Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
- Created by: daniellamulligan98
- Created on: 11-05-17 18:12
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- Valentine
- rejects conventional love
- "Not a cute card or kissogram" Repetition of the consonant "c" creates a harsh cacophonoussound, developing a sarcastic tone, implying the speaker does not see conventional gifts as a true symbol of love.
- "I give you an onion" the declarative rejects the typical conventional symbols of love traditionally given, and instead uses the common noun "onion" which holds a deeper meaning. On the surface the "onion" is just another possession but in fact this poem uses it as an ectended metaphor to display true love.
- It symbolises the speakers love, each layer a shell of their personality and overtime their lover will peel and find the speakers true self until they are exposed, the same way a relationship unravels in reality.
- "It is a moon wrapped in brown paper." The simple sentence uses the common noun "moon" further rejecting conventional gifts. The "moon" is supposed to govern a women's passion.
- "It promises light" the personification creates a positive tone, the noun "light" is both literal brightness and also enlightenment of love. The verb "promises" addresses commitment in a relationship.
- "Like the careful ********** of love" relates to extended mataphor of onion. Similie suggests tenderness, adjective "careful" implying love is vulnerable. The Verb "**********" links to the intimacy of a relationship.
- "I give you an onion" the declarative rejects the typical conventional symbols of love traditionally given, and instead uses the common noun "onion" which holds a deeper meaning. On the surface the "onion" is just another possession but in fact this poem uses it as an ectended metaphor to display true love.
- It symbolises the speakers love, each layer a shell of their personality and overtime their lover will peel and find the speakers true self until they are exposed, the same way a relationship unravels in reality.
- "It is a moon wrapped in brown paper." The simple sentence uses the common noun "moon" further rejecting conventional gifts. The "moon" is supposed to govern a women's passion.
- "It promises light" the personification creates a positive tone, the noun "light" is both literal brightness and also enlightenment of love. The verb "promises" addresses commitment in a relationship.
- "I give you an onion" the declarative rejects the typical conventional symbols of love traditionally given, and instead uses the common noun "onion" which holds a deeper meaning. On the surface the "onion" is just another possession but in fact this poem uses it as an ectended metaphor to display true love.
- "Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips," adjective "fierce" and noun "kiss" literal meaning as onion taste and smell lingers, symbolic of love, the memory of a kiss can last forever.
- reality of love
- "It will blind you like a lover" Positive modal shading, declarative "It will" creates a sense of inevitability, The similie"like a lover" deals with the reality of relationships, that love is painful and not always easy.
- "It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief." Metaphor, suggesting someone speaking into a mirror with blurry vision as a result of crying indicated by the adjective "wobbling". The noun "grief" is not an emotion stereo typically associated with conventional love which enforces the harsh reality of relationships that they do not always run smoothly but cause great upset.
- "I am trying to be truthful" Repetition of personal pronoun "I" creates sense of intimacy throughout poem. The negative modal shading "trying to be truthful" shows speakers attempt to reveal reason behind onion, exposing true emotion, relating to the reality of love that it is not easy and also the concept of trust which is essential in a relationship.
- "possessive and faithful, as we are, for as long as we are" the enjambement suggests a relationship should only last as long as the lovers feel passionate as the verbs "possessive" and "faithful" suggest, with the declarative "for as long as we are" When the intense interest is lost the relationship should end.
- "Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife" the repetition of the verb "cling" suggests feelings of strong and posessive love, in the sens that love can take a grip on people.The common noun "knife" links marriage to a wound, suggesting the poet has been hurt in past relationships.
- The antithesis from previous stanza "********** of love" to "cling to your knife" clearly mocks the fact that relationships hurt deeply if they last longer than the passion.
- The olfactory sense "sense" referring to clinging in the declarative has another meaning. The noun "scent" is an example of personification that refers to body scent. Body scents are very strong and physical, scents linger after love making. These scents will remain in memory after the relationship ends. The same way the smell of an onion stays on your fingers for a while. Thus the extended metaphor of an onion proves to be a good way for the poet to get their message across.
- The antithesis from previous stanza "********** of love" to "cling to your knife" clearly mocks the fact that relationships hurt deeply if they last longer than the passion.
- "It will blind you like a lover" Positive modal shading, declarative "It will" creates a sense of inevitability, The similie"like a lover" deals with the reality of relationships, that love is painful and not always easy.
- The poem does not meet our expectations based on the title.
- A love poem that explores the reality of relationships rather than conventional ideas of love.
- The speaker rejects traditional symbols of of love.
- Written in open (free verse), no pattern in its structure or rhyme scheme.
- rejects conventional love
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