S5 English. Good Morning S5! In todays lesson we will... Revise poetic techniques. Think about the theme of love. Study a poem by Carol Anne Duffy.

S5 EnglishS5 English

Good Morning S5!Good Morning S5!In today’s lesson we will...

Revise poetic techniques.Think about the theme of love.Study a poem by Carol Anne

Duffy

LOVELOVEHow do you tell someone that you love

them?

Shakespeare“Shall I compare thee to a summers day?”“I’ll say she looks as clear as morning roses

newly washed with dew.”

Burns“Oh my luve’s like a red, red rose.”“But to see her was to love her, love but her,

and love her forever.”

Wendy CopeWendy CopeThere’s not a Shakespeare sonnetOr a Beethoven quartetThat’s easier to like than youOr harder to forget.

You think that sounds extravagant?I haven’t finished yet..I like you more than I would likeTo______________________

Different aspects of love...Different aspects of love...

Read the short poem in your group – what aspect of love is the poet celebrating/commenting on?

‘‘Valentine’ by Carol Anne Valentine’ by Carol Anne DuffyDuffy

What symbols of conventional love does the title suggest?

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’In the poem, Duffy uses the symbol

of an onion to describe love.

Before reading the poem, decide in your group how an onion might represent love?

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Copy the poem onto your A3 page.Make sure you follow the

punctuation exactly.

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.It promises lightlike the careful undressing of love.

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’The big picture...What is this poem about?In your groups come up with an

answer.

Now follow your 10 step ‘how to study a poem’ tips and write down your thoughts.

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’What is the poem about?

On the surface, the poem is about the giving of an unusual present for Valentine’s Day, but it is really an exploration of love and the nature of relationships between two people. The central image is of an onion and it is used throughout the poem as an extended metaphor for love.

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’In your group, take a statement

from the poem and explain it to your classmates.

What is the poet saying about love?

How does she say it?

Think about tone, language and structure.

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 1

It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.

It promises lightlike the careful undressing of love.

She believes in gifts despite rejection of satin hearts

The brown skin like paper – idea of unwrapping a presentUndressin

g each other?

Layers in a person?

Hope?

Tender, gentle

Conventional romantic object

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 2

It will blind you with tearslike a lover.

Tears of joy?

Or heartache? Love hurts

Idea of the tears that come when you chop an onion

A lover has the potential to cause tears

Love is blind...

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 3

It will make your reflectiona wobbling photo of grief.

Idea of loss, hurt, pain and grief

Idea of looking at your reflection with tears in your eyes

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 4

Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,possessive and faithful

Is this an oxymoron or symbolising passion?

Love is possessive and faithful

When relationship ends, the bitterness lingers.

Love is unforgettable

The flavour is persistent , the taste is like a kiss that lasts

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 5

Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,

if you like.

Suggests wedding is not important to her?

Addressing her partner/lover

You can make this more conventional but hints she doesn’t care?

Colour of onion (and ring)

‘‘Valentine’Valentine’Statement 6

Its scent will cling to your fingers,cling to your knife.

Links marriage to a wound

The capacity of love to hurt

Hint of a threat?

‘Valentine’Subject Matter Ideas and Attitudes

Language Form/Structure

What is the poem about?

What is the poet’s attitude to love?

What is her tone?

How does Duffy show her disapproval for the traditional Valentine gifts?

Comment on her use of ‘I’ and ‘you’.

Comment on lines 6, 11 and 18.

Select 5 interesting uses of language and analyse them fully.

‘Valentine’Subject matter Ideas and Attitudes

Language Form/Structure

Initially she is positive about the love she offers- it has many layers which promise a joyful future. However, the end is not as positive with her suggestion that one partner may end relationship.

Written in FREE VERSE – no obvious rhyme scheme. It echoes the naturalness of speech and suggests love has no order or pattern. Repetition of line structure. Repetition of ‘not’.

‘promise’, ‘light’ suggest positive aspects of relationship. As poem progresses there is more focus on strength and power of relationship – ‘fierce’, ‘possessive’, ‘faithful’. At end, Duffy suggests intensity of lovers may be too much for relationship, forcing an ending – ‘lethal’.

A universal poem – it could be any lover to any beloved as there is no indication of the sex of either ‘I’ or ‘you’.

Onion is an extended metaphor for love.

Is the poem...Is the poem...

Cynical about love?

Realistic about love?

Idealistic about love?

Pessimistic about love?