Valentine

ValentineCarol Ann Duffy

ExpectationsO Think about the title and the poet.

What expectations do you have?O Think for a minute.O Discuss with your shoulder partner.O Share you thoughts with the class

Love PoetryO What features would you expect in

traditional love poetry?O What words would you expect to

see?O What types of imagery would you

expect?

ValentineO How does `Valentine` compare with

your expectations?O What do you find to be the most

striking feature of the poem?

AnnotationNot 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.

Love is too deep for these clichés.

Metaphor for love. Also bitterness.

Romantic image. Governs women’s passions.

Common and plain.Brightness,

clarity and beauty. Freedom from fear.

Love making, sexual connotations. Also, revealing the depths and reality of love.

Here. It will blind you with tears like a lover.It will make your reflectiona wobbling photo of grief. I am trying to be truthful.

Love will make you cry. Also, love is blind.

Looking in the mirror at yourself crying.

Again avoiding clichés. Reinforced by stanza to itself.

Negative portrayal of love here.

Not a cute card or a kissogram. I give you an onion.Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,possessive and faithfulas we are,for as long as we are.

Further rejection of clichés of love.

Metaphor again.

Aggressive nature of love at time. Nature of longing and desire.

Positive and negative nature of love.

Flawed nature of humans and their passions linked to the overpowering nature of an onion.

Take it.Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,if you like. Lethal.Its scent will cling to your fingers,cling to your knife.

Instruction / demand Can be more

traditional, like a wedding, if you choose.Dangerous. Can be detrimental to

your wellbeing.

Loves gets hold of you and sticks. The external nature of someone else being involved.

Onion smell clings to a knife. Threat of violence if betrayed.