'Valentine' : Carol Ann Duffy

Analysis of 'Valentine'

'Not a red rose or a satin heart'

• The poem is immediately challenging the conventional portayal of Valentine's Day (and therefore love)
• This is a partial sentence (includes no verb)
  • Sounds more direct/blunt

'I give you an onion'

• Pronouns are 'I' and 'you', which makes the poem more personal 
  • May suggest the poem is from one lover to another
• This line is a conceit (a surprising statement), which is a technique used by metaphysical poets, like John Donne
• The line surprises the reader, it is unorthodox and strange

'moon wrapped in brown paper'

• The moon is a source of light and hope, it is beautiful and positive, but it is also unconstant
  • This image presents an ambivalent (contradictory) attitude to love

'promises light'

• verb 'promises' implies it does not always provide the light it should
  • This may reflect on the preconceptions that love is happy

'careful ********** of love'

• This appears quite a sexual image
• ********* the conventions down to the truth
• Connotations of vulnerability
  • Falling in love means opening yourself up, like peeling away layers (of an onion, of a person)

'it will blind you with tears like a lover'

• The verb 'will' implies an inevitability of hurt and pain in a relationship
• A reference to Cupid ('love is blind')
  • This means you can't see the flaws of the person you love
  • Duffy is suggesting that love is problematic

'it will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief'

• The verb 'will' is repeated to enforce the idea of these negative emotions
• When you cry, the face quivers, hence the word 'wobbling'
• Photos capture a moment (often happy) so that the memories are eternal/last forever
  • Almost like trying to make a relationship last/make the memories permanent
• This line is also ironic because photos are associated with happiness, while grief is quite the opposite (extreme sadness)

'I am trying to be truthful'

• The verb 'trying' implies that the truth is hard to get at (due to conflicting emotions)

'Not a cute card or a kissogram.'

• Another blunt, partial sentence
• There is repetition of the plosive 'k' sound 
  • The sound is harsh, so it is clear Duffy intends to criticise these clichés that are deemed romantic
  • These sounds…