About Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy is one of Britain's most celebrated contemporary poets and served as Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2019 — the first woman and first Scottish person to hold the role. Her poetry is known for its use of dramatic monologue, dark humour, and exploration of outsider perspectives. She gives voice to characters both historical and imagined, often revealing truths about power, identity, and human nature.
About the Poem
The poem is a dramatic monologue spoken by a thief who steals not for profit but out of boredom, alienation, and a need for some kind of connection. The most unusual theft is a snowman, which the speaker steals from a garden, only for it to melt. The speaker describes various other thefts and acts of vandalism, all driven by a deep sense of emptiness. The poem ends with the chilling question: 'You don't understand a word I'm saying, do you?'
Key Themes
- Alienation and loneliness
- The need for connection
- Boredom and purposelessness
- Outsider identity
- Communication breakdown
Literary Devices
Dramatic monologue
The thief speaks directly, revealing their disturbed inner world
Symbolism
The stolen snowman represents the impossibility of possessing beauty or joy
Rhetorical question
The final question challenges the reader's ability to empathise
Colloquial language
Casual, conversational tone creates an unsettling intimacy
Historical & Literary Context
Published in 1987, 'Stealing' reflects Duffy's interest in giving voice to marginalised or misunderstood characters. The poem taps into Thatcher-era Britain's social fragmentation, where many felt disconnected from mainstream society. Duffy's dramatic monologues invite readers to understand — without necessarily sympathising with — difficult speakers.
Continue with Video & Presentation
Access the paid lesson resources for this poem.