valentine

Question 1

summary

Answer 1

• taken a love poem and subverted it using an onion as a metaphor for love - an onion, which is used as a metaphor for a complex and potentially painful, yet fulfilling, love.
• the comparison gets more ambiguous and confuses the reader about what is being talked about.
• tries to make out that true love is about more than cliche gifts.
• suggests that the nature of love can be destructive if not properly tended to.

Question 2

what is the poetic voice?

Answer 2

• a women addressing their lover and offers an unconventional valentines gift.
• trying to challenge traditional notions of love and gestures.

Question 3

how is the poetic voce created?

Answer 3

• first-person
• dramatic monologue ->creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, allowing Duffy to explore the nuances and complexities of a relationship.
• complexity of emotions ->ends with a warning.

Question 4

themes

Answer 4

• love/ relationships
• time/ reflection