Major - 4
Name of college : Maharani shree nandkunverba mahila arts and commerce college
Name : Vala nencyba dilipsinh
Year : 1st
Sem : 2nd
Subject : Major - 4
Paper name : Proficiency in english literature-2
Date : 3rd march
Professer name : Aamena ma'am
Home assignment :-
📖 Summary and Analysis of the Poem Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy :-
📝Summary :-
In this poem, the poet talks about love in a different and honest way ❤️. She says she will not give a red rose 🌹 or a cute card 💌 for Valentine’s Day. Instead, she gives an onion 🧅.
The onion 🧅 becomes a symbol of love ❤️. It has many layers, just like love has many feelings and stages. When you cut an onion, it makes you cry 😢, just like love can sometimes cause pain and sadness. The smell of the onion stays on your hands, just like love stays with you for a long time.
The round shape of the onion is compared to a wedding ring 💍, showing commitment and marriage. At the end, the poet shows that love can be strong 💪, serious, and even hurtful — but it is also real and faithful.
The poem teaches us that true love is not only sweet 🍫 and romantic 💕. It also includes tears 😢.
📖 Analysis :-
The poem Valentine starts with the speaker saying that she is giving her lover an unusual gift 🎁 for Valentine’s Day — an onion 🧅. Instead of traditional gifts like roses 🌹 or heart-shaped cards 💌, she chooses something different.
Through the symbol of the onion 🧅, the poet challenges common romantic ideas 💭. The onion represents the different layers and hidden truths of love ❤️. Just like an onion has many layers, love also has many feelings and complexities. It can be beautiful ✨ and mysterious, but it can also cause pain and tears 😢 when “cut.”
The tone of the poem is serious and thoughtful 🤔. The poet wants readers to understand that love is not just sweet or perfect. It is a deep experience with both happiness 😊 and difficulties ⚡.
The word “lethal” shows that love can be powerful 💥 and even dangerous because it can hurt deeply 💔.
The poem is written in free verse (no fixed rhyme or rhythm), which makes it sound natural and honest. The simple but strong language makes the feelings more real and direct.
In the end, the poem tells us that true love is not about fancy gifts 🎁 or romantic clichés 💘. Real love is complex, emotional, sometimes painful, but honest and meaningful. It asks us to accept love with all its joys 😊 and challenges 💪.
Class assignment :-
● Themes and About poet of poem Valentine:-
✍️ About the Poet
Carol Ann Duffy 🇬🇧 is a famous British poet. She became the first woman Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom in 2009 👑. Her poems often talk about love ❤️, relationships 💑, women’s experiences 👩, truth ✅, and human emotions 💭. She writes in simple but powerful language ✨ and often challenges traditional ideas.
🌸 Themes :-
(1) ❤️ Love and Its Complexity :-
The poem shows that love is not simple. It has many layers 🧅, just like an onion. Love is not only sweet 🍫 and beautiful 🌹; it can also be deep, serious, and sometimes painful 💔.
The poet chooses an onion instead of roses 🌹 and chocolates 🍬 to show that real love is more complicated than it looks.
2) ✅ Truth and Honesty :-
The poet presents love in a realistic way 🌍. She says that relationships have both happiness 😊 and pain 😢.
Love is shown as something real and natural, not like the perfect and dreamy love 💕 we often see in movies 🎬 or society.
(3) 💍 Possession and Commitment :-
The poem talks about strong attachment and commitment in love 🤝.
True love connects two people deeply and strongly 💞.
It suggests that real love is lasting ⏳ and not easy to break.
(4) 🤗 Intimacy and Vulnerability :-
The onion 🧅 represents closeness in a relationship.
Love means sharing your true self and showing your feelings honestly 💬.
Sometimes this makes people feel emotional 😢 or weak, just like an onion can make you cry.
(5) 🚫 Rejection of Traditional Romantic Ideas :-
The poet rejects common Valentine symbols like roses 🌹 and cards 💌.
She wants to show that love is not about expensive or material gifts 🎁.
Real love is deeper and more meaningful 💖 than such things.
Essay writing :-
📚 Essay on English Literature :-
English literature is one of the richest and most influential literatures in the world 🌍. It includes poetry, drama, novels, short stories, and essays written in the English language. Over many centuries, English literature has developed and changed, reflecting society, culture, history, and human emotions.
The history of English literature begins with Old English works like Beowulf ⚔️. Later, during the Middle English period, writers like Geoffrey Chaucer made important contributions. His famous work The Canterbury Tales gave a clear picture of medieval life.
The Renaissance period was a golden age of English literature ✨. The most famous writer of this time was William Shakespeare 🎭. He wrote great plays like Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet. His works explore themes of love ❤️, ambition, jealousy, power, and human nature. Shakespeare’s language and style are admired even today.
After the Renaissance came the Romantic period 🌄. Romantic poets like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge focused on nature 🌿, imagination, and emotions. They believed that nature has great beauty and spiritual power.
The Victorian age brought writers like Charles Dickens, who wrote novels about social problems and the lives of poor people. His works such as Oliver Twist show the harsh realities of society.
In the modern period, writers experimented with new styles and ideas. Authors like T.S. Eliot and Virginia Woolf explored themes of loneliness, confusion, and modern life.
English literature is important because it helps us understand human feelings and experiences 💭. It improves language skills, imagination, and critical thinking. It also teaches moral values and gives knowledge about different cultures and times.
In conclusion, English literature is a treasure of knowledge and creativity 📖✨. From ancient poetry to modern novels, it continues to inspire readers around the world.
