Carol Ann Duffy masterfully explores the painful emotions of failure... Show more
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morana
01/12/2025
English Language
Compare and contrast how failure and regret is presented in ‘The Biographer’ and ‘Mean Time’
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•
1 Dec 2025
•
Exploring Failure and Regret in ‘The Biographer’ vs. ‘Mean Time’
morana
@nerdytechgoddess00
1 / 3
Failure and Regret in 'The Biographer'
Ever wondered what it feels like to be completely obsessed with someone you'll never measure up to? That's exactly what Duffy captures in 'The Biographer', where a researcher studying a famous writer becomes consumed by his own inadequacy.
The biographer starts off focused on his subject but quickly spirals into bitter self-comparison. Duffy uses free verse structure to mirror his mental chaos - he literally can't pull his thoughts together coherently. This fragmented style perfectly reflects his psychological state as he struggles to connect with someone who's no longer there.
Personal pronouns like "you," "I," and "your" dominate the poem, creating an intensely intimate conversation with the absent subject. Lines like "I slept alone in your bed" and "I felt your dislike" show how desperately he's trying to piece together fragments of this person's life. The obsessive behaviour reveals his deep isolation and emotional attachment.
The speaker's guilt and rage suggest he believes he's somehow failed his subject, as if they're judging him from beyond. This creates a haunting sense of regret that permeates every line.
Key insight: The use of direct address makes readers feel like they're eavesdropping on something deeply private, which amplifies the emotional impact.
Regret and Loss in 'Mean Time'
What happens when you lose someone and realise all the things you wish you'd said differently? 'Mean Time' captures that exact moment of devastating regret through the simple act of clocks changing.
Duffy uses the clock change as a powerful metaphor - "The clocks slid back an hour and stole the light from my life" - where stolen light represents lost happiness. The word "slid" suggests she had no control over events, whilst "stole" implies the relationship ended against her will, leaving her feeling violated and powerless.
The lexical patterns throughout create a bleak atmosphere: "Unmendable rain fell to the bleak streets." Rain symbolises both grief and tears, whilst negative adjectives pile up to show her emotional state. The line "I felt my heart gnaw at all our mistakes" uses visceral imagery - her heart literally eating away at her insides.
Regret dominates through hindsight: "There are words I would never have said nor heard you say." She's tormented by the conversation that went wrong, constantly replaying what could have been different. The phrase "mourning our love" links the end of the relationship directly to death.
Duffy cleverly juxtaposes romantic ideals with harsh reality - "walked through the wrong part of town, mourning our love" - challenging readers' media-influenced expectations about relationships.
Remember: The personification in "gnaw" shows how regret becomes a living thing that consumes us from within.
Comparing the Two Approaches
Both poems tackle failure and regret, but they hit you in completely different ways. Understanding these differences will help you analyse Duffy's range as a poet.
'The Biographer' focuses more heavily on failure - the speaker's professional and personal inadequacy compared to his subject. His obsession stems from feeling he'll never achieve the same level of success or recognition. The isolation theme runs deeper here because he's literally alone with a dead person's belongings.
'Mean Time' centres on regret about lost love - specifically the words spoken and unspoken that destroyed a relationship. The regret is more immediate and visceral, tied to specific moments and conversations that can't be undone.
Structurally, they mirror their emotional content: 'The Biographer' uses chaotic free verse to reflect mental fragmentation, whilst 'Mean Time' has a more controlled structure that builds intensity. Both use depressive imagery and dark connotations but 'Mean Time' includes more sensory details like rain and cold.
The key difference lies in agency - the biographer chooses his obsession, whilst the 'Mean Time' speaker has loss thrust upon her. This makes the regret feel different: one is self-inflicted torment, the other is grief beyond her control.
Exam tip: Focus on how Duffy uses different poetic techniques to create distinct types of emotional pain - this contrast is perfect for comparison essays.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Exploring Failure and Regret in ‘The Biographer’ vs. ‘Mean Time’
morana
@nerdytechgoddess00
Carol Ann Duffy masterfully explores the painful emotions of failure and regret in two of her most compelling poems. Both 'The Biographer' and 'Mean Time' dive deep into human disappointment, but each takes a different approach to showing how these... Show more
Failure and Regret in 'The Biographer'
Ever wondered what it feels like to be completely obsessed with someone you'll never measure up to? That's exactly what Duffy captures in 'The Biographer', where a researcher studying a famous writer becomes consumed by his own inadequacy.
The biographer starts off focused on his subject but quickly spirals into bitter self-comparison. Duffy uses free verse structure to mirror his mental chaos - he literally can't pull his thoughts together coherently. This fragmented style perfectly reflects his psychological state as he struggles to connect with someone who's no longer there.
Personal pronouns like "you," "I," and "your" dominate the poem, creating an intensely intimate conversation with the absent subject. Lines like "I slept alone in your bed" and "I felt your dislike" show how desperately he's trying to piece together fragments of this person's life. The obsessive behaviour reveals his deep isolation and emotional attachment.
The speaker's guilt and rage suggest he believes he's somehow failed his subject, as if they're judging him from beyond. This creates a haunting sense of regret that permeates every line.
Key insight: The use of direct address makes readers feel like they're eavesdropping on something deeply private, which amplifies the emotional impact.
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Regret and Loss in 'Mean Time'
What happens when you lose someone and realise all the things you wish you'd said differently? 'Mean Time' captures that exact moment of devastating regret through the simple act of clocks changing.
Duffy uses the clock change as a powerful metaphor - "The clocks slid back an hour and stole the light from my life" - where stolen light represents lost happiness. The word "slid" suggests she had no control over events, whilst "stole" implies the relationship ended against her will, leaving her feeling violated and powerless.
The lexical patterns throughout create a bleak atmosphere: "Unmendable rain fell to the bleak streets." Rain symbolises both grief and tears, whilst negative adjectives pile up to show her emotional state. The line "I felt my heart gnaw at all our mistakes" uses visceral imagery - her heart literally eating away at her insides.
Regret dominates through hindsight: "There are words I would never have said nor heard you say." She's tormented by the conversation that went wrong, constantly replaying what could have been different. The phrase "mourning our love" links the end of the relationship directly to death.
Duffy cleverly juxtaposes romantic ideals with harsh reality - "walked through the wrong part of town, mourning our love" - challenging readers' media-influenced expectations about relationships.
Remember: The personification in "gnaw" shows how regret becomes a living thing that consumes us from within.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Comparing the Two Approaches
Both poems tackle failure and regret, but they hit you in completely different ways. Understanding these differences will help you analyse Duffy's range as a poet.
'The Biographer' focuses more heavily on failure - the speaker's professional and personal inadequacy compared to his subject. His obsession stems from feeling he'll never achieve the same level of success or recognition. The isolation theme runs deeper here because he's literally alone with a dead person's belongings.
'Mean Time' centres on regret about lost love - specifically the words spoken and unspoken that destroyed a relationship. The regret is more immediate and visceral, tied to specific moments and conversations that can't be undone.
Structurally, they mirror their emotional content: 'The Biographer' uses chaotic free verse to reflect mental fragmentation, whilst 'Mean Time' has a more controlled structure that builds intensity. Both use depressive imagery and dark connotations but 'Mean Time' includes more sensory details like rain and cold.
The key difference lies in agency - the biographer chooses his obsession, whilst the 'Mean Time' speaker has loss thrust upon her. This makes the regret feel different: one is self-inflicted torment, the other is grief beyond her control.
Exam tip: Focus on how Duffy uses different poetic techniques to create distinct types of emotional pain - this contrast is perfect for comparison essays.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user