Valentine

Question 1

‘Wobbling photo of grief’

Answer 1

The idea of love isn’t elevated or refined as “a wobbling photo of grief” suggests love can be painful and our emotions can overwhelm us.

Question 2

‘Cling to your knife’

Answer 2

Suggest love can be dangerous, and the sinister tone may indicate there are slightly obsessive sides of love

Question 3

Breaking normal conventions?

Answer 3

Duffy likes to break conventions and in Valentine she is criticising society’s views of being materialistic.

Question 4

Why is the poem in initially quite surprising

Answer 4

‘Not a red rose or a satin heart’. The line stands out and creates an initially assertive and negative tone. This surprises the reader who is perhaps expecting a traditional romantic poem having read the title.

Question 5

Agressive and confrontational tone

Answer 5

The confrontational tone is repeated throughout the poem, emphasising the poet’s intention to challenge the stereotypical ideas of love – “cute card”, “red rose”.

Question 6

‘I am trying to be truthful’

Answer 6

Duffy uses the first person (“I”) and present tense to make the poem seem very personal and immediate. It is like we are watching her profess her love.

Question 7

‘Fierce kiss’, ‘lethal’

Answer 7

The adjectives “fierce” and “lethal” create a threatening tone to the poem. She seems slightly unstable towards the end of the poem – “possessive”.