Valentine

by
Carol Ann Duffy
Pupil Unit
Includes Formative Assessment
Strategies

Critical Essay: Poetry

Valentine
by
Carol Anne Duffy

By the end of this Unit you will be able to write Critical Essays on the poem
Valentine.
You will be able to write relevantly about the central concern(s)/theme(s) of
the poem and be able to support your views by reference to appropriate poetic
techniques.
You will learn about/revise the following techniques:
Imagery
Tone
Word Choice
Structure
Symbolism
Selected Poems for Higher English
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

You will be able to adapt your knowledge of the central concerns/themes of

the poem and the techniques used to answer questions which ask you to
choose a poem
which you feel is particularly relevant to a teenage audience.
in which a seemingly unimportant incident acquires
increased significance by the end of the poem.
in which you feel there is a significant moment which reveals
the central idea of the poem.
which creates a sense of menace.
on the subject of love.
in which there is a noticeable change of mood at one or more
than one point in the poem.

Activities in this unit are designed to be performed in classroom

conditions involving discussion, peer assessment and written
assignment. The teacher will facilitate the lessons and discussions
giving appropriate advice and modelling when appropriate.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine
Carol Ann Duffy
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.
Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Valentin
e

The poem
is not
about an
onion.
You have 2 minutes
to discuss with a
partner what the
poem is about!
Selected Poems for Higher English
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Focus of Close Analysis

the positive aspects of love
conveyed in the poem and how
Duffy has conveyed her
speakers positive attitude
through imagery, word choice
and symbolism.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Pupil
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
The task we are going to concentrate on as we examine
Duffys poem is:
Choose a poem on the subject of love.
Show how the poet treats the subject, and explain to
what extent you find the treatment convincing.
(Higher English 2001)

First we are going to examine the positive aspects of love conveyed

in the poem and how Duffy has conveyed her speakers positive
attitude through imagery, word choice and symbolism
Duffy uses the extended metaphor of an onion to show her
speakers positive attitude to love.
Working with a partner, complete the table below.
Model your responses on the two that have been done for you.
Context/
Understanding

Evidence/Quote

The title of the

poem suggests
that it will deal
with fairly
conventional
notions of love.
Yet
unconventional
gift offered - an
onion.

Valentine

It is a moon wrapped
in brown paper.

Positive aspect of promises/light

love - optimism
at the beginning
of a relationship

Analysis/
Evaluation/
Personal Response
Connotations of
hearts/flowers/romance
we all like the idea that
someone loves us and
cares enough to show it
through giving us gifts
Excellent metaphor
-moon is a conventional
symbol of love suggests
romance; brown paper
no fancy wrappings to
disguise the object
truth/honesty. This is very
believable.
Hint Comment on the
word choice of
promises?
Is this convincing?

The longer a
Its platinum loops
relationship lasts shrink to a weddingSelected Poems for Higher English
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Hint
What does Duffys
7

it will become
more serious
and may lead to
marriage a
commitment
which is not to
be made lightly.
Positive aspect of
love - optimism
at the beginning
of a relationship
love has many
layers.
Strength and
power of the
relationship.

ring,

persona suggest about

the relationship in this
metaphor?
Is this convincing?

It promises light
like the careful
undressing of love.

Hint

faithful,
as we are,

Hint

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Mini Essay
Your teacher will model how you should use the information from one of the
rows of the table to suit a line of thought and how you should link the
information ensuring that whenever a statement is made there should be
analytical and evaluative comment made

Mini-essay Task
Show how the poet reveals the positive aspects of the
speakers attitude to love and explain to what extent
you find the treatment convincing.

The following can be done in pairs, each pair taking one or two rows from the
table:

Write your paragraphs and swap with another pair or group.

The other group should consider whether anything else can be added.
Use your notes from the template to help you.
Your mini-essay should show understanding (context), reference to the
text (quote) and evaluative response (analysis and personal comment).

Examine the model below to see how you can structure and link your
ideas in your response to the task above:Context/
Understanding
Evidence/Quote
Analysis/Evaluation
/ Personal
Response

Context/
Understanding
Evidence/Quote
Analysis/Evaluation
/
Personal
Response

The title of the poem suggests that it will deal with fairly
conventional ideas of love:
Valentine
In this word there are connotations of romance. We all
like the idea that someone loves us and cares enough to
show it through giving us gifts like flowers and
chocolates.
Yet Duffys speaker offers an unconventional symbol of
their love to their partner. The gift of an onion is
presented by the persona as a positive expression of
their feelings for their partner:
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
The moon is a conventional symbol of love and this
metaphor suggests romance, tenderness and sensitivity.
The brown paper the skin of the onion shows that
there are no fancy wrappings to disguise the object

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

implying that the relationship will be based on truth and

honesty. This is very believable as we would all like to
think that our partners will not only treat us sensitively
and tenderly and keep the romance alive in our
relationship but also that they will have no secrets from
us.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

10

Peer Assessment
How did you get on? Working with a partner, use the checklist below to assess
whether or not you have included all necessary information in your mini-essay.
If you have used all the information from your table and the model which your
teacher provided, you should have very little to improve in your mini-essay.
Context/
Understandin
g

Evidence/Quote

Evaluation

Valentine
It is a moon wrapped
in brown paper.
Its platinum loops
shrink to a weddingring,
promises/light
faithful,
Technical Accuracy
Topic Sentence
Full stops/capital letters used properly
Varied sentence structure
Quotes set out properly
Spelling correct
Linkage used eg In
addition/furthermore/moreover/yet etc

Complete
Completethe
thesentence
sentence

Identify 2 areas
where you have
done well and
write them in the
stars.
Selected Poems for Higher English
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

IIneed
needtotoimprove
improve

11

Focus of Close Analysis

The negative aspects of love
conveyed in the poem and how
Duffy has conveyed, through
imagery, word choice and tone,
that her speaker/persona
becomes increasingly frustrated
by their lovers rejection of the
gift of the onion and eventually
adopts a threatening attitude.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

12

Pupil
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
The task we are going to concentrate on as we examine Duffys
poem is:
Choose a poem on the subject of love.
Show how the poet treats the subject, and explain to what
extent you find the treatment convincing.
(Higher English 2001)

In this section, we are going to examine the negative

aspects of love conveyed in the poem and how Duffy has
conveyed, through imagery, word choice and tone, that
her speaker becomes increasingly frustrated by their
lovers rejection of the gift and eventually adopts a
threatening attitude.

Negative aspects of relationships conveyed in the

poem
Duffy uses the extended metaphor of an onion to show her
speakers increasing frustration that the gift of an onion has been
rejected. Eventually, the speaker adopts a threatening attitude as
their lover refuses to accept the gift.
Working with a partner, complete the table below.

Model your responses on the two that have been done for you.
Context/
Understanding

Evidence/Quote

The onion represents a

relationship which may
ocasionally cause you
pain.

It will blind you with

tears
like a lover.

The onion is like a mirror

but the image may be
distorted..

It will make your

reflection
a wobbling photo of
grief.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysis/
Evaluation/
Personal Response
Simile truth/honesty
suggests love can cause
distress; Word choice
suggests pain and grief.
Believable in
relationships, one
partner can often be
cruel/ hurtful.
Extended metaphor
wobbling photo of grief
pain/tears/ distress can
be caused by
relationships/
truth/honesty; word
choice suggests pain
and heartache. I am
certain that this is the
13

Powerful love is very

difficult to forget as is a
brutal/violent
relationship.
Strength and power of
the relationship a
change in the
relationship.
The longer a relationship
lasts it will become more
serious and may lead to
marriage which may
become a restrictive
relationship.
Intense relationship may
lead to violence.
Powerful love is very
difficult to forget and
may lead you into
dangerous situations
where the final outcome
may be brutal/violent.

fierce kiss will stay on

your lips,

case relationships are

not always completely
agreeable.
Hint

possessive and faithful,

Hint

Its platinum loops

shrink to a weddingring,

Hint

Lethal.

Hint

Its scent will cling to

your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Hint

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

14

Mini-Essay
Your teacher will model how you should use the information from one of the
rows of the table to suit a line of thought and how you should link the
information ensuring that whenever a statement is made there should be
analytical and evaluative comment made.

Mini-essay Task
Show how the poet reveals the speakers increasing
frustration and the effect this has on his comments
about (and attitude to) love and explain to what extent
you find the treatment convincing.

The following can be done in pairs, each pair taking one or two rows from the
table:

Write your paragraphs and swap with another pair or group.

The other group should consider whether anything else can be added.
Use your notes from the template to help you.
Your mini-essay should show understanding (context), reference to the
text (quote) and evaluative response (analysis and personal comment).

Examine the model below to see how you can structure and link your
ideas in your response to the task above:Context/
Understanding
Evidence/Quote

Analysis/Evaluation
/ Personal
Response

The onion represents a relationship which may

ocasionally cause pain:
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
The speakers desire to be truthful and honest is shown
by the use of the simile which implies that love can
cause distress. Similarly, the word choice used to show
that an onion will make you cry suggests that love will
cause you pain and grief. At this point, I feel that the
speaker is not actually trying to offend their partner but
simply ensuring that their partner understands what the
onion represents. There is no malice in this statement as
the speaker only wants to make sure that their partner
does not misunderstand the message contained in the
gift of an onion. This is entirely believable as in
relationships one partner can often be cruel or hurtful,
even without intending to upset the other person.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

15

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

16

Peer Assessment
How did you get on? Working with a partner, use the checklist below to assess
whether or not you have included all necessary information in your mini-essay.
If you have used all the information from your table and the model which your
teacher provided, you should have very little to improve in your mini-essay.
Context/
Understandin
g

Evidence/Quote
Evaluation
It will blind you with
tears
like a lover.
It will make your
reflection
a wobbling photo of
grief.
fierce kiss will stay on
your lips,
possessive and
faithful,
Its platinum loops
shrink to a weddingring,
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to
your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Identify 2 areas
where you have
done well and
write them in the
stars.

Complete the sentence

Technical Accuracy

I need to
improve

Topic Sentence
Full stops/capital letters used properly
Varied sentence structure
Selected Poems for Higher English Quotes set out properly
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
Spelling correct
Linkage used eg In
addition/furthermore/moreover/yet etc

17

Focus of Close Analysis

How Duffy has conveyed,
through structure, that her
speaker/persona who offers the
gift of an onion as a
representation of their love for
their partner, becomes
increasingly frustrated by their
lovers rejection of the gift and
eventually adopts a threatening
attitude.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

18

Pupil
Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy
The task we are going to concentrate on as we examine Duffys
poem is:
Choose a poem on the subject of love.
Show how the poet treats the subject, and explain to what
extent you find the treatment convincing.
(Higher English 2001)

In this section, we are going to examine How Duffy has conveyed,

through structure, that her speaker/persona who offers the gift of an
onion as a representation of their love for their partner, becomes
increasingly frustrated by their lovers rejection of the gift and
eventually adopts a threatening attitude.

Structure
Duffy uses structure to show that her speaker/persona who offers

the gift of an onion as a representation of their love for their

partner, becomes increasingly frustrated by their lovers rejection
of the gift and eventually adopts a threatening attitude.
Duffy has used FREE VERSE in this poem there is no obvious
rhyme scheme or rhythm.
The poem shows one side of a conversation.

Working with a partner, complete the table below.

Model your responses on the two that have been done for you.
Context/
Understanding

Evidence/Quote

Central idea of the poem

is the central line

I am trying to be
truthful.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Analysis/
Evaluation/
Personal Response
Central line very direct
statement; attitude of
speaker before this line
is mainly
positive/gentle; after,
more brutal,
threatening. Very
personal note use of
first person I.

19

Speaker immediately
dismisses conventional
symbols of love and
repeats this later in poem

Not a red rose or a satin

heart.
Not a cute card or a
kissogram.

First line verbless

sentence direct
statement dismisses
coventional symbols of
love; note that the word
not starts each
sentence so that there
can be no doubt that the
persona does not wish to
show their feelings
through overly
sentimental
conventional symbols.
Repetition of similarly
structured line reinforces
speakers
sincerity/desire to be
truthful/candid. Entirely
convincing Valentines
materialistic/superficial
many people look for a
different way to express
devotion and the
persona has done
exactly that.

Speaker is insisting that

lover will accept gift of an
onion. the speaker is
almost challenging the
person she is talking to,
keeping the emotion
controlled yet strongly
connected with love:

Here.
Take it.

Hint

The speaker,
overwhelmed by the
rejection of the gift,
resorts to threatening,
almost violent language
Powerful love is very
difficult to forget and
may lead you into
dangerous situations
where the final outcome
may be brutal/ violent.

Lethal.

Hint

Its scent will cling to

your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Hint

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

20

Mini-Essay
Your teacher will model how you should use the information from one of the
rows of the table to suit a line of thought and how you should link the
information ensuring that whenever a statement is made there should be
analytical and evaluative comment made.

Mini-essay Task
How does Duffy convey through structure the speakers change in
mood/attitude? Explain to what extent you find the treatment
convincing.

The following can be done in pairs, each pair taking one or two rows from the
table:

Write your paragraphs and swap with another pair or group.

The other group should consider whether anything else can be added.
Use your notes from the template to help you.
Your mini-essay should show understanding (context), reference to the
text (quote) and evaluative response (analysis and personal comment).

Examine the model below to see how you can structure and link your
ideas in your response to the task above:-

Context/
Understanding

Evidence/Quote

Analysis/Evaluation
/ Personal
Response

Duffy has chosen to place the central idea of the poem

right in the middle of it. The speaker has dismissed
conventional symbols of love in an effort to show their
partner just how much love they feel for them. The
speaker is very open and frank they simply want to
show their partner that there is no dishonesty in their
feelings:
I am trying to be truthful.
This line is a very direct statement a simple sentence.
Before this line the persona has spoken of their love in
mainly gentle terms which shows the sincerity of their
feelings. Yet, after this line, despite the sincerity of the
sentiments previously expressed, the language of the
speaker becomes more brutal, more threatening thus
reinforcing the speakers truthfulness and integrity. By
the use of the first person, Duffy conveys that the
speaker feels very strongly that they want honesty in
their relationship.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

21

Peer Assessment
How did you get on? Working with a partner, use the checklist below to assess
whether or not you have included all necessary information in your mini-essay.
If you have used all the information from your table and the model which your
teacher provided, you should have very little to improve in your mini-essay.
Context/
Understandin
g

Evidence/Quote
Evaluation
I am trying to be
truthful.
Not a red rose or a
satin heart.
Not a cute card or a
kissogram.
Here.
Take it.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to
your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Identify 2 areas
where you have
done well and
write them in the
stars.

Selected Poems for Higher English

Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Complete the sentence

Technical Accuracy

I need to
improve

Topic Sentence
Full stops/capital letters used properly
Varied sentence structure
Quotes set out properly
Spelling correct
Linkage used eg In
addition/furthermore/moreover/yet etc

22