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The speaker of the poem, I believe is a teacher and doesn't seem to keen on the poet. The teacher likes the old traditional poems where they rhyme and thinks the poet is a waste of time. In the first stanza you imagine the tone to be patronising and dismissive. This can be seen as the teachers says 'a real live poet with a published book'. There is a hint of sarcasm because the teacher sees the visitor as an unwelcome intrusion and a threat to their own expertise. On the otherhand there could be many other different speakers.

What other speakers could there be?

Reasons why:

Commands/imperatives

Opinion is fact

Controlling

Patronising - Heirachy

Knowledge

The quote 'Notice the inkstained fingers girls' suggests that the speaker is telling them off and its unacceptable for nail varnish to be worn. By this you imagine the speaker to be someone with an authoritive role such as the Head of English. To back this point up the title of the poem is called 'Head of English'.

Reasons why:

  • Mocking
  • Her experience
  • Undertones of revenge

The quote 'A real live poet with a published book' suggests that Carol Ann Duffy who is actually the author of the poem could be a speaker. This is because the word 'live poet' implies that the school have organised for Carol to come in and read her poem to everyone.

How does Duffy

present speakers

in the poem?

Gifted

Intelligence

The Poem

Successful

Teacher

Power

Title Connotations

Leadership

Superiority

Impersonal

Authority

Conclusion

Head of English

In conclusion I think there is only one speaker which is a teacher. The quote ‘sit up straight’ suggests that the teacher is dictating to the class that she is still in charge and to pay attention. This is another sign that the teacher is old fashioned and wants to exert control over the children.

The teacher in the fourth stanza is being dismissive. Their attitude suggests that they do not want to try new aspects of poetry or have their position undermined by the outsider. The teacher does not want to encourage any new and modern ideas. The teacher is undermining the work of the visiting poet by saying ‘convince us that there’s something we don’t know’.

Head of English

Carol Ann Duffy

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