Valentine - Carol Ann Duffy

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

No regular structure of rhyme scheme to perhaps represent the contents of the poem

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Love
Convention
Individualism

Question 3

Context

Answer 3

The poet was famously lesbian

Question 4

Not a red rose or a satin heart

Answer 4

The 1st line of the poem is abrupt and not sugarcoated as the speaker is realistic but sincere. Red roses and satin hearts are often traditional gifts of love so by rejecting them, she is subverting the traditional romantic expectations. Throughout the poem, she also rejects the use of traditional poetic devices as to make her poem easy to understand

Question 5

I give you an onion

Answer 5

This line shows the how untraditional the speaker is due to her strange gift - ‘an onion’. The onion could perhaps be an extended metaphor for the good and bad that surrounds love.

Question 6

It is a moon wrapped in brown paper

Answer 6

She suggests that love is cloudy and unclear as she deliberately blurs the lines between different kinds of relationships (homosexual and heterosexual)

Question 7

It promises light

Answer 7

She suggests that the gift is like the light in the dark and represents the rewards of their love. The gift is meant to be tempting and positive.

Question 8

like the careful undressing of love

Answer 8

The simile draw outs the idea of discovery and emotional exposure as it suggests it is bringing something raw and beautiful. It also may have some erotic meanings

Question 9

Here.

Answer 9

This one word paints a physical image of the speaker literally handing their lover an onion, helped by the blunt tone of the line

Question 10

It will blind you with tears
like a lover

Answer 10

This strong simile compares the lover to an onion, suggesting that love can make you cry like an onion which holds a powerful resonance for the reader especially those in relationships

Question 11

It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief

Answer 11

The speaker suggests that the difficult aspects of relationships can lead to self reflection but it’s an oxymoron in itself as photos obviously don’t move

Question 12

I am trying to be truthful

Answer 12

The speaker is trying to be true not only for their lover but also for themselves. It can be considered a pivotal transformative line within the poem. The alliteration of ‘trying’ and ‘truthful’ suggests that the poet is trying to maintain an open, communicative relationship with their partner as they know if they don’t the relationship will crumble

Question 13

Not a cute card or a kissogram

I give you an onion

Answer 13

The 2nd line is repeated in the poem for emphasis

Question 14

Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips

Answer 14

The poet suggests that the kiss will remain like the smell and taste of an onion. The adjective ‘fierce’ itself is significant as it implies a sort of desperation within their love. However, it also suggests that like an onion’s pungency, sometimes too much of something can destroy a relationship

Question 15

possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are

Answer 15

She is hinting at the complexity of love as ‘faithful’ has positive connotations but ‘possessive’ has a more negative meaning, perhaps telling us that even the most mature relationships can experience problems. The repetition of ‘as we are’ is most likely done again for emphasis as well as adding a sense of time and impermanence to life and love

Question 16

Take it.

Answer 16

The speaker is urging her lover to take the gift, with the poet again using simple, plain language in order to make her meaning clear. The imperative verb of ‘take’ contrasts the gentleness and tentative tone of the next lines

Question 17

Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring

Answer 17

She continues the extended metaphor of the onion and likely picks platinum due to it being one of the most expensive metals, showing how highly she values their relationship. However, the verb ‘shrink’ suggests that she thinks marriage may confine or even diminish your love

Question 18

if you like

Answer 18

The speaker shows that she respects her partner’s wishes and understands that marriage is not for everybody. All these lines in the final stanza hint at the complexity and subtlety of a seemingly simple poem

Question 19

Lethal

Answer 19

She suggests that any proposal will change a relationship, portraying it as pivotal and potentially deadly no matter the answer. Whilst refusal may end the relationship, acceptance could irrevocably alter the power balance within the relationship

Question 20

It’s scent will cling to your fingers

Answer 20

This line shows that love is permanent and it suggests that you are forever changed by love and a relationship. She purposely uses assonant vowels to make the penultimate line a crucial and memorable one

Question 21

cling to your knife

Answer 21

The repetition of ‘cling’ highlights its importance and the use of the noun ‘knife’ suggests that love is ultimately dangerous. The last line is short and emphatic in order to make the meaning of the poem even more complex, highlighting how a loving relationship is far from easy

Question 22

Whys

Answer 22

Through the unconventional gift of an onion, Duffy rejects the consumerism, materialism and performative gestures increasingly associated with Valentine’s day.
Duffy questions the viability of life-long commitment and fidelity, and instead alludes to the evanescent, temporary nature of love.
Duffy is critical of romanticised, idealistic portrayals of love and relationships and instead presents love as a possessive and dangerous force, which often leads to insecurity and obsession.