This essay was written in my final English exam for 2004. The question asked us to discuss the messages contained in two chosen poems, studied in class, about the representations of women.

Poetry often allows its audience to gain meaningful messages which have been deliberately left behind by their creators. Two poems which deal with the representations of women are Ted Hughes "The Minotaur" and Sylvia Plath's "The Rival". The major difference between the themes of these two poems is that while Hughes uses the poem to express his contempt of women, Plath bemoans the exploitation and pain they receive. Both attempt to expose dissatisfaction and victimisation through using different techniques, including context and concerns, poetic devices and poetic structure.
The context a…