The dramatic and thrilling opening line of the poem represents how the public and the world’s media were desperate to find out more information on their Hollywood screen icon: “What innocence? Whose guilt? What eyes? Whose Breast?”. These short, and exciting questions also represent the main themes of responsibility and innocence; which are explored throughout the poem.

The skilful usage of the metaphor; “Crumpled orphan…”, creates an image of the child-like innocence of Monroe, and yet, portraying the idea that she is damaged in someway, i.e. the pressure and stress of the film-star lifestyle. This made me realise that fame and attention can seriously damage a person’s life. This idea of innocence is continued in the line: “…white hearse…”, which is normally associated with the death of a child. These

The extensive quantity of literary techniques used by the poet Edwin Morgan, has skilfully and successfully conveyed the significance of the death of the innocent child-like, Hollywood film-star Marilyn Monroe. The themes of innocence and responsibility are referred to throughout the poem, and Morgan blames Hollywood and American society for Monroe’s death. This poem clearly is moving and very much thought-provoking. “The Death of Marilyn Monroe” made me consider why a very famous, successful and well-loved film-star could die suddenly and no-one had any concerns for Monroe’s feelings. The significance of this tragic event was portrayed to me by, explaining how stressful, and lonely Monroe was before her death. Also this is portrayed by Morgan blaming her death not on Marilyn Monroe, herself, or anyone personally but Hollywood in general.

Morgan skilfully uses personification to portray the idea that death is a person, and that Death is a protector in Monroe’s life, which I found shocking: “That Death should seem the only protector.” I believe that this also suggests that Monroe’s life was so insufferable and stressful that death would be a very pleasing prospect. In addition this clearly implies that the vast volume of pressure she had, was produced by her film-star career, and is also making Marilyn Monroe lonely and isolated. The way that Morgan has portrayed the idea that the extensive loneliness and stress of Monroe’s life, and how her life has got so bad, plays an important role in conveying the significance of Monroe’s death.

Edwin Morgan then follows onto asking Hollywood and American society if the death of the innocent child-like Marilyn Monroe will make them feel guilty and accept the role they played in her tragic death; “Will the/slow white hearse of the child of America follow you around?”

Irony was used by Morgan, because the poem shows that he s

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