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Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Analysing 'Valentine'

I can analyse how Duffy uses language, form and structure to present the speaker’s views on love.

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New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Analysing 'Valentine'

I can analyse how Duffy uses language, form and structure to present the speaker’s views on love.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In the beginning of the poem, love is presented as nurturing, caring and pure - it brings connection and intimacy.
  2. Duffy presents love as something that many people strive to protect - something precious and valuable.
  3. Duffy explores the darker side of love, suggesting that love can have an irreversible and harmful effect.
  4. Duffy defies romanticised presentations of love; presenting us with a realistic portrayal of love that is often ignored.

Common misconception

Pupils might think that the poet does not support the idea of love.

In the poem, the speaker is expressing their love for their partner. The speaker does support love, and acknowledges the benefits it can bring - they just also acknowledge the great harm it can cause.

Keywords

  • Lethal - serious or dangerous enough to cause death

  • Inevitable - certain to happen - unavoidable

  • Tone - the poet’s attitude towards the subject matter

  • To romanticise - to view something in an unrealistic or idealistic way

  • Marginalised - to treat someone or something as though they/it are not important

You could complete Task A in learning cycle 1 as a class debate. This would raise some interesting questions about what a "negative" view actually means and whether being "realistic" about something makes your perspective "negative".
Teacher tip

Equipment

A copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology is required for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The poem 'Valentine' can be described as __________ love poem.
a romantic
Correct answer: an unconventional
a stereotypical
Q2.
What does the speaker in 'Valentine' give her lover as a gift?
Correct Answer: an onion, onion
Q3.
What person is the poem 'Valentine written in?
first
Correct answer: second
third
Q4.
What does 'subvert' mean?
Correct answer: to go against
to be typical of
to be as expected
Q5.
Which of these conventions does Duffy subvert in Valentine?
Correct answer: the speaker swears their devotion
written to the lover
Correct answer: natural imagery is often used to describe the lover’s physical appearance
Q6.
The the overall mood or attitude conveyed by the writer is known as the of a text.
Correct Answer: tone

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:Lethal,serious or dangerous enough to cause death

serious or dangerous enough to cause death

Correct Answer:Inevitable ,certain to happen - unavoidable

certain to happen - unavoidable

Correct Answer:Tone ,the poet’s attitude towards the subject matter

the poet’s attitude towards the subject matter

Correct Answer:To romanticise,to view something in an unrealistic or idealistic way

to view something in an unrealistic or idealistic way

Correct Answer:Marginalised, to treat someone or something as though they/it are not important

to treat someone or something as though they/it are not important

Q2.
What is the tone at the start of 'Valentine'?
sincere
Correct answer: soft
foreboding
romantic
Q3.
What is the tone by the end of 'Valentine'?
soft
sincere
romantic
Correct answer: foreboding
Q4.
Which of these words taken from 'Valentine' creates the most defiant tone in the poem?
take
Correct answer: not
give
cute
Q5.
Starting with the first, put these words from 'Valentine' in the order they appear in the poem.
1 - "light"
2 - "wobbling"
3 - "fierce"
4 - "lethal"
Q6.
Duffy presents us with a portrayal of love that is often ignored.
Correct Answer: realistic