I wouldn't thank you for a Valentine Flashcards
Who wrote I wouldn’t thank you for an Valentine?
Liz Lochhead
Three Main themes of the poem?
The cynicism of love, Unrequited Love
The theme of the cynicism of love is portrayed how throughout the poem?
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.
How is Unrequited love, portrayed throughout the poem?
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.
Two poems to be used for comparison and why?
Aurdel tomb - Cynicism of Love
Warming her pearls - Unrequited Love
Quote 1, Stanze 1, Line 1
“I wouldn’t thank you for a Valentine”
“I wouldn’t thank you for a Valentine”
The speaker immediately declares, her lack of enthusiasm for Valentine’s. Also uses colloquial language with the word “wouldn’t”
Quote 2, Stanza 1, Line 3
“Sticky sickly saccharine”
“Sticky sickly saccharine”
Sibilanace and Alliteration. Shows her discomfort in receiving such gifts. Overly sweet idea.
Quote 3, Stanza 1, Line 4
“Very vulgar verses”
“Very Vulgar Verse”
Alliteration. Highlights and references that the cards are for more sexual influences and ideas rather than love and affection.
Quote 4, Stanza 2, Line 1
“Scrawl SWALK” (sealed with a loving kiss)
“Scrawl SWALK”
The common acronym SWALK, is seen as she does not want any common gift or present like everyone else.
Quote 5, Stanza 2, Line 4
“I’m up to hear with Amore”
“I’m up to hear with Amore”
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.
Quote 6, Stanza 2, Line 9
“Ordering Oysters”
“Ordering Oysters”
Oysters are an aphrodisiac food. (get in the mood for sexual desires)
Quote 7, Stanza 3, Line 10
“I do, Fozzy Bear. that’s who!”
“I do, Fozzy Bear. that’s who!”
Fozzy bear is a reference to sesame street, where the character Fozzy is seen to be lacking wit and intelligence. (Pet names)
Quote 8, Stanza 3, Line 6
“I wouldn’t be 18 again for anything, I’m glad I’m past it.”
“I wouldn’t be 18 again for anything, I’m glad I’m past it.”
Shows that love and valentines is immature, and that teenage love is a facade
Quote 9, Stanza 4, Line 1
“a pair of Janet Reger’s”
“A pair of Janet Reger’s”
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.
Quote 10, Stanze 4, Line 8
“I wouldn’t thank you, I’d melt”
“I wouldn’t thank you, I’d melt”
A twist at the end of the poem, that how being honest in true love, rather then materialism.
What is the poem structure?
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.
Form of the Poem?
4 stanza’s, unequal length, Relativley long sentences, most of the pairing couplets rhyme.
Syntactic Parallelism in the poem
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”
