1. CW Delilah Sunday, 28 April 2019
Learning Outcomes
To understand the biblical context of “Delilah”
To be able to evaluate and analyse Duffy’s use of language, structure and form

2. Female Betrayal
Can you think of examples of female betrayal in history, fiction or modern culture?
What is meant by the term ‘New man’?

3. What do you know about the story?
Samson and Delilah
What do you know about the story?

4. Samson and Delilah

5. Context in a Nutshell
The Philistines asked Delilah to find out the secret of his strength and pay her
She cut off his hair and he lost his strength

6. Feminism and Delilah
Delilah has become a misogynistic symbol – the treacherous woman / femme fatale
She uses her sexuality to trick the man and causes his undoing

7. Read the Poem How does Duffy twist the original story? Q
Questions to consider:
Does Samson really want to change?
Does Delilah really want to help Samson or is she trying to help herself?
Reading One
Reading Two
The poem is concerned with the politics of sex and gender.
This is a love poem exploring the nature of Samson's wish to become 'gentle', 'loving' and 'tender'.

8. Plenary...
How can we read Samson as a ‘new man’, being helped by Delilah in a reversal of her ’femme fatale’ role?
But, do we think this is serious? Is Samson’s desire to change just ‘pillow talk’, and he has no real desire to change?