisyphus spends on his work with a sarcastic tone. This could possibly be Duffy exploring the facet of self-absorbed male egocentricity in regards to Sisyphean tasks and work in general. With the volta, Mrs. Sisyphus mocks her husband’s foolishness but, unable to deter him from the pointless task, reflecting the futility of her circumstance and providing no solution. ]]> 2019-01-28 18:37:53 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325086370 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325094812 How does the poem fit into the collection as a whole?
The poem fits into the collection due to the general thematic elements of showcasing the women behind men of myth and of fame, this one no exception. It puts itself as a piece in the collection because of the unique female perspective in regards to the male figures in her life, satirical. Mrs. Sisyphus is one of many poems dedicated to or referencing Greek mythology, also associating itself with other poems due to the observations of the stupidity and absurdity of men.

With the use of two consecutive similes comparing him to a hawk and shark-
- Sisyphus' words are given to his wife, and he compares himself to animals in his work. However, his use of 'keen' seems ironic, as Sisyphus as a whole seems unobservant in comparison to his wife, who seems to have a better understanding of the ordeal. Both of the animals are also predators, and seem to encompass opposing environments, showcasing Sisyphus' perception of himself as a predator over all environments, though in reality, he is stupid and doing useless work. ]]> 2019-01-28 18:52:10 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325094812 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325807633 The use of 'alone' and 'dark' help portray how the woman feels abandoned and isolated. She feels as though he doesn't pay her enough attention and to her the task is really mundane and useless and by him doing it constantly/ on a loop it is ruining their relationship. "I lie alone in the dark,"  Her husband is consistently working and so all his time and attention is focussed on that rather than her, and so she is bitter. Other words that appear that are directly connected to these words and the bitter tune of it are 'reduced' and 'twisted.'  The pain she feels from the absence of her husband is leading her to a bitterness. ]]> 2019-01-30 12:56:36 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325807633 https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325811032 The analogy to Noah and his wife helps the reader envisage the concept of family. It also ties into the concept that as the ark was such a big job Noah put all his time and effort into it and so his (Noah's) wife must have felt excluded and ignored and this led to her despair. A point to note is also a comparison of the types of jobs both of them do. Sisyphus' job is very boring and some what meaningless whereas Noah's job was major and saved the future of natural fauna and the human race.  She also references Bach. The wives of these Noah, Bach and Sisyphus would have been excluded and 'put on the back burner' as their husband's passion/projects/work were never done. Another point to note is the presence of expected gender norms. The men are very work-focussed and have a goal and are going to complete that goal no matter what, but the women multitask. ]]> 2019-01-30 13:08:00 UTC https://padlet.com/nicola_leedham/jthgvp80veov/wish/325811032