Valentine

Question 1

“Not”

Answer 1

• Word choice: Duffy opens the poem in a negative tone. She rejects the traditional (clichéd) symbols of love and is quite forceful in her opinion.
• Syntax: “not” placed at the start of the line creates emphasis

Question 2

What is the poem’s tone?

Answer 2

The tone colloquial, as if the persona were speaking to us.

Question 3

What is the poem based around?

Answer 3

• The whole poem is based around the idea that love is an onion. She takes pride in this presentation. Duffy is purposefully unromantic and honest here.

Question 4

“It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”

Answer 4

• Metaphor: This is the first sign of romance – moonlight is a romantic notion but Duffy hides it in the ordinary.
• This is, again, a more honest presentation of love. She compares the onion skin to brown paper, which underlines her idea of the onion being a gift.

Question 5

“It promises light”

Answer 5

• Symbolism: Light symbolises goodness and deeper meaning – something you can’t get from normal gifts.
• My present, maintains Duffy, may not look like much, but it holds great potential for wonder.

Question 6

“like the careful undressing of love.”

Answer 6

• Word choice: undressing has deliberately sexual connotations.
• Word choice: “careful” suggests that this is something to be savoured, treasured – it is special and significant.

Question 7

What technique is the poem about?

Answer 7

• It is important to recognise that the whole poem is an extended metaphor about the passionate, sometimes conflicting, sometimes violent nature of love.

Question 8

“Here.”

Answer 8

• Word choice: This is bold. One sentence. She is proud of her gift, and of its significance.
• As she presents the gift boldly, Duffy also endows it with simplicity. Her gift doesn’t need all the fancy associated with other gifts.

Question 9

“It will blind you with tears like a lover.”

Answer 9

• Simile / Personification: This metaphor is extended to show the less positive side of love.
• Just as an onion makes our eyes sting when you cut in to it, so too love and heartbreak can make you cry.
• Word choice: interestingly it is not ‘maybe’ it is ‘will’. What does this suggest about Duffy’s views of love?

Question 10

“It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.”

Answer 10

• metaphor: this gift has the potential to cause real suffering.
• Word choice: “photo” – one moment in time, but one that can be revisited again and again.

Question 11

“It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.” (2)

Answer 11

• Love, claims Duffy, makes a mess of who we are.
• She is alluding to the tears that distort our vision when we are upset.
• There is also a suggestion that it is more than our vision that is distorted.

Question 12

“I am trying to be truthful.”

Answer 12

• This single line stanza serves to underline the bitter-sweet (two edged) nature of love – and this gift.
• Sentence structure / poetic structure: One sentence. Single line stanza.
• Again, Duffy, claims honesty. No frills here; I only offer truth.

Question 13

“Not a cute card or a kissogram.”

Answer 13

• Structure / word choice / tone: half way through the poem, Duffy reiterates the opening sentiment.
• This is what you are not getting.
• These are clichés: real love is not like that.

Question 14

“I give you an onion.” again

Answer 14

• Repetition: Are you beginning to understand yet?
• This is an important theme, it is significant.

Question 15

“Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,”

Answer 15

• Word choice / oxymoron: Although seemingly romantic, there is nothing gentle here: ‘fierce kiss’ suggests violence, strength of passion.
• This is not a relaxed or relaxing love. “fierce” connotes fury, and menace, and threat.
• “stay on your lips” suggests the lingering smell / taste of an onion; still there long after the contact.

Question 16

“possessive”

Answer 16

• Word choice: “possessive” has connotations of jealousy, distrust, and insecurity.
• Nothing about this is ‘tender’.
• But, Duffy has rejected the clichés.

Question 17

“faithful, as we are, for as long as we are.”

Answer 17

• Word choice: this betrays Duffy’s cynicism.
• Instead of promising that this will last forever, she suggests the relationship will only last as long as they work at it.

Question 18

“possessive and faithful”

Answer 18

• Word choice: “faithful” and “possessive” are not far off being synonyms but have subtle and important differences.
• Duffy uses this to her advantage
• Both words suggest a sense of loyalty but, whereas ‘faithful’ connotes support, ‘possessive’ implies demand.

Question 19

“Take it.” (1)

Answer 19

• Word choice / sentence structure: Bold and defiant. One sentence.
• It is possible to interpret this as the recipient of the gift looking puzzled and she responds with a command: take it.

Question 20

“Take it.” (2)

Answer 20

• Tone has changed from gentle and honest, from matter of fact to what could be perceived as threatening: take it (or else!)
• If you want my love, this is what it means..

Question 21

“Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, if you like.”

Answer 21

• Metaphor: Platinum is actually more valuable than gold (so not an ordinary wedding ring)
• However, ‘shrinks’ and ‘if you like’ have pejorative overtones.
• Perhaps the implication is that marriage is a lessening or shortening of love.
• Might it be considered a trap, restricting?

Question 22

“Lethal” (1)

Answer 22

• Word choice: this single word sentence introduces a much darker side.
• Even when a love it true, there can be hard times or danger. This suggests passion can get out of control – darker associations.

Question 23

“Lethal” (2)

Answer 23

• The longer a relationship lasts, the more serious it becomes.
• Perhaps the implication is that it becomes restrictive.
• Does familiarity “kill” the spontaneous ?

Question 24

“Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.”

Answer 24

• Word choice: “cling” emphasises the permanence of the relationship, but in a negative way.
• “Cling” creates the idea of wanting but not being able to escape from something.
• Suddenly the
  never ending quality of their love might be a double-edged sword.

Question 25

“Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.” (2)

Answer 25

• This could also suggest the possessive side of love: inescapable, restrictive (linking to the earlier negative associations)
• The knife can destroy the onion. (You have the ability to destroy this love.)
• The final word in the poem is ambiguous. It is neither positive or negative – able to be interpreted as either.