Carol Anne Duffy....and what we think of her

Thoughts from a former GCSE and A-level English student about one particular work of the poet women Carol Anne Duffy

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Carol
• Anne
• Duffy
• Valentine
• Poems
• GCSE
• A-level
• English
• Literature

[smb40]

scottish education's different from english, so you really shouldn't 'british education' :/

[SFRobertsDickClarke]

@smb40 Apart from being called "standard grade" the differences are roughly equivlient to the differences between one county and another. The fundimental structure is basicly the same. The content varies slightly, but there arn't different qualifications etc.

[JimmiBabi]

I don't like a lot of Duffy's poetry, but I do like this one. There's a lot more to 'Valentine' than you appear to realise, for example, it isn't 'throwing symbolism in your face', it's a conceit. Despite it being written for the radio there's no reason for you to conclude that it isn't based on real feelings - she herself has been quoted saying 'poetry can't lie'. PS. 'To His Coy Mistress' is an ironic parody of courtly love and was probably written satirically instead of to a specific person.

[handbagsatdusk]

What really is the point of this 'rant'?

A poem can be interpreted as one wants - as can a piece of music - irrespective of how a musician intended it.

Put your time to more positive use rather than picking apart nonsense...

[KurdishHypercurve]

You are 20 ? You sound double that !

[manthelittleearthgod]

Fuck! How about YOU not shouting at US, "SYMBOLISM! SYMBOLISM!" What you're criticizing her for is precisely what you're doing to us. Isn't there a way to edit your audio or write your thoughts down ahead of time so that you can make a clear, concise point without rattling on. Oh and "To His Coy Mistress" is by Andrew Marvell (which you never give him credit for), and basically it's about a guy who can't get it into his head that this chick really isn't interested in him. Sound familiar?

[osakanone]

The obvious thing is that love is simple yet complex. Moving on, love is bitter.

If you bother comparing it to her other work, it is intentionally manufactured for a radio audience.

It has to be fake so idiots will 'understand' the bitter connotations.

l understand she's doing it to annoy anyone with a brain as an example of what not makes a good poem.

You are SUPPOSED to hate it.

From the sounds of it, it has worked.

Now go read 'The World's Wife'.

Its much better than this drivel.

[SFRobertsDickClarke]

@broseph127 Right, because you can't make a point, you act foolishly. Well done.