MOVEMENT
"Beloved sweetheart bastard."
"Beloved sweetheart bastard" is a caesura, a punctuation in the middle of a line of verse. Duffy did this in order to separate and create a pause between this line and the next line. This technique allows the shocking and intense statement to hang in the air before the poem continues: "Not a day...".
"Beloved sweetheart bastard" is a caesura, a punctuation in the middle of a line of verse. Duffy did this in order to separate and create a pause between this line and the next line. This technique allows the shocking and intense statement to hang in the air before the poem continues: "Not a day...".
"Spinster."
Duffy places the word "spinster" as its own verse of the poem, a caesura, to demonstrate that being a spinster was a big deal to Havisham and the people of the era of the 1800's.
Duffy places the word "spinster" as its own verse of the poem, a caesura, to demonstrate that being a spinster was a big deal to Havisham and the people of the era of the 1800's.
"Bang."
The onomatopoeia is clearly distinguished with a full stop. This is called a caesura, which strengthens the power of the onomatopoeia more so than if it had been separated with the next verse with a comma.
The onomatopoeia is clearly distinguished with a full stop. This is called a caesura, which strengthens the power of the onomatopoeia more so than if it had been separated with the next verse with a comma.
Enjambment
Duffy includes a lot of enjambments throughout the whole poem, especially across stanzas such as from lines 8 to 9 and lines 12 to 13. This uncommon feature of enjambments further disorients readers and gives the impression of the unorganized and insane manner of the poetic voice of the poem.
Duffy includes a lot of enjambments throughout the whole poem, especially across stanzas such as from lines 8 to 9 and lines 12 to 13. This uncommon feature of enjambments further disorients readers and gives the impression of the unorganized and insane manner of the poetic voice of the poem.
Meter
There is no clear meter that lasts throughout the whole poem. In fact, there are more half-rhymes in this poem than actual masculine or feminine rhymes, such as "dress" and "this". The lack of any rhymes in this poem further reinforces the insane nature of the poem that reflects Havisham's personality.
There is no clear meter that lasts throughout the whole poem. In fact, there are more half-rhymes in this poem than actual masculine or feminine rhymes, such as "dress" and "this". The lack of any rhymes in this poem further reinforces the insane nature of the poem that reflects Havisham's personality.
Pace
The whole poem is in fragments, composed of long and short sentences like "Spinster" and "Bang". This fragmentation causes tension within the readers and makes them feel uncomfortable. The unorganized manner of the pace makes the poem symbolize the tortured soul of Havisham and seem like a real dramatic monologue that Havisham is sharing with the audience.
The whole poem is in fragments, composed of long and short sentences like "Spinster" and "Bang". This fragmentation causes tension within the readers and makes them feel uncomfortable. The unorganized manner of the pace makes the poem symbolize the tortured soul of Havisham and seem like a real dramatic monologue that Havisham is sharing with the audience.