Valentine Flashcards
What does Duffy’s work often do?
Subverts traditional structures and tackles themes such as love, loss and death with an unconventional twist.
What is postmodernism?
A literary movement following modernism, characterised by a deconstruction of ideas and interrogation of themes that are often perpetuated as universal, as well as non-traditional structure and theme.
What is Duffy openly a part of?
The LGBTQ+ community
She was the first what Poet Laureate?
The first gay, Scottish and female Laureate.
She claimed that she would have declined her first offer as Laureate for what reason?
As she was in a lesbian relationship with another poet at the time, and had to take care of her daughter.
When was the poem written?
1993
Why did Duffy write the poem?
After a radio station asked her to write an original poem for Valentines day.
‘Not a ____ ____ or a _____ _____.’
‘Not a red rose or a satin heart.’
‘I give you an _____.’
‘I give you an onion.’
‘It is a ____ wrapped in _____ _____.’
‘It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.’
‘It promises _____’
‘It promises light’
‘like the _______ __________ of love.’
‘like the careful undressing of love.’
‘____.’
‘Here.’
‘It will _____ you with tears
like a _____.’
‘It will blind you with tears
like a lover’
‘It will make your __________
a ________ photo of _____.’
‘It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.’
‘I am ______ to be _______.’
‘I am trying to be truthful.’
‘Not a ____ ____ or a __________.’
‘Not a cute card or a kissogram.’
‘I give you an _____.’
‘I give you an onion.’
‘Its _____ ____ will stay on your ____,’
‘Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,’
‘________ and ________
__ we ____,
for as long __ __ ____.’
‘possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.’
‘____ it.’
‘Take it.’
‘Its ________ loops _____ to a _______-____,
if ___ ____.’
‘Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.’
‘______.’
‘Lethal.’
‘Its _____ will _____ to your fingers,
____ to your ____.’
‘Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.’
