Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mrs Schofield's Gcse" by Carol Ann Duffy is a satirical and pointed poem that critiques the rigid and formulaic nature of educational systems that often reduce literature to a series of exam questions. The poem is structured as a mock examination paper that focuses on Shakespeare's works, and it cleverly uses literary references to question the pedagogical approach to teaching literature in schools.

The poem begins with a reference to "The Merchant of Venice," where Portia asks Antonio to prepare for Shylock’s knife, which is ironically turned into an examination question about the genre of the play. The line "You must prepare your bosom for his knife," sets a dramatic tone, juxtaposing the gravity of Shakespeare’s themes with the triviality of trying to categorize his complex works into simple academic questions.

Duffy proceeds to weave through a series of questions that reference various Shakespearean plays, including "Othello," where Othello kills his wife out of jealousy; "Macbeth," known for the line "Something wicked this way comes"; and "Julius Caesar," from which the famous "Et tu, Brute?" line is derived. These references are not just mere citations but are used to showcase how deep and violent emotions, betrayals, and tragedies are reduced to quiz questions.

The question "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark – do you know what this means?" from "Hamlet," underscores the absurdity of expecting students to distill complex themes and motifs into concise, exam-friendly answers. Duffy is critiquing the educational system’s failure to engage students with the rich ambiguities and emotional depths of literature, instead of focusing on memorization and regurgitation of "correct" answers.

Duffy then shifts from Shakespeare to a broader question about poetry, asking the students to "Explain how poetry pursues the human like the smitten moon above the weeping, laughing earth; how we make prayers of it." This line is particularly poignant as it contrasts the beauty and profundity of poetry with the sterile environment of an examination room. It highlights the idea that poetry, and literature more broadly, is about human experience, emotion, and existential reflection, aspects that are difficult to capture in the format of a standardized test.

The final reference to King Lear's "Nothing will come of nothing: speak again," serves as a critique of the silence and passivity encouraged by rote learning. It suggests that by not engaging critically and emotionally with literature, nothing of substance will be gained.

Overall, "Mrs Schofield's Gcse" is a powerful critique of the educational system’s approach to teaching literature, particularly how it can strip the life and meaning from works of profound emotional and intellectual depth. Carol Ann Duffy uses the poem to advocate for a more thoughtful, nuanced, and engaging approach to education that appreciates and explores the complexities of literary texts rather than reducing them to exam answers.

POEM TEXT: https://poetryfeedhe.wordpress.com/2016/12/21/mrs-schofields-gcse/

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