In the beginning of the poem, the tone is calm, and positive ‘it promises light’ but it develops a more sinister feeling as the failures, or the difficulties of love are considered. Duffy uses words as ‘Lethal’ to describe love at that point.
Duffy uses an extended metaphor to interpret love, she compares her love and relationship to an onion, and this is used throughout the poem. She gives a list of similarities throughout e.g. ‘its scent will cling to your fingers’ Here Duffy rejects the connotation of love and the traditional symbols that represent it, and she shows us that such things have become insignificant and carry no importance to her, ‘Satin hearts, red roses’ are no more acceptable to her as she is willing to be original and state what her thoughts are about love, and this is why I find her poem more affective and interesting.
As well as the language, the structure of the poem shares an importance of the meaning, because w are being told how to read the poem ‘Valentine’ is mainly written in disorganized phrases, which may co notate that love can be disjointed. She also separates stanzas due to their impact on the reader, e.g. ‘I give you an onion’ Duffy uses short words or phrases that are very effective, such as ‘lethal’ and ‘take it’. These make an impression on the reader because it makes them stop and think.
Alternatively, I think that Sonnet 116 is a more serious poem about love, that re informs us of the importance and value of love. The tone of this poem is very tough and strong, it influences that Shakespeare is aware of the reality of love. It is praising the glories of lovers who have come to each other freely, and enter into a relationship based on trust and understanding
The first four lines show us Shakespeare's part in love and that it is constant, strong, and unconditional and will not ‘alter when alteration finds’. The following lines prove to us that love is an ‘ever fix'd mark’ which will survive any problems.
Lines 7-8 Shakespeare states that we may be able to measure love to a certain level, but never know what it is really worth, and never fully understand it. Love's real value remains a mystery.
In lines 9-12, Shakespeare restates the wonderful nature of love and that it is strong throughout time and remains so ‘ev'n to the edge of doom’, or death
In this poem, Shakespeare uses metaphors, such as the ‘Northern star’ which co notates that life is a strong shining guide, which leads us through life. The reader may find that that easier to picture.
The structure of the poem is unusual as it is presented in one stanza, this may clarify that love has only one sense. The poem also has a couplet at the end - ‘If this be error and upon me prov’d, I never writ, nor any man ever lov’d’
Through this, Shakespeare is trying to make us notice that if he has judged love in an inappropriate manner, then no man really loved…
I personally admired the idea behind Valentine, by Carol Ann Duffy, as it was more interesting, due to its unique way of description. Sonnet 116 did sound original, but it remained a sweet poem, that ignored all the negatives of love.