Valentine, by Carol Anne Duffy Flashcards
How is this poem structured?
- first person narrative
- written in free verse –> helps reinforce its unconventional approach to love and to provide a warning message to lovers
- no rhyming scheme
Summary
- describes an unusual valentines day present for a lover - an onion
- the poem explains why it is a powerful gift of love, much more than cliched gifts
- the onion becomes a metaphor for love
Where is Duffy from?
Glasgow, Scotland and is currently the UK’s first female Poet Laureate
Was educated in Strafford
When was she first published?
15
Why was this poem written?
Written in response to a challenge from a radio presenter to write an original poem for valentines day.
When was it written?
1993
What is this poem about?
Valentine describes a gift for a lover, such as you would give on Valentine’s Day.
The poem explains why an onion is a powerful gift of love, much more than the clichéd roses or box of chocolates
Context
Duffy likes to break conventions and in Valentine she is criticising society’s views of being materialistic
Duffy’s poetry is often feminist in its themes and approach
How are the themes and ideas structured throughout the poem?
The poem begins by listing clichéd gifts that people give and receive for Valentine’s Day.
As the poem progresses, Duffy explores pain and hurt that is associated with love and she ends the poem using a negative tone and a hint of danger
Comment on the title
On the surface the title suggests that the poem will be a simple expression of love. However, just like an onion, there are many different layers to the poem, surprising the reader as we ‘unpeel’ the meanings.
How does the first line stand out?
‘Not a red rose or a satin heart.’
creates an initially assertive and negative tone
this may surprise the reader who is perhaps expecting a traditional romantic poem having read the title
This confrontational tone is repeated throughout the poem, emphasising the poet’s intention to challenge the stereotypical ideas of love.
Analysis on ‘I give you an onion’
unusual metaphor
used to symbolise her love, an onion has a strong, sharp and acidic taste
The comparison could suggest her love in distinctive and cannot be ignored
What does the comparison to the moon suggest?
‘it is a moon wrapped in brown paper’
a metaphor
moon is associated with love and linked to mystery
the ‘brown paper’ suggests Duffy is being honest about herself - she is not dressing herself up to pretend she is something she is not
What does ‘blind you with tears’ hint at?
hints at a bad experience with love in Duffy’s past - she knows the pain of lost love
‘I am trying to be truthful’ analysis
Duffy uses the first person and present tense to make the poem seem very personal and immediate
makes the reader feel like they are watching her profess her love
What tone do the adjectives ‘fierce’ and ‘lethal’ create?
a threatening tone
she seems slightly unstable towards the end of the poem ‘possessive’
What does Duffy’s use of imperatives suggest?
‘Take it’
Duffy repeatedly uses imperatives to command her lover’s attention. This could suggest she is confident in communicating her love – or perhaps hints at a desperate and needy side to her.
What does the line about the ‘wedding-ring’ show?
‘Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring’
shows she intends to marry the person she is speaking about - this makes her seem very forward and almost obsessive
Analysis on ‘cling’
the verb ‘cling’ is repeated twice which suggest she is not going anywhere until they return her love
Comments on the final stanza
The final stanza leaves the reader wondering what the ‘lethal’ consequences might be if she doesn’t get her way
