Valentine (Carol Ann Duffy)

OCR

GCSE

Carol Ann Duffy’s 'Valentine' is a subversive dramatic monologue that rejects the commercialised clichés of romantic love in favour of a complex, honest exploration of relationships. Through the extended metaphor of an onion, the speaker offers a gift that represents both the multi-layered nature of affection and its capacity to cause pain, grief, and entrapment. The poem deconstructs traditional symbols like roses and satin hearts, presenting love as a fierce, possessive, and potentially destructive force. Structurally, the free verse form and irregular stanzas mirror the unpredictability of a relationship that refuses to conform to societal norms. Ultimately, the text challenges the reader to accept the 'lethal' intensity of true intimacy over superficial gestures.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

AO1: Credit conceptual understanding of the speaker's rejection of cliché ('Not a red rose or a satin heart') in favour of truthful, complex love.
AO2: Award marks for analysis of the extended metaphor (onion) and its progressive implications: 'blind you with tears', 'fierce kiss', 'shrink to a wedding ring'.
AO2: Analyze the structural impact of single-line stanzas and enjambment to reflect the speaker's direct, uncompromised voice.
AO4: Reward sustained, integrated comparison with a second poem (e.g., 'i wanna be yours' for contrast in tone, or 'A Broken Appointment' for themes of pain).

Example Examiner Feedback

Real feedback patterns examiners use when marking

"You have analyzed the metaphor well, but you must link this immediately to a technique in the second poem."
"Avoid listing similarities; explain *why* both poets chose to present love in this specific way."
"Your analysis of the 'knife' imagery is strong; now evaluate how this challenges the 'red rose' mentioned earlier."
"Ensure your choice of the second poem allows for rich contrast—don't just choose one because it also mentions love."

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

AO1: Credit conceptual understanding of the speaker's rejection of cliché ('Not a red rose or a satin heart') in favour of truthful, complex love.
AO2: Award marks for analysis of the extended metaphor (onion) and its progressive implications: 'blind you with tears', 'fierce kiss', 'shrink to a wedding ring'.
AO2: Analyze the structural impact of single-line stanzas and enjambment to reflect the speaker's direct, uncompromised voice.
AO4: Reward sustained, integrated comparison with a second poem (e.g., 'i wanna be yours' for contrast in tone, or 'A Broken Appointment' for themes of pain).

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Select your second poem immediately and plan three points of convergence or divergence before writing.
💡Do not treat the poems separately; use connective phrases ('Similarly', 'In contrast', 'Conversely') to weave an integrated argument.
💡Focus on the 'onion' metaphor's evolution throughout the poem—from tears to a wedding ring to a knife.
💡Manage time strictly: 45 minutes total, meaning 5 minutes planning and 20 minutes per text in an integrated structure.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Treating the onion as a literal gift rather than a metaphysical conceit.
Failing to maintain a balanced comparison; analyzing 'Valentine' in depth but skimming the second poem.
Asserting the speaker 'hates' love, rather than recognizing the demand for honesty and fidelity.
Identifying the free verse form without explaining how it mirrors the rejection of restrictive romantic conventions.

Study Guide Available

Comprehensive revision notes & examples

Read Study Guide

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Compare

Present

How

Explore

In what ways

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic