1. Valentine By Carol Ann Duffy

6. Learning Objectives By the end of the lesson: You will be able to interpret images from the poem.

7. What is the poem about? The poem, on the surface is about giving an unusual present for Valentine’s day, but it is really an exploration of love and the nature of relationships between two people. It has a single central image which is developed throughout the poem. The onion is an extended metaphor for love!

8. Annotating the poem Valentine 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’s day associated with love, relationships & gifts Starts with a negative. Rejection of traditional gifts Onion: extended metaphor, unconventional gift Moon: popular romantic images, promise light brown paper = outer layer undressing = revealing of love