The language is very simple and gets straight to the point. May 05, 2009 carol ann duffy, the first woman poet laureate, explores many different themes in this selection of poems from childhood memories to relationships. She does this by using different techniques such as language features such as metaphors, simlies, imagery and word structure. Duffy tries to challenge the traditional ideas and commercialisation of love whilst following a nonlinear structure to try and highlight how everyones experience with love and relationships is different. This essay will be exploring the use of language and imagery in the poem valentine by carol ann duffy to emphasise certain emotions within the text. Carol ann duffys valentine ultimately depicts a highly cynical attitude towards love and conventional gestures of affection. Carol ann duffy rejects the usual valentine gifts, suggesting that they are too. She was the first woman, the first scottishborn poet, and the first lgbt poet to hold the position. The title suggests love as valentines day is a day to celebrate love on the 14th of february not a red rose or a satin heart, i give you an onion, the reader is immediately taken back by the randomness and obscurity of this valentines day gift. Mar 07, 2020 a series of comprehension questions based on the poem valentine by carol anne duffy. This essay will be exploring the use of language and imagery in the poem valentine by.
Duffy is trying to make us see that love is not always rosetinted. Analysis of poem valentine by carol ann duffy owlcation. Overview of poem valentine is the first poem featured in the relationships section of the edexcel gcse poetry anthology, and it is an excellent poem to study for language devices. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the poetry of carol ann duffy.
Apr 04, 2016 analysis of the poem valentine for gcse english literature. She went to university of liverpool and got a philosophy degree in 1974. In valentine, carol ann duffy writes an unconventional love poem that features an onion. The first woman poet laureate of the united kingdom, carol ann duff is a muchadmired, awardwinning female poet. Throughout the poem she shows the positive and negative sides about love by comparing love to an onion. In this post we will explore the poetic devices of the poem and how we can interpret the. Valentine is a poem that offers an unconventional approach to the traditional, romantic, commercially driven idea of a sugar coated valentines. One of my favorite contemporary love poems, a moving explanation of why an onion not chocolate or a card is the perfect, most realistic gift.
Her poems are accessible and entertaining and yet she is touching, sensitive and witty. Carol ann duffy, the first woman poet laureate, explores many different themes in this selection of poems from childhood memories to relationships. Jan 08, 2020 carol ann duffy and a summary of valentine valentine is a poem that offers an unconventional approach to the traditional, romantic, commercially driven idea of a sugar coated valentine s day. Valentine and stealing by carol ann duffy 961 words. I recently bought her book rapture, which is probably one of the best poetry books i have ever read. The poem has an unusual structure to match its unusual subject matter, and uses a variety of literary techniques. Valentine by carol ann duffy analysis guide teaching. The speaker gives her lover an onion as opposed to a rose or a satin heart. Includes the poem and relevant questions based on contextual detail, meaning, poetic language, structural techniques and the effect on the reader. Carol ann duffy is an awardwinning british poet and childrens book writer.
Duffy knew that she wanted to become a writer one day. It shines the spotlight on that most common of everyday kitchen vegetables, the onion, and infuses it with drama and symbolism. Valentines day, dont mean anything to duffy and they are. Gcse poetry analysis valentine by carol ann duffy smart. A notated copy of carol ann duffy s poem valentine. Carol ann duffy biography childhood, life achievements. A ladies maid considers the voluptuous life of her mistress upstairs as.
The poem challenges the stereotypical view of a valentines gift when the speaker presents their lover with the. The title suggests love as valentines day is a day to celebrate love on the 14th of february not a red rose or a satin heart, i give you an onion. Feb 14, 20 in a special valentine s day book club, carol ann duffy reads from a collection featuring the best of her love poetry. The notations are certainly not exhaustive, but rather provide a starting point for further class discussion and analysis. Reading valentine a poem by carol ann duffy youtube. She attended saint austins rc primary school, went on to josephs convent school and then stafford girls high school. The poets attitude to love is unusual as she provides a different perspective on how we can look at it by describing the unconventional and pessimstic side of life. Dame carol ann duffy dbe frsl honfba honfrse born 23 december 1955 is a british poet and playwright.
But actually, this is a poem that explores the reality of relationships rather than conventional ideas about. Valentine valentine higher english revision bbc bitesize. The word valentine might make you think of quite traditional love poem. The poem valentine is about giving readers a realistic picture of love rather than an idealistic one home. In this post we will explore the poetic devices of the poem and how we can interpret the imagery used by duffy. Even though she never views herself as a feminist poet, her poems, especially in her collection the worlds wife, are closely. Carol ann duffy was uk poet laureate, a post she held until 2019.
Valentine by carol ann duffy quotes flashcards quizlet. Carol ann duffys valentine how to analyse poetry youtube. Lornshill academy is a six year comprehensive school, situated between the village of tullibody and alloa with a student roll of around 1. Men, women, and representation in duffys the worlds wife. She was the daughter of mary nee black and frank duffy, an electrical fitter. Valentine analysis by carol ann duffy ba english notes. Review of carol ann duffys poem, valentine essay carol ann. The family moved to england when duffy was six years old. Valentine is a free verse dramatic monologue written by scottish poet, author, and playwright carol ann duffy. Review of carol ann duffys poem, valentine essay carol.
Refer to other poems about relationships in your answer. This is a poem that does not meet our expectations after weve read the title. This poem expresses love and affection in the form of a conceit whereby the symbol of love being offered by the persona is an. A series of comprehension questions based on the poem valentine by carol anne duffy. Her poetry tends to deal with difficult subject matters and is often written in first person in the form of a dramatic monologue, usually aimed directly at the reader as is the case with valentine. Review of carol ann duffys poem, valentine a poem which deals with the subject of love through strong human emotion is valentine written by carolann duffy. Jan 22, 2019 valentine by carol ann duffy is a humorous poem, which explores the concept of love, likening it to an onion. The theme of love in carol ann duffys valentine 748. We dont know who the you is, but perhaps, as its the kind of person who would normally receive a cute card, its a. Duffy s aim is to invert the familiar expressions of love.
Valentine by carol ann duffy is an irregular poem with a direct tone. Analysis of the poem valentine for gcse english literature. In this article, we are going to analyzing the poem valentine by carol ann duffy. Many of her poems are part of the british school and. The first female, scottish poet laureate in the roles 400 year history, carol ann duffys combination of tenderness and toughness, humour and lyricism. Carol ann duffy has a unique way of expressing her love in an unconventional way through this profound work of poetry. Poetry is in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus or just whats in your heart. In a special valentines day book club, carol ann duffy reads from a collection featuring the best of her love poetry. Useful to check students understanding after annotating the poem in class. Her writing talent was recognized by some of her teachers. It promises light like the careful undressing of love.
Valentine is a realistic interpretation of love and the journey taken throughout a relationship. Carol ann duffy and fay weldon both deal with different aspects of a common theme of relationships. Quotations by carol ann duffy, british poet, born december 23, 1955. Carol ann duffy is an awardwinning scottish poet who, according to danette dimarco in mosaic, is the poet of postpost war england. The title is a signifier has many meanings as the word valentine is associated with love, chocolates, gifts, roses, cards, hearts, letters, flowers, cupid etc. She was born in glasgow and raised in england from the age of seven, where, even from a young age, she showed a great command of poetic skills. She is a professor of contemporary poetry at manchester metropolitan university, and was appointed britains poet laureate in may 2009, resigning in 2019.
Carol ann duffy, british poet whose wellknown and wellliked poetry engaged such topics as gender and oppression, expressing them in familiar, conversational language that made her work accessible to a variety of readers. Valentine by carol ann duffy scottish poetry library. Mar 29, 20 valentine is the first poem featured in the relationships section of the edexcel gcse poetry anthology, and it is an excellent poem to study for language devices. Duffy is best known for writing love poems that often take the form of monologues. Valentine and stealing by carol ann duffy 961 words 4 pages valentine and stealing, by carolann duffy for ideas only, do not copy in valentine and stealing, carolann duffy uses an extended metaphor which helps the reader relate to what the poet is trying to get across, and to understand what the feelings are of the. Carol ann duffy was born to a roman catholic family in the gorbals, a poor part of glasgow. Valentine poem carol anne duffy comprehension questions. Following on from the series of maccaig poems, weve prepared 6 new poetry revision videos which cover the carol ann duffy poems set for. Examine the way carol ann duffy presents relationships in valentine. Valentine poem analysis and notes interpreture english. The poem uses traditional images of valentine as a starting point, before showing how an onion is much more true to the nature of love. Carol ann duffy explores the concept of love through unusual comparisons and imagery. The introduction paragraph states what pov, topic literal and metaphorical or symbolic and also theme briefly the poet uses.
Valentine poem by carol ann duffy famous poets and poems. Carol ann duffy, poet to valentine, is one of britains most famous poets. Feb 11, 2016 valentine by carol ann duffy, read by russ kick. Read this biography to learn more about her childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline. How does carol ann duffy present relationships in quick draw and valentine. She spurns traditional expressions of love in favor a nontraditional valentines day gift, claiming that it symbolized love in a much more realistic way than roses or heart shaped candies.
Instead, she provides what she considers to be a far more representation of love and relationships. Her poetry tends to deal with difficult subject matters and is often written in first person in the form of a dramatic. Carol ann duffy, born in scotland but raised in england, is well known for her dramatic poetry and her exploration of. Valentine by duffy is from a collection of poems entitled mean time 1993 and expresses affection in a relationship in the form of a conceit, whereby the symbol of relationships being offered by the speaker is an unconventional onion. Carol ann duffy is a scottishirish poet, born on 23rd december 1955 in gorbals, glasgow. It is particularly suited as a possible starter poem for looking at poetry regarding love through the ages for aqa english literature alevel, but is certainly accessible. In lieu of a valentine sweet love and i had oft communed. Valentine is a poem that offers an unconventional approach to the traditional, romantic, commercially driven idea of a sugar coated valentines day.
There is one very good reason why carol ann duffy was chosen as the poet laureate and i was not. Some good poems by carol ann duffy i love duffys poems, i first read duffy in high school, it was salome and i have always remembered it since. Within our learning community we are fully committed to providing opportunities for every pupil to achieve success, to make friends, to discover new talents and to. Valentine by carol ann duffy, read by russ kick youtube. She was born in glasgow and raised in england from the age of seven, where, even. In 200919 she served as the first woman poet laureate of great britain. Essay, valentine carol ann duffy free essay example.
This poem comes from carol ann duffys 1993 collection mean time. Enjoy the best carol ann duffy quotes at brainyquote. Carol ann duffy and a summary of valentine valentine is a poem that offers an unconventional approach to the traditional, romantic, commercially driven idea of a sugar coated valentines day. She implies that love is not always sweet, but can be sharp, cutting and can result in tears, just like the scent and taste of an. Duffy deliberately avoids the use of language or imagery that we associate with this type of poetry.