Poetic Devices
What poetic device is used in the line seven of "Valentine," "It will blind you with tears"?
Hyperbole (an exaggeration for effect).
A major theme in "Valentine" is the rejection of what?
The rejection of conventional or clichéd symbols of love (like a red rose).
"Valentine" explores the idea that love is not always a sweet, positive emotion. How does this relate to the global issue of the emotional complexity of love?
"Valentine" shows that authentic love includes both pain and beauty, challenging the one-dimensional, idealized view of love.
What does the onion in "Valentine" symbolize, besides the layers of a relationship?
It symbolizes a raw, honest, and layered kind of love that can be both painful and sweet.
In "Valentine," the line "Lethal." is a single word sentence. What does this use of language suggest about the nature of love?
It suggests that love can be sudden and impactful, with the power to cause damage or pain.
In "Mrs. Midas," what literary device is at play when the speaker says “the ground seems to drink the light of the sky”?
Personfication (givng the ground and light from the sky human actions).
What is a central theme in "Mrs. Midas" regarding the relationship between love and greed?
The theme is that greed can destroy a relationship and lead to isolation and loss of intimacy.
How does the speaker in "Mrs. Midas" deal with the loss of physical intimacy, a key element of the global issue of authentic expressions of love?
She must find ways to express love without physical touch, highlighting the importance of emotional and mental connection.
What does the golden touch in "Mrs. Midas" symbolize for the couple's relationship?
The golden touch symbolizes greed and materialism that turns everything in the relationship into something cold, lifeless, and without human connection.
How does the use of fragmented language in "Text" reflect the power—or lack there of—of language in a modern relationship?
The fragmented language shows that modern communication can lack depth and true meaning, leading to misunderstandings.
"The Love Poem" repeatedly quotes famous poets. What is this literary device called?
Allusion or Intertextuality, which is a direct or indirect reference to other literary works.
How does "Text" explore the theme of modern communication and its effect on relationships?
It explores how modern communication can lead to a disconnect and misunderstanding in relationships despite being constant.
In "Text," how does the medium of communication (texting) shape the expression of love?
The medium limits expression to short, fragmented phrases, which may not be able to convey complex emotions authentically.
In "Text," the speaker's short phrases are symbols of what?
The short phrases are symbols of modern, non-verbal communication and its limitations in expressing deep emotion.
"The Love Poem" is a series of quotations. What does this suggest about the power of language in creating our understanding of love?
It suggests that language, particularly that found in classic literature, has the power to limit and define our perceptions of love, making it difficult to express authentic, personal feelings.
What poetic device is used in "Text" when Duffy writes "I tend the mobile now/like an injured bird”
Simile (compares how the speaker acts with her phone to an injured bird) and metaphor of dependence.
What theme in "The Love Poem" is explored through the speaker's use of other poets' work?
The theme is that our understanding of love is often borrowed or inherited from literature rather than being a unique, personal experience.
"The Love Poem" suggests that love can be defined by literature. How does this relate to the global issue of personal identity shaping expressions of love?
The poem suggests that our personal identity and expression of love are heavily shaped by the language and ideas we consume from literature.
What does the final image of "The Love Poem," the desire of the moth for the star, symbolize about love?
It symbolizes love as an unattainable, distant, and powerful ideal that we can only yearn for, like the moth for the star.
How does Mrs. Midas's language shift from loving to resentful after her husband's transformation?
Her language shifts from affectionate to one that is full of bitterness, frustration, and a sense of loss.
Identify two poetic devices in the line from "Mrs. Midas": "He was spitting out the teeth of the rich."
Alliteration (spitting out) and imagery (gold teeth).
Both "Valentine" and "Mrs. Midas" share a common theme about the destructive nature of what?
The destructive nature of love when it is misunderstood or misused.
The ending of "Mrs. Midas," with the speaker alone, highlights what aspect of the global issue of love's complexity?
Her isolation at the end highlights how the complexity of love can lead to solitude and a loss of companionship.
What does the "fading, darkening, black as ink on a page" in "The Love Poem" symbolize?
It symbolizes love fading and becoming lifeless, existing only as a record on a page rather than a living, breathing emotion.
What does Duffy suggest about the power of language to express authentic love by having the speaker in "The Love Poem" borrow lines from others?
Duffy suggests that language can fail us, and that sometimes the truest love is inexpressible and must be borrowed from others who have come before us.