Barbie Doll Questions and Answers
Barbie Doll
Literary Devices in Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll"
Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" employs various literary devices to critique societal beauty standards. The poem's tone evolves from childish to mature, reflecting the girl's development and...
Barbie Doll
Analysis and Theme of "Barbie Doll" Poem
Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" critiques societal expectations of women's beauty through irony and allusion. The poem's ending, "To every woman a happy ending," uses irony to highlight the tragic...
Barbie Doll
What does "her good nature wore out like a fan belt" mean in "Barbie Doll"?
"Her good nature wore out like a fan belt" in "Barbie Doll" metaphorically means that the girl's constant demand to be good-natured eventually exhausts her. This reflects the societal expectation of...
Barbie Doll
What does the phrase "exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle" mean?
The phrase "exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle" is used ironically. Although it literally means being urged to adopt healthy habits and a positive demeanor, the author...
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What is the tone of "Barbie Doll," considering word use, irony, and exaggeration?
The tone of "Barbie Doll" is ironic and critical, employing situational irony and exaggeration to highlight societal pressures on women. The poem contrasts the protagonist's natural attributes with...
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Analysis of the last line of Piercy's "Barbie Doll": "to every woman a happy ending"
The last line of Piercy's "Barbie Doll," "to every woman a happy ending," is a bitterly ironic commentary on societal expectations of women. Despite the protagonist's death, she achieves a "happy...
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Identifying the Speaker in "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy
The speaker in "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy is an omniscient, third-person narrator. This voice provides a critical commentary on societal expectations placed on women, detailing the pressures faced...
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What is the significance of the character's death in the poem "Barbie Doll"?
The character's death in "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy highlights the destructive societal pressures on women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. The poem uses dark irony to emphasize how the...
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What does "she cut off her nose and her legs" signify in "Barbie Doll", and how does it relate to her death?
In "Barbie Doll," the phrase "she cut off her nose and her legs" symbolizes the protagonist's surrender of her individuality and self-worth to conform to societal beauty standards. This act is not...
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Why is the central figure in Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll" called a "girlchild"?
The term "girlchild" in Marge Piercy's "Barbie Doll" emphasizes the innocence of the central figure, highlighting her vulnerability and purity. By using this compound word, Piercy underscores the...
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What is the significance of the title "Barbie Doll" in Marge Piercy's poem?
The title, Barbie Doll, is a metaphor for what women are expected to be—beautiful and perfect. The poem discusses how society expects this from little girls and how the 'perfect' girl is created in...
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Why does the girlchild in "Barbie Doll" move to and fro?
The girlchild goes to and fro because she always feels the need to apologize for what others perceive as her physical unattractiveness. In actual fact, the girlchild isn't unattractive at all. She...
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Why did people in the poem "Barbie Doll" think the corpse looked pretty in the funeral parlor?
In "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy, people think the corpse looks pretty because the girlchild, in death, has been made to conform to societal standards of beauty. The undertaker's cosmetics and the...
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What two contradicting views of the girl are presented in stanza two of "Barbie Doll"?
In the second stanza of "Barbie Doll," two contrasting views of the girl are presented: initially, she is depicted as healthy, intelligent, and strong, reflecting a positive self-image and...
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What "heartbreaking discovery" is conveyed in the poem "Barbie Doll" and how is it conveyed?
The heartbreaking discovery in Marge Piercy's poem "Barbie Doll" is that societal expectations lead the girl to self-destruction due to her perceived physical flaws. Despite being healthy and...
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In "Barbie Doll," how do you interpret the statements about the protagonist's life choices and societal expectations?
The response generated is correct. The variation on the original poem explores themes of societal expectations particularly within certain cultural traditions, as well as gender roles –...
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What does "tested intelligent" mean in the poem "Barbie Doll"?
In "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy, "tested intelligent" refers to the girl's intellectual capacity, highlighting that she is bright and capable of learning. Despite her intelligence, health, and...
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List five adjectives describing the girl in "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy.
The girl in "Barbie Doll" by Marge Piercy can be described using the adjectives "healthy," "intelligent," "great," "fat," and "apologetic." These adjectives reflect both direct descriptions, such as...
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What is the significance of "great big nose and fat legs" in "Barbie Doll"?
The phrase "great big nose and fat legs" in "Barbie Doll" highlights societal pressures on women to conform to unrealistic beauty standards. It underscores the irony of "magic" puberty, as the girl...
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What is the purpose of the imagery where she mutilates herself in "Barbie Doll"?
The imagery of self-mutilation in "Barbie Doll" highlights the extreme sacrifices women make to conform to male standards of beauty. This powerful imagery underscores themes of obedience and...