Feminine Gospels Test Questions
with Correct Answers
Work context - Answer-Personification of the world and the increasing pressure it takes
on as a result of unsustainable expansion and development - current level and pace of
development is dangerous and destructive. Current concerns about climate change and
the volume of plastic in the ocean
Work historian study - Answer-Typical postmodern view- future, critiquing our past
errors, breaking stereotypes
Marxist perspective- working class have been overworked
Traditional view- dickens. Deals with isolation, futuristic ideals
Tall Summary - Answer-In this transformation poem about a woman who doesn't stop
growing, there is a theme of embodiment. It can be argued that this poem could be
metaphorical for Duffy's rise to fame and success and more people heard about her.
Therefore, it is symbolising a psychological change through a physical change
Tall themes: - Answer-Social mobility, gender, stereotypes, rebirth, danger, religion,
society, universe, suffering
Tall structure - Answer-Lines are never connected- never ending cycle of suffering.
Short stanza- contrasts her height; can't change yourself
Caesura- disconnect with herself; disrupts rhythm; pain
Tall context - Answer-Twin towers- terrorist attack in 2001
Women are traditionally shorter than men
Tall historian Trudy - Answer-Typical of postmodernism- aware of societal pressures,
abstract ideas, conflict with identity.
Conceit of a woman's height as a representation of status
Subverts the traditional ideals of the moon in favour if damage, pain and regret
Loud summary - Answer-'Loud' highlights the idea that through history women are
supposed to have been quiet and submissive but one say the news is too much sand
she speaks out in anger, however when she realises that she a voice and opinions to
express about everything
Loud themes - Answer-Media, society, violence, war, death, religion, compliance
Loud structure - Answer-Opening- news clipping; poem seems real; war is ever present
, Regular structure- regular suffering, the news is always there
Cyclical- news begins and end the poem
Sound- gets softer; realistic, dying
Loud context - Answer-Women's voices have been suppressed throughout history
Loud historian study - Answer-Postmodernism- identity, culture, black humour
Marxist perspective- there is an emotional disconnect between people in the news and
those who watch it
Feminist perspective- she's no longer naive, female emancipation from a patriarchal
society
History summary - Answer-'History' demonstrated the hubris of humanity through the
story of an elderly woman who personifies every historical event. However, she is all
alone and has been rejected by society. It can be argued that 'history' is a poem based
on the saying 'if you forget the past you're doomed to repeater it'
History Themes - Answer-Identity, passivity, lack of power, history, gender, religion,
war, society
The Long Queen - Answer-Poem about an immortal queen who 'couldn't die'. She is a
queen of women and creates four laws that could be argued are the most important
pasty's of a woman's life and showing the importance of females
Long Queen themes - Answer-Identity, motherhood, resistance, social expectations,
insecurity, legacy
Long Queen structure - Answer-Short sentence, list, long sentence- expansive tone,
expand out thinking
Final line of each stanza- inclusive comment, everyone belongs to the queen
Cycle- 'laws' follow the journey of life
Long Queen context - Answer-Queen Elizabeth 1- virgin queen- didn't marry or have
children, 'married her country'. Marriage was expected of women in 16th century.
Unwritten law of femininity
Long Queen historian study - Answer-Duffy subverts the typical renaissance idealisation
of Queen Elizabeth 1 and women by allowing women to break free of patriarchal ties
and celebrate the female cycle of life without undermining men.
Postmodernism- typical- feminist, atypical- not dark, isolation or broken
The Map-Woman - summary - Answer-Mythological poem uses the conceit of a map for
the womans skin, which haunts her wherever she goes. Howver, when she arrives
home everything has changed, leaving 'her skin [as] her own small ghost'
