My Valentine
‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears like a lover.
It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.
Approaching the Essay
Step 1:
Think about the task/question. In this case, the question is as follows:
Choose a poem which increased your understanding of any aspect of life in the modern world.
State what aspect of life in the modern world the poem illustrates and go on to show how the poem, both by its content and by its style, increased your understanding.
Now, mind-map your ideas for key points you wish to make about the poem.
Step 2:
A vital part of your essay will involve the analysis of quotations. For each point you wish to raise you must gather relevant evidence from the text. Remember that you can use more than one quote per paragraph.
Step 3:
Develop a plan, following the PEE or a similar format. It is at this point that you need to think about the comments you will make about your quotations. In each paragraph, it should be clear how this ‘answers’ your question/task.
Step 4:
You should now have prepared enough material to help you begin your essay. Keep the criteria in mind at all times, remembering that you must balance your explanation of what is said with how it is said.
Essay Plan – Example
‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy
Task/Question:
A study of how in the poem ‘Valentine’, Carol Ann Duffy explores the nature and effect of modern relationships.
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears like a lover.
It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful as we are, for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife.
Approaching the Essay
Step 1:
Think about the task/question. In this case, the question is as follows:
Choose a poem which increased your understanding of any aspect of life in the modern world.
State what aspect of life in the modern world the poem illustrates and go on to show how the poem, both by its content and by its style, increased your understanding.
Now, mind-map your ideas for key points you wish to make about the poem.
Step 2:
A vital part of your essay will involve the analysis of quotations. For each point you wish to raise you must gather relevant evidence from the text. Remember that you can use more than one quote per paragraph.
Step 3:
Develop a plan, following the PEE or a similar format. It is at this point that you need to think about the comments you will make about your quotations. In each paragraph, it should be clear how this ‘answers’ your question/task.
Step 4:
You should now have prepared enough material to help you begin your essay. Keep the criteria in mind at all times, remembering that you must balance your explanation of what is said with how it is said.
Essay Plan – Example
‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy
Task/Question:
A study of how in the poem ‘Valentine’, Carol Ann Duffy explores the nature and effect of modern relationships.