Diction

 Formal – sophisticated, professional

 Informal – conversational, casual
 Pedantic – highly detailed/descriptive
 Colloquial – realistic; everyday language (improper English e.g. Gonna), abbreviations
 Slang – words demeaning a group or individual, distorted language
 Dialect
 Jargon
 Abstract – words used to express something intangible, emotive
 Concrete – more statistical, evidence supported

Havisham by Carol Ann Duffy

Stanza 1
 Abrupt beginning to create discomfort. Oxymoron ‘beloved sweetheart bastard’
 Shows anger and hatred towards her to-be husband
 Enjambment
 Green pebble eyes – reflection of her bitterness and anger, symbolism for envy/
betrayal. ‘Pebble’ shows that she’s callous.
 Strangle- veins, aging

Stanza 2
 Spinster – the stanza begins with the word ‘Spinster’ which literally connects to the
story of Havisham, creating clarity in the reader’s mind about the purpose of the poem.
 I stink and remember – This shows the situation of Havisham literally and
metaphorically. She has been sitting in a rotting wedding dress; self-loathing.
 The confusion in the second line – ‘Nooo…’ shows her instability of mind
 Yellowing – symbolism for getting old
 ‘Opening wardrobe’ symbolizes facing the future and how she’s scared of facing
humiliation or betrayal again
 Slewed mirror – slewed means tilted, meaning she can’t see the reflection of herself
anymore
 Onomatopoeia – cawing