In the poem “The Map Woman,” Carol Ann Duffy uses the extended metaphor of a map printed on a woman's body to explore ideas about hometowns, childhood, and nostalgia. This is immediately introduced in the first line where the reader learns that "one woman's skin was the map of the town she grew up in as a child." In an attempt to hide his hometown from the world, the character covers himself up as much as possible due to the shame he feels. This culminates in his shedding of skin in the penultimate verse. With such a metaphor, certain images are created in the reader's mind, such as that of a snake or the human body. This could ultimately be narrowed down to three main concepts; location, permanence and identity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The extended metaphor used in the poem allows Duffy to show how the woman's body and the map are one. Figurative language in the second stanza connects the anatomy of his body with the location of several features of his hometown, such as his statement that "his veins [are] like shadows under the lines of the map, the river an artery" . The language used suggests that, like an "artery" and a "vein", the character needs this map and the characteristics of his city to survive. This idea of ​​the character relying on the map is continued later in the same verse, where she explains that "if you crossed the bridge at his nipple, took left and right, you would come to the tombs." The syntax of this sentence along with the use of the terms "left" and "right" can be interpreted by the reader as the character giving directions. This effect is further emphasized by the poet, through the direct address used in words such as "you". This can be done so that the reader feels as if they are in this city and can therefore identify more closely with the main character. The poet not only suggests to the reader that they need the map as a guide, but it also seems like the character is advertising her hometown to them. Such ideas about addiction, however, contrast with the tone of the novel; which implies that he wishes to forget this city as much as possible. However, the reader wonders this after the character manages to remember many areas and streets of his hometown, such as "Nelson", "Churchill", "Kipling", and "Milton". Such recollection of all these different places hints at the fact that the main character is indeed homesick. The extended metaphor of the map on his skin reveals the character's inner confidence and longing for his hometown. With respect to tone, the metaphor is also able to reveal the internal conflict he feels regarding the attitudes he has towards his home. This internal conflict is expressed through themes surrounding permanence and change; which is continually referenced throughout the poem. These themes are introduced in the first stanza where the map is referred to as a 'birthmark, tattoo'. Both are permanent marks on the skin, however the difference lies in the cause. Birthmarks are natural and from birth, while people choose to get tattoos later in life. With this in mind, the reader may be able to understand the cause of this map differently. If it is interpreted as a "birthmark", the character may be trying to say how being born in this city has automatically and indefinitely left its mark on her. However, if it is interpreted as a "tattoo", the character may try to claim that the map has been acquired,.