Valentine Flashcards
“Not a rose or satin heart”
“Not” Sentence Structure - being the first word in the poem immediately rejects the conventional stereotypes surrounding love.
“Not” also has connotations of rejection and denial. Duffy rejects traditional ideas about love.
“I give you an onion”
Extended Metaphor - Comparing an love to that of a onion, deliberately choosing something unusual to challenge our perspective of love
“Moon wrapped in brown paper”
The inside of the moon is white, similar to the inside of the onion and representing romance and beauty
“like the careful undressing of love”
Compares layers of onions to someone’s character and representing getting to know someone
“It will blind you with tears like a lover”
“blind” Connotates overlooking someone’s flaws and only seeing the positives in the relationship and be blind to everything else
“A wobbling photo of grief”
“Grief” has connotations of sadness and upset - all negative emotions caused by relationships
“Not a cute card or kissogram”
“Not” - repetition of opening line a rejection of traditional symbols of love. This line is placed to reinforce the main idea of the poem
“fierce kiss”
Extended Metaphor - In the same that an onion has a overpowering taste that can linger, so too can the memory of failed relationships
“Possessive and faithful”
“possessive” connotations of control and jealousy, contrasting with “faithful” with connotations of trust and loyality
“Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring”
Platinum is an expensive metal - suggesting a strong relationship. Connotations of love and commitment, however the works “shrink” suggests after a marriage relations shrink and trapped in a marriage
“Its scent will cling to your fingers”
Again, the idea of that the memory of a relationship can last. “Cling” suggests the idea of not being able to let go after a relationship has ended.
“cling to your knife”
“knife” has connotations of violence and hurt. This might suggests the cutting ties of the end at a relationship that the hurt of love can cause.
“it promises light”
‘light’ connotations of positivity \ bright future
