F.4 ELIT Second term unseen poetry quiz (Carol Ann Duffy)

Valentine – Carol Ann Duffy 1)Comment on the use of the senses. (6 marks) Sight – Imageries (mental pictures e.g. onion, ring … ); - Brightness (e.g. satin, moon, light, ‘ blind you with tears ’, … ); - Reflection ( ‘ wobbling photo of grief ’ ); - Colour (e.g. red heart, brown paper, platinum loops … )

Smell – ‘ Its scent will cling to your fingers ’ ; Taste – ‘ Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips ’ ; Touch – ‘ Its scent will cling to your fingers/ cling to your knife ’ / ‘ Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips ’ ;  All these make the descriptions more vivid because human beings understand the world through the senses.

ii) Discuss the different aspects of ‘ love ’ mentioned in the poem. (3 marks) 1)The deceitfulness of love – Love promises wonderful things, but when the truth is revealed (i.e. ‘ the careful undressing of love ’ ), it brings ‘ grief ’. 2)The possessiveness/ faithfulness of love – ( ‘ Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,/ possessive and faithful ’ ; Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring ’ )

3. The violence of love – ( ‘ Lethal/Its scent will cling to your fingers,/ cling to your knife). The poem ends in an ominous way.

iii) Comment on the relationship between the speaker and the addressee. (2 marks) The speaker and the addressee are a couple, but it seems that the relationship has turned sour, and the problem may have arised from ‘ possessiveness ’ or someone not being faithful. The ominous ending also suggests that the relationship becomes negative, or may be even violent.