1. HAVISHAM.

2. The speaker in the poem is the character of Miss Havisham She is deserted on her wedding day by her fiance. Devastated and never recovers. She continues to wear her decaying wedding dress, adopts a daughter and brings her up teaching her to hate all men. The poem is a monologue. She is speaking to herself

3. 1. What things do you associate with the colours green and red? 2. The colour puce is a dark brown/red. What does this remind you of? 3. Why do you think she says that her wedding dress is “yellowing”? (Remember she’s been wearing it for years!) 4. How effective is the image “dark green pebbles for eyes”?

4. 1. Green = jealousy, mould, sickness, nature Red = blood, love, hearts, danger, anger 2. Puce = dirt, blood 3. It hasn’t been washed, is decaying, is old 4. Her eyes are being compared to green pebbles. This is effective because pebbles are hard and cold. This suggests she is harsh, cold and is a dark person.

5. Beloved sweetheart bastard = oxymoron. Two contrasting things side-by-side. Shows her contradictory feelings. Emphasis on the last word – shows how much she hates him Prayed for it = usually pray for something goof. Dark = dark, evil thoughts. Ropes on the backs of my hands - her veins. Shows her age and shows how much she wants to kill him.

6. Spinster = word by itself for emphasis. Reminds us that she has never married. Cawing = word we associate with crows. Makes us think of death. Noooooo = shows how distressed she is Trembling = she is frightened of seeing herself and what she’s become. Her, myself, who did this to me? = doesn’t recognise herself. It has changed her.

7. Some nights better, the lost body over me = dreaming about him/still loves him. Sexual fantasy. Body = makes us think of death. I suddenly bite awake = when she wakes up the hatred returns.

8. Love’s hate = oxymoron. Shows her mixed feelings. Love’s hate behind a white veil – trying to hide her feelings and can’t let go. Red balloon bursting in my face – shows how suddenly her heart was broken/her happiness destroyed. Bang – monosyllabic word emphasises suddenness. Stabbed at a wedding cake – shows anger Corpse – thinks of him as dead b-b-b-breaks – shows her mind is broken, as well as her heart.

9. THEMES Relationships – the thin line between love and hate. How one event can change a life. How some people never recover from personal trauma.

10. TONE Bitter Angry Devastated