"Valentine" quotes Flashcards
“Not a red rose or a satin heart.//”
W/C: “not” strong rejection of stereotypical symbols of love
Alteration: draws attention to stereotypical gifts, her love is unique
1 sentence verse: draws attention to rejection
Repetitive Structure: “Not a cute card or a kissogram.”
“It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”
Metaphor: Just as the outer layers of an onion is brown so too do real romantic gifts don’t need to be embellished with wrapping paper
W/C: “moon”- traditional romantic symbol, love can be beautiful
“It promises light/
like the careful undressing of love.”
Simile: Just as you peel away the layers of an onion so too do lovers expose themselves emotionally and physically to one another.
W/C: “light”- hope, clarity, blissfulness, references optimism in relationship
“I give you an onion.”
“Here.”
“Take it”
Short sentence: emphasises how she is becoming more insistent using imperative command. Eager to portray truth about love
Tone: forceful
“It will blind you with tears/
like a lover”
Simile: just an onion causes your eyes to water so too can a partner inflict pain and distress,a warning that love can be unsettling
“It will make your reflection/
a wobbling photo of grief.”
metaphor: Just as a reflection from a mirror forces you to look at yourself so too does the speaker place the teary-eyed lover in front of a mirror,suggesting that the vulnerability in relationships can be destructive and lead to a self-reflection or insecurity about identity. Warning that love can be unsettling
“I am trying to be truthful.//”
Emphatic Statement: emphasises the significance that love needs honesty to flourish, an attempt to justify her unusual view of love
Tone: blunt, affectionate, threatening
“Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips”
Imagery: Just as the pungent smell and taste of an onion can linger so too can relationships be strong and unpleasant.
Word Choice: “Fierce” has connotations of violence, aggressive or powerful, love can be dark, desperate and intense
“possessive and faithful”
Word Choice: positive connotations of “faithful”(commitment, loyal or devoted) contrast that with the darker connotations of “possessive”(abusive,controlling or clingy) suggests that love can have an element of jealousy and distrust
“Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,/
if you like.”
Metaphor: Just as onions have white circular layers so too is a platinum wedding ring which is a positive symbol of commitment in love.
The ring is platinum, the most expensive metal which refers to how their relationship is valuable.
The idea of shrinking symbolises that relationships require adjustment which causes restrictions.
“Lethal./
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.”
Word Choice: “lethal” and “knife” connotations of violence, dangerous, harmful, love can be destructive (1 word sentence emphasises this)
Imagery: Just as the pungent smell and taste of an onion can linger so too can love remain despite the difficulties.
Repetition: “cling” emphasises possessive intense love
