valentine

• “not a red rose or a satin heart”

  “not” creates an instant sense of rejection.
• “moon wrapped in brown paper”

  us as wrapping is used for gifts so too is the onions layers, showing honesty in the poem
• “it promises light”

  word choice - promise denotates trust in someone and suggests the speaker is happy in their enriching relationship
• “careful undressing of love”

  word choice - careful denotates being gentle and loving suggesting the speaker and their partner care for each other
• “it will blind you with tears”

  word choice - blind denotates being unable o see and maybe even naive suggesting the speaker is blind to their partners faults
• “a wobbling photo of grief”

  metaphor - just as grief is distressing and painful so too is the picture and idea of their relationship.
• ”fierce kiss”


  word choice - fierce has denotations of anger and violence suggesting the relationship has one sour, but reinforces on their passion during it.
• ”possessive and faithful”

  word choice - possessive has denotations of obsession and jealousy suggesting this is turning into an unhealthy relationship.

  word choice - faithful has denotations of loyalty and suggests the speaker may be faithful to an healthy relationship
• “take it”

  short sentence - reinforces the bluntness yet also the forceful way the speaker is talking.
• “lethal”

  word choice - lethal has connotations of danger and violence suggesting the death of the relationship.
• ”cling to your knife.”

  word choice - cling has denotations of needy and vulnerable suggesting the speaker may not feel ready to let go of the relationship yet
• What are the key themes in the poem "Valentine"?

  Love, relationships, truth, pain, challenging convention
• What tone is used in the poem "Valentine"?

  Solemn, honest, open, diffident, ominous, insistent
• What language features are prominent in "Valentine"?

  • 2nd person (“you”)
  • Minor sentences
  • Imperative
  • Extended metaphor
  • Repetition
  • Simile
  • Alliteration
• How does the poem "Valentine" challenge popular notions of love?

  It begins with "Not a red rose or a satin heart."
• What does the onion symbolize in "Valentine"?

  It represents complex qualities of love.
• What contrasting metaphors are used to describe the onion in "Valentine"?

  "Moon" and "brown paper" imply different qualities.
• What does the phrase "promises light" suggest in "Valentine"?

  It suggests hope and optimism in love.
• What does the simile "like the careful undressing of love" refer to?

  It refers to both physical intimacy and emotional connection.
• What does the line "It will blind you with tears like a lover" imply?

  Tears can signify joy or pain in love.
• What does the phrase "a wobbling photo of grief" suggest in "Valentine"?

  It implies emotional instability and sorrow in love.
• What does the narrator declare in "Valentine" regarding honesty?

  "I am trying to be truthful."
• How does the repetition of "Not a cute card or a kissogram" function in the poem?

  It emphasizes the narrator's distancing from clichés.
• What does the phrase "Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips" imply about the onion?

  It suggests passionate and lasting feelings.
• What does "Take it" convey in the context of the poem?

  It conveys urgency and insistence in the gift.
• What does the comparison of the onion to "platinum loops" suggest?

  It suggests the onion's value and connection to love.
• What does the word "Lethal" imply about love in "Valentine"?

  It suggests love can bring danger or destruction.