Meaning & Message
What global issue is central to “Money Talks”?
Consumerism / dehumanization by capitalism.
What is the significance of Duffy writing in free verse (no rhyme scheme)?
Reflects the chaotic, unregulated flow of capitalism; no moral order or structure.
In “My cold, gold eye does not blink” what two devices can you find?
Personification + visual imagery
How does the tone shift from start to end?
From playful and seductive to sinister and destructive.
Find a line that shows arrogance or pride
“I buy and sell the world.”
Explain the significance of “I cut Time dead with my sleek facelift.”
Money manipulates time/aging; illusion of eternal youth.
What form does Duffy use for the poem?
Dramatic monologue – money is speaker.
Identify one sound device in “my million tills sing through the night, my shining mad machines.”
Alliteration (million/machines)
What does the line “I got Midas touch” suggest about the speaker?
Alludes to King Midas, symbolizing greed and corruption.
Find a line that mocks religion.
“See me pass through the eye of a needle!”
Why does Duffy give money a seductive voice (“Do you fancy me, lady?
To show how greed and consumerism lure people through temptation, mirroring the language of romance or sin.
How does enjambment reflect meaning in lines 3–5?
Continuous flow = nonstop transactions, relentless capitalism.
“See me pass through the eye of a needle! Whoopee.” What is being used here?
Biblical Allusion + Irony – mocks spiritual humility by placing wealth as the one “passing through.”
Explain the paradox of “Don’t give me away; after all, no one can eat me.”
Exposes money’s uselessness — it controls life yet can’t sustain it.
Find a line that reveals money’s seductive nature.
“Do you fancy me, lady? Really?”
How does the poem portray the link between money and violence or war?
The final image “I am the big bombs” suggests money funds destruction—war becomes profitable.
Identify and explain a lexical field present in the poem.
Wealth/commerce: gold, tills, dollar, cash – reinforces consumerism theme.
Why is there no clear rhyme scheme or regular rhythm?
Free verse mirrors the unregulated, chaotic flow of capitalism.
Which line reveals money’s link to suffering or exploitation?
“I am the authentic language of suffering.”
Find a line that connects money to violence.
“I am the big bombs, sighing in their thick lead sheaths.”
If money is the ‘authentic language of suffering,’ who is silenced?
The poor, the exploited
What’s the effect of merging religious and economic language
Money replaces religion; critiques society’s worship of wealth.
The party is one long gold-toothed scream.” Identify the technique and effect.
Metaphor + Imagery – wealth is grotesque; luxury becomes monstrous noise.
Find a line that connects money to vanity or image.
Sleek facelift.” → Cosmetic metaphor; obsession with appearance mirrors capitalist superficiality.
Find a line that exposes money’s corruption or decay.
“Under your fingernails I smile up with my black grin.”