I wouldn't thank you for a Valentine

Question 1

Who wrote I wouldn’t thank you for an Valentine?

Answer 1

Liz Lochhead

Question 2

Three Main themes of the poem?

Answer 2

The cynicism of love, Unrequited Love

Question 3

The theme of the cynicism of love is portrayed how throughout the poem?

Answer 3

The writer believes that love and valentines are “trivial and commercial”. Her reaction towards love seems to be that she has been hurt in the past.

Question 4

How is Unrequited love, portrayed throughout the poem?

Answer 4

The person that the writing is intending the poem for can be seen as being forewarned about what the writer likes, and what she does not want to receive on valentines day.

Question 5

Two poems to be used for comparison and why?

Answer 5

Aurdel tomb - Cynicism of Love
Warming her pearls - Unrequited Love

Question 6

Quote 1, Stanze 1, Line 1

Answer 6

“I wouldn’t thank you for a Valentine”

Question 7

“I wouldn’t thank you for a Valentine”

Answer 7

The speaker immediately declares, her lack of enthusiasm for Valentine’s. Also uses colloquial language with the word “wouldn’t”

Question 8

Quote 2, Stanza 1, Line 3

Answer 8

“Sticky sickly saccharine”

Question 9

“Sticky sickly saccharine”

Answer 9

Sibilanace and Alliteration. Shows her discomfort in receiving such gifts. Overly sweet idea.

Question 10

Quote 3, Stanza 1, Line 4

Answer 10

“Very vulgar verses”

Question 11

“Very Vulgar Verse”

Answer 11

Alliteration. Highlights and references that the cards are for more sexual influences and ideas rather than love and affection.

Question 12

Quote 4, Stanza 2, Line 1

Answer 12

“Scrawl SWALK” (sealed with a loving kiss)

Question 13

“Scrawl SWALK”

Answer 13

The common acronym SWALK, is seen as she does not want any common gift or present like everyone else.

Question 14

Quote 5, Stanza 2, Line 4

Answer 14

“I’m up to hear with Amore”

Question 15

“I’m up to hear with Amore”

Answer 15

Up to here - is seen as you are tired of something (colloquialism). Which shows her cynicism has been influenced by her past failures with love.

Question 16

Quote 6, Stanza 2, Line 9

Answer 16

“Ordering Oysters”

Question 17

“Ordering Oysters”

Answer 17

Oysters are an aphrodisiac food. (get in the mood for sexual desires)

Question 18

Quote 7, Stanza 3, Line 10

Answer 18

“I do, Fozzy Bear. that’s who!”

Question 19

“I do, Fozzy Bear. that’s who!”

Answer 19

Fozzy bear is a reference to sesame street, where the character Fozzy is seen to be lacking wit and intelligence. (Pet names)

Question 20

Quote 8, Stanza 3, Line 6

Answer 20

“I wouldn’t be 18 again for anything, I’m glad I’m past it.”

Question 21

“I wouldn’t be 18 again for anything, I’m glad I’m past it.”

Answer 21

Shows that love and valentines is immature, and that teenage love is a facade

Question 22

Quote 9, Stanza 4, Line 1

Answer 22

“a pair of Janet Reger’s”

Question 23

“A pair of Janet Reger’s”

Answer 23

A fancy underwear brand, this makes reference to her feminist beliefs and that lingerie is a “political suspect”. That women are forced into be sexually objectified.

Question 24

Quote 10, Stanze 4, Line 8

Answer 24

“I wouldn’t thank you, I’d melt”

Question 25

“I wouldn’t thank you, I’d melt”

Answer 25

A twist at the end of the poem, that how being honest in true love, rather then materialism.

Question 26

What is the poem structure?

Answer 26

Each stanza, besides the last one, ends with ‘I wouldn’t thank you for a valentine” Which relates back to the title of the poem.

Question 27

Form of the Poem?

Answer 27

4 stanza’s, unequal length, Relativley long sentences, most of the pairing couplets rhyme.

Question 28

Syntactic Parallelism in the poem

Answer 28

Created rhythm in certain parts of the poem. Most common, is the sentence opener “if you” WHich increases in frequency in the seconf half of the poem. However the poem ends with “i wouldn’t”