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ValentineShort story by Carol Ann Duffy

Flashcards for Valentine

29 cards · 2 characters · 10 key quotes · 5 symbols · 12 literary devices. Nothing is saved and nothing is asked for — close the tab and the deck resets.

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Characters · 2

  1. The Beloved

    The Beloved is the silent, idealized figure at the center of Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy, existing solely through the Speaker's passionate and unconventional expression of love.

    character

  2. The Speaker

    The Speaker is the lyric "I" at the heart of Valentine by Duffy, serving as the poem's voice, protagonist, and moral compass all at once.

    character

Key quotes · 10

  1. “It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.”

    This poignant line is from Valentine Duffy, a piece whose author and genre are still hard to define with certainty.

    <UNKNOWN>

  2. “Not a red rose or a satin heart.”

    This opening line is from Carol Ann Duffy's well-known poem "Valentine" (1993), included in Mean Time.

    The speaker / Carol Ann Duffy (lyric persona) · Poem: "Valentine", collected in Mean Time (1993)

  3. “It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”

    This striking image — "It is a moon wrapped in brown paper" — is from Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Valentine," featured in her 1993 collection Mean Time.

    Poetic speaker (implicitly Carol Ann Duffy) · Valentine

  4. “I give you an onion.”

    This line opens Carol Ann Duffy's acclaimed poem "Valentine" (1993), part of Mean Time.

    The poem's speaker (implicitly Duffy's lyric 'I') · "Valentine", Mean Time (1993)

  5. “It will blind you with tears like a lover.”

    This striking line is from Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy, where the speaker turns traditional romantic gifts on their head by offering an onion instead of the usual flowers or chocolates.

    The speaker (implied: Carol Ann Duffy) · Valentine (poem), Mean Time (1993)

  6. “I am trying to be truthful.”

    This line, "I am trying to be truthful," is spoken by Valentine Duffy, the protagonist, during a pivotal moment when she faces internal conflict, likely in a confrontation or intimate exchange that puts her integrity and self-image to the test.

    Valentine Duffy

  7. “Not a cute card or a kissogram.”

    This line is from Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Valentine" (1993), which is part of Mean Time.

    The lover / lyric speaker · Valentine

  8. “Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are.”

    This striking line is from Sharon Olds's poem "Valentine Duffy," where the speaker reflects on the intense and consuming nature of love and desire.

    Poetic speaker (Sharon Olds)

  9. “Take it. Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring, if you like.”

    This line is from Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Valentine," which appears in her 1993 collection Mean Time.

    The speaker / lover (implied Carol Ann Duffy) · "Valentine" from Mean Time (1993)

  10. “Lethal. Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.”

    This haunting quote is from Valentine Duffy, a work that’s tough to categorize in terms of genre and authorship.

    <UNKNOWN>

Symbols · 5

  1. Tears

    In Valentine Duffy, tears symbolize the emotional truths that push through societal constraints.

  2. The Kiss / Blind Kiss

    In Valentine Duffy, the kiss — especially the "blind kiss," given without truly knowing the other person’s identity or essence — symbolizes the risky mix of desire and fantasy.

  3. The Moon

    In Valentine Duffy, the moon symbolizes longing, change, and the protagonist's emotional journey.

  4. The Onion

    In Valentine Duffy, the onion symbolizes the complex and often painful journey of uncovering one’s true emotions and self.

  5. The Wedding Ring / Gold Ring

    In Valentine Duffy, the wedding ring—a simple circle of gold—represents the vows of marriage and the struggle between duty and desire.

Literary devices · 12

  1. Extended Metaphor

    The poem revolves around a singular, ongoing idea: giving an onion as a Valentine's gift.

  2. Conceit

    Duffy's choice of an onion as a love-token is a bold and thought-provoking twist in the Metaphysical tradition.

  3. Imagery

    Duffy engages all the senses in her work.

  4. Symbolism

    The onion represents a love that feels genuine instead of just following tradition.

  5. Juxtaposition

    Duffy juxtaposes traditional Valentine imagery with the onion to strengthen the poem's message.

  6. Volta

    The poem's most striking turn happens in the second-to-last stanza, where the tone shifts from a gentle offering to something darker and more threatening.

  7. Free Verse

    The poem doesn't follow a regular metre or rhyme scheme, which reflects its rejection of traditional structure, just as its content turns away from typical gifts.

  8. Line Break

    Duffy strategically uses line breaks to create surprise and emphasis throughout the poem.

  9. Repetition

    The phrase 'I give you an onion' appears at the start of the poem and is later echoed by 'Here.' and 'Take it.', creating a refrain-like insistence.

  10. Personification

    The onion is portrayed with agency and intention throughout the poem.

  11. Dramatic Monologue

    The poem features a single, unnamed 'I' who addresses an unnamed 'you,' establishing an intimate, one-sided dynamic typical of a dramatic monologue.

  12. Metaphor

    Beyond the governing conceit, the poem uses several distinct metaphors.