Valentine Flashcards
Word choice “Not”
Line/poem opens with negative word choice, allowing the speaker to dispel the traditional symbols of love.
Sentence structure “Not a red rose or satin heart.”
Bluntness emphasises the rejection of stereotypical gifts
-honest representation of love.
Extended metaphor “I give you an onion.”
links the complexities of love to the many layers of an onion.
Word choice “careful undressing”
creates connotations of tenderness, suggesting something pure and sensual.
Simile “blind you with tears/like a lover.”
Just as cutting an onion can lead to tears running down your face, so too does love when you have been heartbroken.
-shows negative aspects of genuine love.
Word choice “wobbling”, “grief”
- suggests instability and that love can lead to a loss of control.
- suggests that love can lead to loss and extreme sadness.
Word choice “truthful”
suggests the speaker is giving an honest account of what love is like
-suggests that honesty is the key to understanding love.
Repetition “Not a cute card or kissogram.”
shows she is rejecting cliched gifts. The alliteration emphasises her disapproval.
Juxtaposition “possessive and faithful”
provides a contrast of both positive and negative aspects of love
-shows the poet’s attempt to provide a balanced description of love.
Word choice “for as long as we are”
suggests that relationships are finite, and sometimes do not last forver.
Image “its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring”
Likens the rings of an onion to a wedding ring, suggesting that marriage of restricting
Minor sentence “Lethal.”
has connotations of deadly, emphasising the destructive aspect of love.
Imagery “its scent will cling to your fingers”
just as it is very difficult to remove the smell of onion from, feelings of love can linger long after a relationship has ended
Imagery “cling to your knife”
reference to knife suggests love can be unhealthy and dangerous, highlighting the emotional pain love can cause.
