Stealing, Carol Ann Duffy

The poem uses the first person and is written as a dramatic monologue, a well-organized narrative with the speaker’s comments.

The poet explores the psychology of an anti-social character. He attempts to explain himself but reveals how far removed he is from the “normal” reader. We can sympathise with his viewpoint, but he remains an unpleasant character. The poem contrasts those who make things and those who only destroy them. The thief wants to do things to escape boredom but hasn’t the willpower and self-discipline to do them (like learning the guitar).

Key images – the snowman – children built it, but the thief cannot make it look the same, so he destroys it; the bust of Shakespeare – contrast the creative and social with the destructive and anti-social.

Ambiguity – last line of the poem

Persona created and we hear the voice of a fictional character

What sort of person is it?

Does this poem read like a confessional? They are trying to explain their actions. What drives/motivates the speaker? What does the speaker think of himself/herself? What gender do you think the persona is? Explain your idea.

“The slice of ice/within my own brain” suggests that the brain is cold. What other evidence is there in the poem which reveals how the speaker feels/thinks? He speaks of the snowman almost with affection, but he cares more for this than the children who have made it. The thief is morally confused – he sees “not taking what you want” as “giving in” as if you might as well be dead as accept conventional morality. He alienates us because he says that he enjoyed taking the snowman because he knew that it would upset the children. “Life’s tough” to justify this.

How does the first line suggest that this is part of a conversation?

The thief begins as if repeating a question someone has asked him, to