Comparison of Duffy’s ‘Lizzie, Six’ and ‘Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer’ In this essay I will be comparing two poems by Carol Ann Duffy; ‘Lizzie, Six’ and ‘Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer’, both of which explore similar themes of sexuality, yet they portray this in a very different manner. As mentioned, ‘Lizzie, Six’ and ‘Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer’ both portray a sexual persona. However, there is a huge difference between the natures of these relationships. Already from the title ‘Lizzie, Six’, we get the impression that this poem is presenting an underage girl. This, as well as the simplistic, childlike replies in the second line of each stanza, particularly ‘to play in the fields’ shows the innocence of the girl, and how she longs to be a child instead of being under the power of the other authoritive figure in the poem. Lizzie is shown to be overpowered by her abuser, who interrogates, instructs and threatens Lizzie with constant ‘What’, ‘Where’ and ‘Why?’ In contrast, ‘Oppenheim’s Cup and Saucer’ portrays a much freer and relaxed tone with much more relaxed structure and care free language. Alliteration such as ‘loud laughter’ and ‘far from’ highlights this natural, flowing Duffy is trying to convey, using the way it rolls of the tongue to emphasise how the relationship is natural to the narrator of the poem, how it comes easily to them. The alliteration and sibilance shown in ‘secret life stirred’ also shows attention to detail which highlights the intimacy and romance of the relationship. In ‘Lizzie, Six’ there is very definite structure to the stanzas. It is comprised of five quatrains, a very simple, basic structure to emphasise the simple mind set of Lizzie due to her age. It also makes the poem resemble a twisted children’s poem due to the friendly lay out and sinister content. In each stanza, there is a noticeable pattern, with one line belonging to