Marilyn Monroe

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(No Transcript)
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Marilyn Monroe

• Born Norma Jeane Baker in 1926.
• Her mother was admitted to a mental institution
  so she spent her childhood in foster care.
• Married a 21 year old neighbour at the age of 16.
• Became a model, then started to study acting.
• Divorced in 1946.
• Dyed her hair blonde and changed her name to
  Marilyn Monroe (later to be known as the blonde
  bombshell).
• First movie role in 1947.
• Married baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio in 1954,
  but they divorced just nine months later.
• Married playwright Arthur Miller in 1956,
  divorced 1961.
• Romantically linked to JFK and his brother Bobby.
  
• Died August 5th 1962, aged 36.

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Her Death

• Marilyn Monroes death is one of the most debated
  conspiracy theories of the 20th century.
• She was found dead in her bed by her housekeeper.
  
• A coroner ruled that her death was probably
  suicide, caused by acute barbiturate
  poisoning.
• Others including the first police officer on the
  scene, believe she was murdered.

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Celebrity Pressures

• In your groups, discuss what pressures a
  world-famous celebrity, such as Marilyn Monroe
  might face.
• Thinking of specific examples, how do different
  celebrities deal with pressures of their success?

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Celebrity Death

• Name some iconic celebrity figures who have died
  young.
• Why do their deaths make such an impact?

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The Death of Marilyn Munroby Edwin Morgan

• Read over the poem again, before discussing the
  following questions about the poem
• What is the poem about?
• Who is speaking in the poem? To whom?
• What are the main images conveyed in the poem?
• What is the mood of the poem?
• Why do you think Edwin Morgan wrote the poem?
• What do you all think about the poem (you dont
  have to agree!)?

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Make notes under the following headings

• Word choice
• Tone
• Imagery
• Structure
• Content
• Rhythm
• Theme
• Sound
• Ideas

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Word Choice

• Los Angeles repeated emphasises this as main
  factor to blame for her death.
• Lists used to suggest all the potential causes of
  her death.
• Word choice on lines 10-15 features lots of
  negative connotations of her suffering -
  inquisition / torment / death / anguish/
  pain / dissolve / dying.
• nembutal bed metaphor. Drugs aided her sleep.
  
• cantword unusual word choice. Idea of
  communication being insincere / pointless. Poet
  stressing it is important / significant.
• limp grinning sinister impression of the
  character of Uncertainty.

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Tone

• At start very uncertain lots of questions.
• Confused doesnt know who or what to blame for
  the death.
• Tone gets less angry and more sad as poet
  reflects on Monroes loneliness / death (see word
  choice lines 10-15).
• Positive tone comes across in Monroes speech to
  her friend.
• Returns to accusatory tone at the end.
• Quite critical of America.

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Imagery

• Metaphor crumpled orphan child-like / alone
  / neglected / piece of rubbish / ruined /
  destroyed / damaged.
• White hearse Unusual description. Suggests
  innocence / purity / child-like.
• autograph hunters metaphor - suggests she is
  their prey.
• Describes her in her death-bed naked and
  calling for help. Vulnerable / alone.
• nembutal bed metaphor bed of drugs / drugs
  aided her sleep.
• Personification uncertainty compared to a
  sinister or threatening living entity / voyeur
  who offers her drugs / escape. The fact it is
  brought to life emphasises how uncertain /
  confused Monroe was before she died.
• All arms...faded metaphor conveying idea
  that nobody left to comfort / protect her.

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Structure

• Use of questions at beginning and end uncertain
  / no answers.
• Repetition of Los Angeles at start and end of
  poem main factor to blame for her death.
• Lines 5-14 one long sentence all the details of
  her anguish / suffering.
• Line 19 enjambment isolates word America
  the cause of her suffering (pursuit of American
  Dream / celebrity pressures etc.)

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Content

• Her innocence.
• Describes her death.
• Discusses who or what might be to blame for her
  death.
• Speculates about what killed her / why she died.

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Rhythm

• No regular / obvious rhythm in the poem.
• Perhaps form represents content no clear
  resolution / answers to the poets questions.
• Death was irregular.

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Theme

• Responsibility
• Celebrity pressures
• Drugs
• Loneliness
• Death
• Blame
• American Dream
• Suicide
• Fame

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Sound

• Line 12 bewildering barbiturates
  (alliteration). Adds to the description
  suggests the impact the drugs had.
• Line 11 limp grinning assonance used to
  create more sinister impression of uncertainty.
• Line 20 communication is a cantword
  alliteration. Makes reader consider why she
  couldnt communicate / how she tried to and
  failed.

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Ideas

• Pressures of being celebrity.
• Was it suicide or not?
• Suspicion placing the blame.
• Nakedness sexual / vulnerable / accidental.
• Los Angeles / Hollywood superficial.
• Frustration of not knowing the answers.
• Who is responsible for her death?