Robert Browning reflects these values in his poem. Robert Browning was born in London as the son of Robert Browning, a wealthy clerk in the Bank of England, and Sarah Anna Wiedemann, of German-Scottish origin. He received a formal education, but had access to his father's library. In his teens, Browning discovered ‘Shelly’, adopting the author's confessionalism in poetry. His first poems Browning wrote under the influence of ‘Shelley’, who also inspired him to adopt atheist principles for a time. At the age of 16 he began to study at the new London University, returning home after a brief period to carry on writing poems.
William Shakespeare also reflects these values but in a different way. Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire 1564. His early acting career probably began with performances before moving onto playwriting and poetry. Then in 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, but is believed to have left her behind to pursue his career in London. By 1588 he is thought to have started writing plays and his famous sonnets.
Carol Ann Duffy rejects these values. Born 23rd. December 1955, in Glasgow, Scotland. From 1962 to 1967 she attended St Austin Roman Catholic Primary School, Stafford. From 1967 to 1970 she was at St Joseph's convent school, Stafford, where she was encouraged in her poetry by her teacher June Scriven. At the age of 14 she decided that she was going to be a poet. From 1970 to 1974 she was at the Stafford High School for girls where her English teacher James Walker further encouraged her.
She had her first pamphlet of poems, Fleshweathercock, published by Outposts in 1973 when she was 18.
In 1974 she went to Liverpool University to be near to Adrian Henri. She graduated with a BA honors degree in philosophy in 1977. During her studies she was influenced by the writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein and his notions about the inability of language to say anything, which is a theme that arises in several of Carol Ann Duffy's poems.
Carol Ann Duffy has been highly regarded for her many love poems, but these have usually been about unnamed people of unspecified sex.
I will now analyse ‘Valentine’ and highlight the representation of love and relationships within the poem.
The title of the poem ‘Valentine’ written by Carol Ann Duffy is very misleading. One would expect to read romantic love, instead she writes about cynical love. She has obviously been hurt in previous relationships. The poem starts off with a positive statement-‘Not a red rose, or a satin heart’. She states that she will not give her lover a conventional valentine present. The poet has chosen to give her lover an onion. She uses the onion to symbolize love. ‘I give you an onion, it is moon wrapped in brown paper,’-With this creates an air of mystery is created. ‘It promises light, like the careful undressing of love.’- A feeling of sensuality is created with the use of the repetition of the ‘l’ sound.
She continues with the extended metaphor ‘it will blind you with tears’ Not only will the onion make your eyes water, the pain caused by a loved one has the same effect.
I’m trying to be truthful.’- alliteration, the repetition of the ‘t’ sound gives it the feeling of sincerity. ‘Not a cute card or a kiss-o-gram’- she does not approve of commercial tokens of love.
‘It’s fierce kiss will stay on you lip’ the bitter taste on an onion remains on a person’s lips. The memory of a kiss can stay with one forever. ‘Possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are’ She suggests that love affairs only last for the time that two people are interested in each other. She insists that he accepts her gift ‘Take it’.
She compares the loops of an onion to a wedding ring and implies that marriage can deaden love and passion. Marriage is lethal in her opinion. Its scent will cling to your fingertips, cling to your knife.’ The repetition of the word ‘cling’ is effective. The word ‘knife’ conveys the image of a wound.
This very dramatic poem goes against everything in Shakespeare’s poem.
I will now analyse ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and highlight the representation of love and relationships within the poem.