S5 English

Good Morning S5! In today’s lesson we will... Revise poetic techniques. Think about the theme of love. Study a poem by Carol Anne Duffy

LOVE How do you tell someone that you love them? Shakespeare “Shall I compare thee to a summers day?” “I’ll say she looks as clear as morning roses newly washed with dew.” Burns “Oh my luve’s like a red, red rose.” “But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love her forever.”

Wendy Cope There’s not a Shakespeare sonnet Or a Beethoven quartet That’s easier to like than you Or harder to forget. You think that sounds extravagant? I haven’t finished yet.. I like you more than I would like To______________________

Different aspects of love... Read the short poem in your group – what aspect of love is the poet celebrating/commenting on?

‘Valentine’ by Carol Anne Duffy What symbols of conventional love does the title suggest?

‘Valentine’ In the poem, Duffy uses the symbol of an onion to describe love. Before reading the poem, decide in your group how an onion might represent love?

‘Valentine’ Copy the poem onto your A3 page. Make sure you follow the punctuation exactly. Not a red rose or a satin heart. I give you an onion. It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. It promises light like the careful undressing of love.

‘Valentine’ The big picture... What is this poem about? In your groups come up with an answer. Now follow your 10 step ‘how to study a poem’ tips and write down your thoughts.

‘Valentine’ What is the poem about? On the surface, the poem is about the giving of an unusual present for Valentine’s Day, but it is really an exploration of love and the nature of relationships between two people. The central image is of an onion and it is used throughout the poem as an extended metaphor for love.

‘Valentine’ In your group, take a statement from the poem and explain it to your classmates. What is the poet saying about love? How does she say it? Think about tone, language and structure.

‘Valentine’ Statement 1 It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. It promises light like the careful undressing of love. She believes in gifts despite rejection of satin hearts Conventional romantic object Hope? The brown skin like paper – idea of unwrapping a present Tender, gentle Undressing each other? Layers in a person?

‘Valentine’ Statement 2 It will blind you with tears like a lover. Tears of joy? Love is blind... Or heartache? Love hurts A lover has the potential to cause tears Idea of the tears that come when you chop an onion

‘Valentine’ Statement 3 It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief. Idea of loss, hurt, pain and grief Idea of looking at your reflection with tears in your eyes

‘Valentine’ Statement 4 Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, The flavour is persistent , the taste is like a kiss that lasts Statement 4 Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful Is this an oxymoron or symbolising passion? Love is unforgettable Love is possessive and faithful When relationship ends, the bitterness lingers.

‘Valentine’ Statement 5 Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, if you like. Colour of onion (and ring) Suggests wedding is not important to her? You can make this more conventional but hints she doesn’t care? Addressing her partner/lover

‘Valentine’ Statement 6 Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife. Hint of a threat? Links marriage to a wound The capacity of love to hurt

‘Valentine’ Subject Matter Ideas and Attitudes What is the poem about? What is the poet’s attitude to love? What is her tone? Language Form/Structure How does Duffy show her disapproval for the traditional Valentine gifts? Comment on her use of ‘I’ and ‘you’. Comment on lines 6, 11 and 18. Select 5 interesting uses of language and analyse them fully.

‘Valentine’ Subject matter Ideas and Attitudes A universal poem – it could be any lover to any beloved as there is no indication of the sex of either ‘I’ or ‘you’. Onion is an extended metaphor for love. Initially she is positive about the love she offers- it has many layers which promise a joyful future. However, the end is not as positive with her suggestion that one partner may end relationship. Language Form/Structure ‘promise’, ‘light’ suggest positive aspects of relationship. As poem progresses there is more focus on strength and power of relationship – ‘fierce’, ‘possessive’, ‘faithful’. At end, Duffy suggests intensity of lovers may be too much for relationship, forcing an ending – ‘lethal’. Written in FREE VERSE – no obvious rhyme scheme. It echoes the naturalness of speech and suggests love has no order or pattern. Repetition of line structure. Repetition of ‘not’.

Is the poem... Cynical about love? Realistic about love? Idealistic about love? Pessimistic about love?