Valentine

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Overview

The narrator is describing the nature of love.

They describe love as an onion and give it to their lover as Valentine's Day gift. It is not one of the traditional things we typically associate with love, but love is like an onion in that love has many layers that our lovers have to discover - 'careful undressing of love'.

Both onions and love can make you cry - 'blind you with tears'

Onions smell pungently and distinctly - 'stay on your lips, possessive and faithful' - the scent is like a faithful lover.

The scent will 'cling to your fingers' - love is impossible to get rid of.

Duffy emphasises that onions better depict what love is than the presents sold in shops.

Read the poem.

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy - analysis (Embed)

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy (meaning video) (Embed)

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Imagery

'Moon wrapped in brown paper,' - something beautiful and important is wrapped in an ordinary exterior, which perhaps suggests that the thought behind the gesture is more important than the actual onion itself.

'Wobbling photo of grief' - a photo records a significant moment. Perhaps the first fight in a relationship will be significant, as the lovers have to find a way to continue. The word 'wobbling' possibly refers to the bottom lip quivering as a person cries.

'Its scent will cling to your fingers, / cling to your knife.' - This suggests that love affects us permanently, and that the lover will be unable to forget the love they shared, even if the gift is rejected/destroyed.

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Tone

Reflective and thoughtful, like the narrator has carefully contemplated what love is and how they are to present this strange present to their lover.

The tone changes in the final stanza, when the poetic voice warns their lover that the love they share will stay with them, longer than perhaps the relationship will. The final words, 'Its scent will cling to your fingers, / cling to your knife,' explain that even if the lover destroys the gift and the physical evidence of their relationship, their love will still live on.

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Structure

'Valentine' has 7 stanzas, each of different lengths. This signifies that love is a long journey, with differing levels of hardship.

The one line stanzas strip the poem back to its bare essentials, but are all linked.

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Form

This poem is a dramatic monologue, presented as a love letter or a sentimental speech addressing the voice's lover.

The Persona

This could be a persona or Duffy herself, but the lack of indication of the narrator's identity means the poem can apply to anyone (universal).

We know the narrator is a romantic relationship - 'as we are' refers to the narrator and their lover - 'I give you an onion' is the narrator addressing their lover and giving them an onion for Valentine's Day, 'not a cute card or a kissogram'.

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Themes

Passing of time - poem shows how love unfolds;

'careful undressing'

'blind you with tears'

'possessive and faithful'

'shrink to a wedding ring'

Loss and grief - love can sometimes be a source of pain; 'It will blind you with tears / ...make your reflection / a wobbling photo of grief' - this isn't traditionally portrayed in the media's representation of love, but it is a part of being in love.

Love and fondness - Love is portrayed in an unconventional way, but Duffy says she is 'trying to be truthful,' onion is representation of love

Direct address - Duffy addresses the readers directly, as if they are in the place of the lover, use of second person pronoun 'you'

Fantasy - destroys stereotype of love; 'not a red rose or a satin heart'

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Summary Notes

Page 8

Additional Analysis