From the poems studied on the theme of Love and Relationships, compare one poem written pre-1914 with another written post-1914, in terms of the ideas presented and the ways in which each poet has chosen to express their ideas effectively.

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From the poems studied on the theme of ‘Love and Relationships’, compare one poem written pre-1914 with another written post-1914, in terms of the ideas presented and the ways in which each poet has chosen to express their ideas effectively.

Valentine and Sonnet 116 are both poems that carry a theme of love, which is expressed as constant and everlasting; but Shakespeare and Duffy both have different views about love.

Duffy shows it as an unusual present for Valentine’s Day, but it is really an exploration of love and the nature and relationships between two people, whereas in Sonnet 116, we find that Shakespeare presented love in a more serious matter. In both poems we face a rollercoaster of different attitudes, and the tone reveals a big deal about how the poets react towards the subject.

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 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 ...

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