Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- Do you pity Miss Havisham, or do you think she's the cause of her own problems?
- Why do you think Duffy chose to write a poem about a character from a novel who actually gets to speak in that novel, as opposed to a character who doesn't have a voice? If you've read Great Expectations, how does Duffy's Miss Havisham compare to Dickens'?
- Do you need to have read Great Expectations to understand this poem, or does it stand alone on its own merits?
- Why does Miss Havisham use the word "spinster" to describe herself? Is she belittling herself by using such a derogatory term? Or is there a way in which this makes her stronger?
- What is the effect of all of Duffy's enjambments? Why does she break the lines of the poem so seemingly haphazardly?