Valentine, Carol Ann Duffy

Question 1

“Valentine”

Answer 1

Establishes the theme of love.
Might make us expect it to be about traditional expressions of love.

Question 2

“Not a red rose or satin heart”

Answer 2

Adverb ‘not’ shows a rejection of the ideas of traditional romantic images such as ‘red rose’.

Question 3

“I give you an onion”

Answer 3

The poem is written in first person, “I give you an onion” immediately debunking the idea of a
traditional gift.

Onion is a metaphor of love - atypical, multilayered, natural.

Question 4

Language such as “blind”, “fierce” and “possessive”

Answer 4

Suggests an intensity to love that will only last as
long as they are true to each other. “If you like” implies the intensity of love isn’t dependant on a
wedding ring.

Question 5

“If you like”

Answer 5

Implies the intensity of love isn’t dependant on a wedding ring.

Question 6

“Lethal”

Answer 6

One word sentence has its own end-stopped line, mimicking the severity of ‘lethal’. Love can be deadly.

Question 7

Final words - “cling to your knife”

Answer 7

Suggests love can be dangerous and all consuming. The slightly sinister tone suggests an obsessive side to love.

Question 8

Structure

Answer 8

Despite being a love poem, it does not follow any of the conventions of a traditional love poetry.

Uses free verse, a form that mimics the rhythm of natural speech. Could suggest freedom.