Carol Ann Duffy Diction

The poem ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy portrays a realistic and honest view on love. Duffy has a unique perspective of love contrasting to the stereotypical way love is often thought about. She compares love to an onion, which is odd because an onion is neither visually appealing nor valued but Duffy’s insight on love and unconventional way of perceiving love is what makes the poem Valentine interesting. She presents her ideas by using a range of different poetic devices such as, choosing a distinct form and structure, using powerful diction and effectively using an extended metaphor throughout the poem.

Duffy begins her poem in an unusual manner as compared to other love poems would usually begin; this is because she sets an unromantic
The use of words such as ‘lethal’ and ‘fierce’ are unusual choices because they’re associated with negative connotations. The negative impact made by these words tell the reader that love is not always pleasant and gentle as it is perceived to be, but sometimes harmful and poisonous. On the contrary Duffy uses diction such as ‘light’ and ‘faithful’ and ‘wedding ring’ all symbolising hope, security, loyalty, eternal promise all positive qualities essential for love to prosper.

Duffy compares the positive and negative aspects of love to one of an onion; she does this by continuously using an extended metaphor throughout the poem. The first metaphor was used in the second sentence, ‘it is a moon wrapped in brown paper.’ This represents the onion being beautiful on the inside, but the beauty being hidden by a brown paper acting as its exterior. This metaphor emphasises on the need of having to understand a person’s personality to appreciate their exterior beauty. The metaphor ‘it will blind with you tears’ compares the tears you get from cutting an onion due to its distinct smell, to the tears you get because of love caused by either extreme joy or