Carol ann duffy valentine who did she write it for
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This poem is written in the first person. The speaker appears to be the poet,
addressing her lover as "you". In fact, Carol Ann Duffy wrote Valentine after a
radio producer asked her to write an original poem for St. Valentine's
Day.(Valentine was published in 1993, in the collection Mean Time.) But the
poem is universal: it could be from any lover to any beloved (for example,
there is no indication of the sex of either the "I" or the "you"). The poem, on
the surface, is about the giving of an unusual present for St. Valentine's Day,
but really is an exploration of love between two people. This is a good text to
write about, because it has a single central image, which is developed
throughout the poem: the onion is an extended metaphor for love.
The form of the poem supports its argument (the ideas in it) as Duffy uses
single isolated lines to show why she rejects the conventional Valentines: "Not
a red rose or a satin heart...Not a cute card or a kissogram." Why not?
Because each has long ceased to be original and has been sent millions of
times. The symbolism of roses and hearts is often overlooked, while cards
and kissograms may be expensive but mean little. As an artist, Ms. Duffy
should be able to think of something more distinctive, and she does.
Duffy in effect lists reasons why the onion is an appropriate symbol of love.
First, the conventional romantic symbol of the moon is concealed in it. The
moon is supposed to govern women's passions. The brown skin is like a
paper bag, and the shiny pale onion within is like the moon. The "light" which
it promises may be both its literal brightness and metaphorical understanding
(of love) or enlightenment. The removing of the papery outer layers suggests
the "undressing" of those who prepare to make love. There may also be a pun
(play on words here) as "dressing" (such as French dressing or salad
dressing) is often found with onions in the kitchen.
addressing her lover as "you". In fact, Carol Ann Duffy wrote Valentine after a
radio producer asked her to write an original poem for St. Valentine's
Day.(Valentine was published in 1993, in the collection Mean Time.) But the
poem is universal: it could be from any lover to any beloved (for example,
there is no indication of the sex of either the "I" or the "you"). The poem, on
the surface, is about the giving of an unusual present for St. Valentine's Day,
but really is an exploration of love between two people. This is a good text to
write about, because it has a single central image, which is developed
throughout the poem: the onion is an extended metaphor for love.
The form of the poem supports its argument (the ideas in it) as Duffy uses
single isolated lines to show why she rejects the conventional Valentines: "Not
a red rose or a satin heart...Not a cute card or a kissogram." Why not?
Because each has long ceased to be original and has been sent millions of
times. The symbolism of roses and hearts is often overlooked, while cards
and kissograms may be expensive but mean little. As an artist, Ms. Duffy
should be able to think of something more distinctive, and she does.
Duffy in effect lists reasons why the onion is an appropriate symbol of love.
First, the conventional romantic symbol of the moon is concealed in it. The
moon is supposed to govern women's passions. The brown skin is like a
paper bag, and the shiny pale onion within is like the moon. The "light" which
it promises may be both its literal brightness and metaphorical understanding
(of love) or enlightenment. The removing of the papery outer layers suggests
the "undressing" of those who prepare to make love. There may also be a pun
(play on words here) as "dressing" (such as French dressing or salad
dressing) is often found with onions in the kitchen.
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