Maude Clare characterisation

Important aspects of characterisation in Maude Clare:

1. Women definitely have more of a focus in the poem than men do. This is expressed partly through speech; when the women talk, their speech is eloquent and articulate, whereas when the groom speaks he is said to "falter" and he only manages to stutter, "Lady, Maude Clare" - the name of a woman.

2. Although there are no direct accusations, the reader gets the sense that the man in the poem is the one at fault because of how he "hid his face" when confronted, possibly because of shame. This seems a cowardly act and, like how the words of women dominate the poem, makes women seem dominant and males weak in comparison.

3. The poem's title and last words are both "Maude Clare" which, in addition to creating the sense of great importance of the character, means that the poem begins and closes on the same idea. This is effective in encouraging the reader to reflect on the message of the poem because it links to the start, highlighting to the reader the difference in their position in terms of knowledge of the story and so presenting them with the perfect position to think about what has happened.