Shooting Stars by Carol Ann Duffy
“Shooting Stars” Critical Essay
In this critical essay I will be writing on account of “shooting Stars” by Carol Ann Duffy. Duffy successfully reveals the true horrors of the Second World War using a wide variety of poetic techniques, of which in this task I will evaluate and finally conclude with my own opinion.
Throughout the dramatic monologue Duffy encourages sympathy towards the female persona by using a range of imagery, structure and word choice. The persona appears to be a woman who has been taken hostage, “ they break our fingers” We get the implication that she is a prisoner of war due to the act of violence. Committed by “they” being the guards, displayed as cruel and inhuman given the fact they are unnamed throughout, giving a sense of little respect. The act of breaking fingers. The very thought of deliberately breaking someone’s fingers disgusts the reader, therefore triggers sympathy. We then wonder why this act was committed, “to salvage my wedding ring,” then follows. This illustrates the situation that the guards must think the only worth left in her was her wedding ring. To “salvage”, showing they save the ring, not the life. The idea of the wedding ring and the word “break” has a connection. The thought behind the wedding ring is supposed to be never- ending therefore it is represented by a ring. The guards have not only taken a ring, but have made a “break” in an everlasting marriage and “salvaged” it away from the persona taking her life with it.
The atrocities of the Nazi campaign are shown through word choice and sentence structure. It displays the main theme of the poem, remembrance.
“I say remember. Remember these appalling days which make the world forever bad.”
The first line is effective using just three words to emphasize the word choice; in particular it clearly shows that at this point the persona is alive. The word “Remember,” is also highlighted being used again straight after one another using repetition. The word
In this critical essay I will be writing on account of “shooting Stars” by Carol Ann Duffy. Duffy successfully reveals the true horrors of the Second World War using a wide variety of poetic techniques, of which in this task I will evaluate and finally conclude with my own opinion.
Throughout the dramatic monologue Duffy encourages sympathy towards the female persona by using a range of imagery, structure and word choice. The persona appears to be a woman who has been taken hostage, “ they break our fingers” We get the implication that she is a prisoner of war due to the act of violence. Committed by “they” being the guards, displayed as cruel and inhuman given the fact they are unnamed throughout, giving a sense of little respect. The act of breaking fingers. The very thought of deliberately breaking someone’s fingers disgusts the reader, therefore triggers sympathy. We then wonder why this act was committed, “to salvage my wedding ring,” then follows. This illustrates the situation that the guards must think the only worth left in her was her wedding ring. To “salvage”, showing they save the ring, not the life. The idea of the wedding ring and the word “break” has a connection. The thought behind the wedding ring is supposed to be never- ending therefore it is represented by a ring. The guards have not only taken a ring, but have made a “break” in an everlasting marriage and “salvaged” it away from the persona taking her life with it.
The atrocities of the Nazi campaign are shown through word choice and sentence structure. It displays the main theme of the poem, remembrance.
“I say remember. Remember these appalling days which make the world forever bad.”
The first line is effective using just three words to emphasize the word choice; in particular it clearly shows that at this point the persona is alive. The word “Remember,” is also highlighted being used again straight after one another using repetition. The word