A2 English – Poetry Carol Ann Duffy Away and See

Away and See An eponymous title, as the phrase “away & see” appears several times in the text. The title is the quotation of a phrase often used in Duffy’s childhood. The equivalent of “Off you go..” Five stanzas of four lines each but not really quatrains as they don’t scan particularly well.

Away and See Occasional mid-line caesura and several instances of enjambment across lines but never across stanzas. Each stanza consists of three long lines of about twelve syllables and a final, shorter one of four syllables.

Away and See The poem addresses the reader directly, not as an anonymous reader, but as a specific person. This poem is written to someone. The writer is not there with the addressee and is asking “you” to experience things on his/her behalf.

Away and See First line indicates sound “suck” and almost leads the reader to think of sweets but instead writes “sun”. Suggestive of holidays or, possibly, a “dirty weekend” or even a honeymoon. Line two suggests sexual intimacy on the part of “you” and repressed sexual attitudes on the part of the writer.

Away and See Suggests that “you’s” reality is more daring than the writer’s would be. Is the undressing as a result of the heat – boiled sun – or the intimate situation? The stanza ends with an injunction to keep in touch. The writer and “you” are close.

Away and See Stanza two has all three longer lines full of fragments of experiencing something new. The fruits aren’t new, they’re unfamiliar. They don’t sing but their vibrant colours are “loud”. The flipside is a 1950’s/60’s reference to the other side of a record so it’s the other side of night, not the sleep side.

Away and See Could it also suggest the other side of the world – or at least a great distance? The image of a market of language, where the noise and bustle of a market are mixed with the chatter in an unfamiliar tongue to suggest something doubly foreign.

Away and See The tune from a chapel nearby – a hymn? Organ music? Why is it “stopping you dead”? Either because it is familiar or because it is unfamiliar. The shock of recollection? Respiring = breathing. Figurative term. Perhaps it feels warm and alive in her hand.

Away and See Ends with another instruction – “Taste it for me.” On my behalf? All the stanzas end with an instruction.

Away and See Third stanza repeats the start of the poem with the instruction to go and try something new, moved away from the holiday?. This time it is all the things “you” has heard of but never before seen in reality. Before, “you” has only known the words. Now she is told to experience them for herself.

Away and See This stanza plays with words. The writer is showing off the tools of her trade – playing with words about words. She says words are living things. Encourages “you” to play with them too, try them out. It suggests that the writer loves words and wants this person – a daughter? – to enjoy them too.

Away and See “Skedaddle” is colloquial but just another way of saying “Away and see..” This stanza has moved further away from the holiday, looking at the future. The knock on the door reminds us of “first footing” at New Year. “You” is encouraged to be brave and welcome the unknown.

Away and See This reads like a mother pushing a slightly reluctant child to be unafraid of the unknown, the future. “Ask him his name” means the stranger will no longer BE a stranger. Ends tha stanza on another instruction. This is part of the structure of the poem.

Away and See The fifth and final stanza reminds “you” that her experience will not be the same as the writer’s. (The mother’s?) A further reference to the title, followed by mid-line caesura, repeated to great effect. A romantic idea of taking a boat and “sailing off into the sunset..”

Away and See The overall tone is of someone being encouraged to fly the nest. It is an optimistic poem, looking to an adventurous future.