Symbolism in Poems

Describe important symbols in the texts you have studied and analyse how the symbols helped develop important ideas.

In the poems 'Valentine' and 'War Photographer' by Carol Ann Duffy much emphasis is put on the use of symbolism to develop important ideas. In 'Valentine' an onion is used as an unconventional symbol of love. It develops the idea of love with the help of effective language techniques throughout the poem. In 'War Photographer' the photographs represent symbols of suffering and red is recognised as colour symbolism of blood, and the light.

In the poem 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy the central theme of love is developed by the use of an extended metaphor throughout the poem. This extende metaphor is saying that an onion is love. The onion symbolises love in a more realistic way or in a less fairytale like sense. For instance the smell of the onion "Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
Cling to your knife" this quote shows that the smell of an onion lingers a while, it will not go away just like love. Love can also be deadly or dangerous. Sometimes people do dangerous things in acts of love. Like the sting of onions. "It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light". Simply means the 'brown paper' is the outer skin of the onion, the comparison also supports the idea of a gift. The reference to the 'moon' is common in romantic poetry, it 'promises light' like the moon, and perhaps, like the optimism at the beginning of a new relationship.

Another key idea is in the text 'War Photographer' by Carol Ann Duffy. The central theme of people suffering is developed by the use of the photos themselves. This theme is further developed by making a social justice comment on the media whom are making a profit from other peoples suffering. The quote "spools of suffering" puts emphasis by describing the terrible photos/images of war. Another quote like "a hundred agonies" is a deliberate exaggeration of the pictures. The poet uses the photos to symbolise what is seen through the eyes of the war photographer. She feels that many people do not fully understand the psychological and mental factors that a war photographer exposes themselves to in order to satisfy the needs of the general public and earn a living. People in out society probably only know of the glamourous side of war photography like the travel and high pay, not of how much that these people endanger themselves by.

Similarly both of these poems look deeply into some very important themes. The poet (Carol Ann Duffy) uses symbolism with the objects like an onion and photographs to develop these ideas. The main focus being to open the eyes of the reader and to make them think more deeply about the world they live in.

In conclusion Carol Ann Duffy has a very diverse and unique ability to express important ideas with the help of effective symbolism associated with a particular object. Powerfully capturing the essence required to really manipulate and reflect the views of society.