Valentine Flashcards
How does the poem start
‘Not a …’
Analysis of first line : ‘Not a …’
Negative word
Sets the tone of the whole poem - not linked to conventional symbols
What conventional symbols of love does Duffy use throughout the whole poem
‘red rose’
‘statin heart’
‘cute card’
‘kissogram’
‘wedding-ring’
Analysis of these quotes:
1) ‘red rose’
2) ‘statin heart’
3) ‘cute card’
4) ‘kissogram’
5) ‘wedding-ring’
1) alliteration
2) high quality
3) alliteration - harsh sound
4) harsh K sound - repeated form 3
5) metaphor for loops of onion
What image does Duffy use for love instead
‘I give you an onion’
Analysis: ‘I give you an onion’
Direct address
Metaphor for love - extended throughout the poem
How does Duffy use the image of the ‘moon wrapped in brown paper’
Symbolises fertility
as it ‘promises light’
however it will in the end just ‘blind you with tears’
Analysis: ‘promises light’
Gives the reader hope
this is broken later on again
Analysis: ‘blind you with tears’
Suggest that love makes you feel a variety of different things eg. sad
There is a hurtful side and you shouldn’t settle for love because it does that
How does Duffy show the feelings of sadness that will be created
‘blind you with tears’
‘wobbling photo of grief.’
Analysis: ‘wobbling photo of grief.’
Metaphor
If you have tears in your eyes they distort your vision
End stop suggests she is set on the idea of rejecting love
Analysis: ‘I am trying to be truthful’
Makes the poem more unsentimental
Contemptuous attitude
What line does Duffy repeat twice to replace traditional images of love
‘I give you an onion’
How does Duffy suggest the Onion as love can be 2 opposing things
‘possessive and faithful’
Analysis: ‘possessive and faithful’
Oxymoron
negative connotations of possessive suggest in a relationship some may have more power and control. Whereas faithful show integrity and proper love
What imperative does Duffy use to force readers to accept this new convention of love
‘Take it’
What metaphor is used to show that the onion is just as binding as other symbols of love
‘Platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring / if you like.’
Analysis: ‘Platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring / if you like.’
Metaphor
