Valentine

Question 1

Give a brief description of the title and poem

Answer 1

Unconventional love and the use of the onion as a metaphor

Question 2

Discuss and give an example of the metaphor of the onion

Answer 2

“I give you an onion” suggests that it is directly addressed and that an onion is cheap and unconventional so may not show a lot of meaning.

Question 3

Explain and quote imagery used in the poem

Answer 3

“Moon wrapped in brown paper” - the “brown paper” is also cheap and unconventional and the “moon” shows the image of the onion as it is the same shape and the brown paper is the same colour.

Question 4

Identify and analyse the structure used in the poem

Answer 4

The free verse makes the poem seem like a conversation between people and focusing on what Duffy wants to say.

Question 5

Identify and explain the tone used

Answer 5

“I give you an onion” is a very declarative and direct tone which suggests that Duffy may even be aggressively speaking

Question 6

Discuss and analyse the title

Answer 6

“Valentine” is a reference to Saint Valentine who is the saint of love which is celebrated on the 14th of February every year (valentines day)

Question 6

Discuss the personal reflections in the poem

Answer 6

The theme of love is a universal theme so a lot of people world wide can relate to the experiences shown in the poem

Question 7

Explain how Duffy engages the reader into the peom

Answer 7

Lots of caesuras being used makes the reader stop and think about what Duffy has just said