The Diet Carol Ann Duffy
Dec 16, 2015
The Diet
Carol Ann Duffy
A surreal tale about a woman’s battle with anorexia. The tone is
fantastical and becomes bizarre as she shrinks into a “germ” size.
The surreal fantasy alludes to the deluded state of mind of an anorexic.
The fantastical elements reflect the detachment from reality which
anorexia sufferers endure.
The ending is ambiguous in its meaning, reflecting how anorexia is never really “cured” and can always
return to haunt the sufferer.
“she”
the lack of name reflects how common an issue
dieting and anorexia is for women in modern society.
“she”
“No sugar, salt, dairy, fat, protein starch, alcohol.”
The prefix of “No” reminds the reader of the modern obsession
with fad diets.
“No sugar, salt, dairy, fat, protein starch, alcohol.”
The prefix of “No” reminds the reader of the modern obsession
with fad diets.
“No sugar, salt, dairy, fat, protein starch, alcohol.”
Also the long list of what is excluded from the diet
emphasises to the reader how diets often exclude important
nutritious food groups.
“she starved on, stayed in, stared in”
sibilance
makes the reader salivate reminding them of the hunger she must feel
“she starved on, stayed in, stared in”
and simultaneously hinting at her own
desire and enjoyment of the starvation.
sibilance
The language of the second stanza then becomes fairly
shocking as the imagery hints at death and suffering:
The language of the second stanza then becomes fairly
shocking as the imagery hints at death and suffering:
“Her skeleton preened under its tight flesh dress”.
The language of the second stanza then becomes fairly
shocking as the imagery hints at death and suffering:
“Her skeleton preened under its tight flesh dress”.
metaphor
The language of the second stanza then becomes fairly
shocking as the imagery hints at death and suffering:
“Her skeleton preened under its tight flesh dress”.
This reminds the reader of the horror
that is anorexia.
metaphor
The horror is reinforced by
“She was anorexia’s true daughter”
The horror is reinforced by
“She was anorexia’s true daughter”
Personification
The horror is reinforced by
“She was anorexia’s true daughter”
reflects the hold it has on people, it also hints at how Anorexia victims obsess with weight and begin to only find comfort in
their deepening condition.
Personification
Surreal turn
Surreal turn
“seed small” “a germ”
Surreal turn
“seed small”
absurd
“a germ”
Surreal turn
“seed small”
The ludicrous description of the shrinking emphasises the ludicrously horrific nature
of the condition.
absurd
“a germ”
The final line
The final line
“inside the fat woman now, trying to get out”
The final line
“inside the fat woman now, trying to get out”
ambiguous and unclear
The final line
“inside the fat woman now, trying to get out”
But it reminds the reader of the clichéd saying “I’m a thin person trapped in fat
person’s body”, while alluding to the fact that anorexia is rarely beaten and always
lives on in the minds of its victims.
ambiguous and unclear
The final line
“inside the fat woman now, trying to get out”
But it reminds the reader of the clichéd saying “I’m a thin person trapped in fat
person’s body”, while alluding to the fact that anorexia is rarely beaten and always
lives on in the minds of its victims.
ambiguous and unclear
The poem’s structure is interesting as each stanza
finishes with a short line, this is then followed with the first line of the next stanza indenting to where the previous has ended. This structure visually suggests a
continuation from stanza to stanza, reflecting her continued
starvation and as the poem allows no space to pause, so her
starvation is continuous.
The poem is written in free verse, avoiding any rhyme or
rhythm. The lack of conformity reflects the main character’s rejection of reality to follow
her obsession with dieting and losing weight.