Valentine Poetry Analysis

Valentine

Context - In the poem Duffy describes an unusual Valentines day gift - an onion. Duffy was born in 1955 - she is the UK's first female laurete. In this poem she cricises the conventional and cliched symbols of relationships and romance. She challenges the stereotypical view of valenties day and love.

Structure + Form -  Poem follows the journey of a relationship from begginig to end.

The poem is written in free verse, each Stanza s short. Some stanzas reflect the natural rythm of speech patterns + suggests that love and relationship have no order or pattern and are totally unpredictable. 

Themes - Love, Duffys atittude to love is realistic, challenging and cynical. Attittude is generally negative.

Language Analysis;

The title of the poem 'Valentine' suggests conotations of romance and love. 

"Not a red rose or satin heart" Alliteration emphasises traditional and cynical images and declarations of love.

The "onion" is a symbol of love, round like the "moon" The onion is an extended metaphor, used as a symbol of life. 

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