Anyway, the questions are normal enough, and this is homework for the next class. Remember that there’s no class next week, since it’s the February holiday, so can I suggest that you do a literature essay on “Valentine” as well as this as next week’s homework? See below.
The only other thing we covered in this class was Carol Ann Duffy’s “Valentine”, a mainly very unromantic view of love. Though it’s in free verse (ie unrhymed and with irregular rhythm) it does have a structure, pivoting round the central “I am trying to be truthful”. We noticed that the first half is similar in many ways to the second half, but that the second half is extremely unromantic and indeed quite sinister, with the word “Lethal” suggesting the deadly nature of the offered love (if it’s later spurned?) and the last word lingering uneasily in the memory: “knife”.
The poem’s effect depends largely on its imagery - mainly about the onion - and that balanced structure that we noticed. Do bear in mind that the “voice” isn’t necessarily that of Duffy herself – she’s not known for killing her former lovers, despite her rather alarming appearance above.
I’d suggest as a poetry essay - though feel free to choose another question/poem/play/novel
Choose a poem which deals with some unpleasant or sinister issues. Show how the poet communicates these unpleasant or sinister ideas and comment on what final impression is left in the mind of the reader.
I’d suggest as a poetry essay - though feel free to choose another question/poem/play/novel
Choose a poem which deals with some unpleasant or sinister issues. Show how the poet communicates these unpleasant or sinister ideas and comment on what final impression is left in the mind of the reader.
3 comments:
Read the blog.
The Close Reading passage is actually not as hard as it seems (although I have some musical knowledge, most of it is rather rudimentary) although the passage itself is heavily abridged from the original book by Howard Goodall. It goes into a bit more detail, explaining Gregorian plainsong and related concepts in laymens terms as much as possible.
"Valentine" has proven to be good essay material. My word count for it is far closer to the recommended 700 words than previous poetry essays, and it didn't require stretching out.
read it
Have read the blog.
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