Rossetti poems overview Flashcards

Question 1

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Remember: literal meaning

Answer

A

The speaker addresses her lover, initially demanding to be remembered, but later arguing not to remember her if it would bring them sadness

Question 2

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Remember: implicit meaning

Answer

A

She may have wanted their love to remain a light in the darkness

Question 3

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Remember: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person / personal, intimate, makes reader feel more connected to relationship / probably a female narrative voice = element of power, considers the female perspective, which was often overlooked at the time the text was written

Question 4

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Remember: form and structure

Answer

A

Sonnet - associated with love, reflects the subject of the poem / this form was also traditionally used by men = shows power woman has
strict rhyme scheme = feminine power still restricted / death restricts relationships

Question 5

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Remember: key imagery + language

Answer

A

remember = imperative, commanding
gone away + gone far away = euphemisms
silent land = Biblical reference, death, isolated / can be positive (rest, peace) or can be negative (absence of life + communication)
hold me by the hand = no longer able to touch - adds layers of distance / could suggest a kind of possession - he will no longer have any part in her
go + stay = juxtaposition
planned = ironic, because death is unpredicted
do not grieve = imperative
darkness = associated with hell (Matthew 8:12) / could be connected to Rossetti’s physical + mental illness (Depression, Graves’ disease)
corruption = religion, links to God
smile + sad = juxtaposition between happiness and sadness
caesura = has time to remember

Question 6

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Remember: themes

Answer

A

life
memory
forgetting
loss / death

Question 7

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Remember: context

Answer

A

Rossetti may see death as a release from the ‘darkness’ found in her own life, as seen through her struggle with Depression and Graves’ disease and her two failed relationships with James Collinson and Charles Cayley.

Question 8

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De Profundis: literal meaning

Answer

A

The speaker questions why heaven is so far from Earth / she wants to reach heaven, because here, there is joy and beauty that is unattainable on Earth

Question 9

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De Profundis: implicit meaning

Answer

A

The speaker longs for the joy and beauty of heaven that is impossible to reach during a person’s lifetime / the Earth feels isolated from the stars (a metaphor for heaven) and even the monotonously revolving moon is out of her reach / death would be preferable to life, because joy and beauty can be experienced in heaven.

Question 10

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De Profundis: narrative voice

Answer

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First person, makes it more personal, could be Rossetti herself feeling unhappy with the pain in her life and wanting to be with God in heaven

Question 11

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De Profundis: form and structure

Answer

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4 stanzas of 4 lines each, regular rhyme scheme = could reflect the entrapment on Earth felt by the speaker
on the 4th Day of Genesis, sun, moon and stars created
number 4 has relationship to cross (in that it has 4 points) = religion shapes the entire poem

Question 12

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De Profundis: key imagery + language

Answer

A

built and set = believes the world has been shaped by a higher force
rhetorical questions addressed to an invisible being (a technique known as apostrophe)
I would not care = seems depressed, without energy
moon personified as ‘she’ = links to context: moon traditionally regarded as female, particularly in Greek mythology
scattered fire / Of stars + far-trailing train = still doesn’t take speaker out of her depressed mood = poor mental health (context link)
one desire = this is for death and not love (context link)
bound + bands = reflect ideas of imprisonment found in the material world
strain + stretch = present struggles faced on Earth, with the long, stretched out vowels emphasising this
the word ‘at’ in ‘catch at hope’ suggests she doesn’t succeed = speaker is longing for death, but fails to achieve it
sad portrayal of depression at end, in that depressed people can find it challenging to find any hope

Question 13

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De Profundis: themes

Answer

A

questioning
earthly existence
desire + desperation
doubt

Question 14

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De Profundis: context

Answer

A

mostly melancholy tone = could link to Rossetti’s mental health problems, such as Graves’ disease and Depression
the speaker’s ‘one desire’ is death, not love = could link to the breakdown of two serious relationships that Rossetti had
religion = central to this text through frequent references + the structure itself
‘De Profundis’ means ‘a heartfelt cry of appeal expressing deep feelings of sorrow or anguish’
‘De Profundis’ is Latin for ‘From/Out of the depths’

Question 15

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Echo: literal meaning

Answer

A

The speaker calls out for someone to come back to them

Question 16

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Echo: implicit meaning

Answer

A

Loss is discussed and how the speaker wants her lover to come back to feel a greater sense of togetherness / speaker appears to be addressing someone who is loved and asking him to come back to her / sense of separation and longing for a state of togetherness

Question 17

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Echo: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person, personal to the speaker, enhances empathy felt by the reader? / isolated voice (who we assume is the woman) highlights the idea of women not having their voices heard at the time, making them feel isolated, reflecting the voice chosen

Question 18

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Echo: form and structure

Answer

A

Lyric poem (it functions like a song) / 3 stanzas - could show that the relationship is not just between her and her lover, but religion must also have a place - this was very important to Rossetti. 3 is also the number of the divine (e.g., The Trinity) / each stanza has 6 lines - God created man on the 6th day, number 7 signifies perfection (completion of creation etc) = 6 symbolises imperfection

Question 19

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Echo: key imagery + language

Answer

A

come to me = imperative
silence of the night = could reflect relationship not accepted in light, link to Silent Night hymn?
sibilance + soft sounds = lullaby-esque
sunlight on a stream = reflection - longs for the past?
finished years = concept of togetherness
line 7 = sweet, but then gets overwhelming + upsetting
sweet = repeated, invalidates meaning
paradise = reference to heaven
souls, thirsting + door = religious language
watch = passive, she can’t move on as she doesn’t have the person who makes her life easier = lack of control
life + death = juxtaposition, her life depends on him, without him is like a death
pulse…breath = reflect each other, together in last moments / plosives make it sound slightly breathless/passionate
water imagery = sadness, tears
paradise + souls = religious imagery
quite a consistent, melancholy tone
door = gates of paradise

Question 20

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Echo: themes

Answer

A

loss, heartbreak and longing
life and death
the place of religion in existence

Question 21

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Echo: context

Answer

A

religious references (including references to paradise, the door and thirsting)
the story of Echo and Narcissus in Ovid’s Metamorphoses
Silent Night hymn published 29 years before
Echo and Narcissus: Echo can only repeat the last few words of what someone else says, as demonstrated through the repeated phrases and images found in this text

Question 22

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Up-Hill: literal meaning

Answer

A

The poem describes the journey of a speaker up a hill, where they are asking their guide questions about this.

Question 23

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Up-Hill: implicit meaning

Answer

A

The poem focuses on the meaning of life and death, dealing with the subject of life being a difficult journey. This could reflect the struggles in Rossetti’s personal life, including with romantic relationships and ill-health
There are strong religious references, which could suggest the presence of God for guidance or that they will be rewarded by heaven at the top of the hill when their journey is over
Could be a conversation between the persona and a religious figure (Jesus/God?)

Question 24

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Up-Hill: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person, makes it more personal, readers can see how close of a topic this is to the speaker, makes it more relatable - lots of people question the nature of reality, what happens after death etc
the 2nd voice could be…
1. God
2. their own conscience
3. a conversation between a traveller and a guide
4. Rossetti in her times of depression + times of faith
5. God, but within herself

Question 25

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Up-Hill: form and structure

Answer

A

Q+A format = expresses doubt, common form in devotional writing
Regular structure could reflect the monotony + laborious nature of the journey through life towards salvation. The journey is relentless
number 4 has strong associations with Christianity - the cross has 4 points = religion shapes the poem

Question 26

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Up-Hill: key imagery + language

Answer

A

road wind up-hill = symbolises the journey the speaker takes, not straight - long + difficult, no direct way - everyone must find their own way (different interpretations of the road: literal- a long walk to an unseen destination / metaphorical- representing the path that life takes / symbolic- the way to live spoken of in the Bible)
all the way = no relief
inn = represents security, Biblical connotations - Mary and Joseph
door = judgement, purgatory
beds = rest, comfort
from morn to night = metaphor from birth to death
my friend = welcoming language, religious reference, what Jesus called his disciples
resting-place = rest, depression
dark + darkness = never-ending struggles of life
will not = imperative
sore + weak = struggles of life’s journey. When without God, you’re ‘weak’, but faith gives a source of strength
yea = sounds archaic, highlights the religious nature of the poem

Question 27

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Up-Hill: themes

Answer

A

the journey of life
life and death
the influence of religion on our existence
struggle vs comfort
questioning and reassurance

Question 28

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Up-Hill: context

Answer

A

idea of struggle could link to Rossetti’s mental health problems + failed relationships
‘I stand at the door and knock’ = Revelation 3:20
‘My Father’s house has many rooms’ = John 14:2
Mary giving birth when there was no room at the inn = Luke 2:7
‘Knock and the door will be opened to you’ = Luke 11:9-10

Question 29

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Up-Hill: different interpretations of the journey

Answer

A

The poem symbolises the journey from birth to death. The darkening sky foreshadows the end of life and the inn represents the final resting place, which could be seen as heaven.
The road represents the journey of life. The traveller wonders if life grows easier as she grows older. However, the guide tells her that the road that remains is up-hill and difficult. It’s possible that the inn could represent death, which also provides an opportunity for rest at the end of the road.
The journey could represent Christian purgatory, where the inn would represent heaven. Although, this reading seems less likely because of Rossetti’s religious views.

Question 30

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An Apple-Gathering: literal meaning

Answer

A

About a girl who puts blossoms in her hair and walks along the road with an empty basket, being mocked by others will baskets full of apples

Question 31

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An Apple-Gathering: implicit meaning

Answer

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The speaker plucks the blossoms before the apples grow - fallen woman who has lost her virginity before the appropriate time. Women who have been promiscuous are isolated from society.

Question 32

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An Apple-Gathering: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person, makes it personal, highlights the suffering endured by the speaker / makes it close to readers - this could happen to them/this happens to ordinary people, we should be kinder about it. The speaker could be based on a woman that Rossetti worked with at the St. Mary Magdalene Penitentiary or it could just be an ordinary woman, reflecting that any woman in society could have their whole lives wrecked by one poorly thought-out action.

Question 33

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An Apple-Gathering: form and structure

Answer

A

Regular structure - 7 stanzas of 4 lines with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This rigid structure could reflect the rigid expectations demanded of women in Victorian society. 7 is odd, could possibly reflect that the woman’s life will never be perfect and simple again and may be incomplete, for men and friends would not want her.

Question 34

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An Apple-Gathering: key imagery + language

Answer

A

plucked = didn’t come off naturally, not ready = lost virginity too soon
plucked pink blossoms = plosive sounds - bitterness/regret/anger
wore them all evening = no shame / regret
dangling = it’s empty, could suggest disappointment
mocked = fallen woman, outcast
neighbours = it’s society as a collective making her feel isolated
empty-handed + heaped-up = in contrast
Lilian and Lilia = lilies are symbols of purity
teased = childish, showing how young they are
plump = maybe she didn’t seem as desirable as other girls, but she has actually won
stronger hand = image of a husband, path is laid out / could this be the influence of God?
rhetorical question = she questions him + herself, idea of anger/regret/sadness
stooped = he’s lowering himself to talk to her - could suggest she’s lower class
exclamation could suggest anger rather than regret
chill = she’s left out in the cold + rejected by society. She is an outcast. Could also suggest loss of feeling and uncertainty.
dews / Fell fast = could be metaphorical for the narrator herself
loitered = she doesn’t know how to make things better. Idea that she can’t move forwards

Question 35

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An Apple-Gathering: themes

Answer

A

Loss of innocence and virginity
Isolation and neglect
Societal expectations and gender roles

Question 36

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An Apple-Gathering: context

Answer

A

This poem was written at a time when Rossetti had lost her first love, James Collinson after he became a Catholic. This poem looks at the Victorian idea of the ‘fallen woman’, where if a woman has sex before marriage, she is considered to be disgraceful and ‘fallen’. There could be links here to Rossetti’s work at the St. Mary Magdalene’s penitentiary.

Question 37

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No, Thank You, John: literal meaning

Answer

A

A woman rejects a man. At the end of the text, she offers him friendship, but makes it clear she wants nothing more than this.

Question 38

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No, Thank You, John: implicit meaning

Answer

A

The text explores gender dynamics and societal expectations. The speaker defies the societal expectation of a woman in Victorian society, through her blunt refusal of his love.

Question 39

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No, Thank You, John: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person, personal to her, highlights empathy felt by the reader, as you can see the effect it has had on her / takes the point of view of a woman and explores her experience of society

Question 40

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No, Thank You, John: form and structure

Answer

A

The poem has 8 quatrains with a regular rhyme scheme = shows how relentless he is being and how repetitive her rejection of his love is. She has to resist him over and over again.

Question 41

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No, Thank You, John: key imagery + language

Answer

A

title = idea of female ownership
addresses him as John = blunt + purposeful
day by day = he is persistently asking
never = certainty + repetition. She is adamant and asserts herself
face as wan = image linking John to the moon, he’s constantly orbiting her (also the moon is a feminine symbol, so puts John in the position of the woman, as also suggested by the way he is addressed at the start)
pray = not even God can make me love you
use your own common sense = patronising, empowering, almost puts him in the place of a child
owed not to be true = he says she has been leading him on, growing sense of frustration - she hasn’t
days of youth = talks about the passage of time / indication that life is too short to spend arguing and bearing a grudge
wink at your untruth = mocking, assertive, she has the power / she seems to tire of arguing
strike + treaty = like they’re making a business deal
do + pray = he commands her, but she won’t accept it

Question 42

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No, Thank You, John: themes

Answer

A

unrequited love
gender roles in relationships
societal expectations
relationships vs friendships
power

Question 43

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No, Thank You, John: context

Answer

A

The idea of the ‘woman question’ is explored in this text. This was the term Victorians used to refer to debates around the role and nature of women in society. Many people began to question the traditional and restrictive roles defined for women that assigned them value and meaning only in association with men.

Question 44

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A Triad: literal meaning

Answer

A

The stories of 3 women in love are told. The first is a ‘fallen’ woman, the second is a young woman who sought for love but was simply used for display, and the third was facing a lack of love.

Question 45

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A Triad: implicit meaning

Answer

A

Rossetti explores the dilemma of Victorian women who struggled to find happiness and fulfilment in a restrictive society. Even though they all had different experiences with love, the final line suggests that it doesn’t really matter, for the restraints were so great on women, that they were never really allowed to live in the first place.

Question 46

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A Triad: narrative voice

Answer

A

3rd person narrator, they can see as an outsider that women are unhappy = must be quite clear, not specific to an individual perspective which could suggest that this is a universal problem and we need to change our attitude towards the place of women in society.

Question 47

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A Triad: form and structure

Answer

A

Sonnet = used in love poetry - although, it’s a masculine form = men dictate the happiness of women in society. Regular rhyme scheme = repeated, this unsatisfaction of women in the Victorian era was universal. No identifiable volta = could suggest a lack of hope, it will always be like this, they will never get fulfilled lives = sense of tragedy and sadness.

Question 48

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A Triad: key imagery + language

Answer

A

sang of love = they may all have differing circumstances, but share the desire for finding sincere love
crimson = traditionally the colour of prostitution
flushed = sexualisation + idea she can’t control herself
at a show = objectification of women, husband only wanted her for display
harpstring snapped = all 3 have already failed in the search for love?
burden = may have a double-meaning as it is also the chorus of a song. The burden is repetitive, which could suggest that the harpist is playing this unfulfilling part endlessly.
temperately = means ‘with restraint’ = appropriate for a Victorian woman
grew gross = lost her attractiveness
soulless love = lack of relationship
sibilance in line 10 = suggests the unhappiness they are describing
won him after strife = personification of death as ‘him’ could suggest that instead of men, they had death for husbands.
yet all short of life = they were close to achieving their aspirations but didn’t, sense of tragedy at the sad existence of many women
bee = bees die when they sting - women set themselves up for death after having sex? (bee could be a metaphor for women having sex?)

Question 49

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A Triad: themes

Answer

A

worth
the treatment of women
unfulfillment
realism
gender roles in society
living vs existing

Question 50

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A Triad: context

Answer

A

Hints at the ideas of prostitution + fallen women
The objectification of women + male gaze
Harps associated with love?

Question 51

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Maude Clare: literal meaning

Answer

A

Maude Clare disturbs the wedding of Lord Thomas and Nell. She follows them out of the church and presents them with a gift.

Question 52

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Maude Clare: implicit meaning

Answer

A

Maude Clare is an empowered female who is unashamed of her past and the relationship she had with Lord Thomas, in which it could be interpreted that he took her virginity. Maude is proud of her actions and feels that her femininity has not been lessened as a result.

Question 53

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Maude Clare: narrative voice

Answer

A

could be another Maude who was in her position and understands what Lord Thomas is like
could be women seen through the male gaze
referring to Lord Thomas as ‘my lord’ could suggest this is a servant’s perspective

Question 54

Q

Maude Clare: form and structure

Answer

A

12 quatrains with an a consistent and almost perfect ABCB rhyme scheme. The consistency and rigid nature of this could reflect the rigid societal expectations women were expected to follow at the time, but where the rhyme scheme is broken, it could reflect those who don’t conform to the stereotypes, such as Maude Clare.

Question 55

Q

Maude Clare: key imagery + language

Answer

A

lofty step and mien = confidence
his bride = Nell is defined by her relationship with Lord Thomas, she isn’t even named
maid + queen = juxtaposition. Ironic, because usually on her wedding day, the bride would be the ‘queenly’ woman, yet this title is given to Maude.
almost with tears = faked?
Son Thomas = lack of affection between Thomas + his mother
inward strife = inner conflict, who does he love?
gazed = could suggest longing
my lord = formality / mocking
golden chain = could suggest ideas of a noose / a dog collar. It’s a chain and not a ring - could show ideas of affection as opposed to commitment. By giving back her half, she is suggesting that she no longer wants to retain any portion of him + it shows the final breaking of the bond she felt was tying her to him.
we plucked = she is saying that he is a part of this
lilies are budding now = could suggest pregnancy? (she is pregnant with his child)
the dashes show that Thomas is stuttering and has no voice - the only voice he has is referencing Maude Clare, that’s how much power she has over him
take = imperative, shows her taking control
pale = doubt introduced
I wash my hands thereof = moving on from him
heath = symbolises warmth and comfort. It is the centre of the house - Maude Clare inserts herself into the middle of the relationship. Instead of blessing it with warmth, she proposes to bless it with a coldness - this could account for the paleness in the faces of both Thomas and Nell.
hid his face = childish gesture
addressing Nell as ‘my lady’ = could be a sign of respect or sarcasm
flowers + fruit = should have a romantic, joyful impact, but they’re diminished by the comment that ‘the blooms were gone’. All Maude Clare has to offer is old, withered and dying.
leave + take = Nell’s use of these words could suggest that she knows others might see her as a second choice, but her love for Thomas means she doesn’t care.

Question 56

Q

Maude Clare: themes

Answer

A

conforming to and challenging gender roles
intrusion
love
marriage
worth

Question 57

Q

Maude Clare: context

Answer

A

this poem looks at the expectations of women in Victorian society. Women were expected to remain quiet and a virgin until marriage and, as Maude Clare defies both of these, there is a sense of female empowerment here.
there is the suggestion that, because Maude Clare has ‘fallen’, she is not worthy of marriage, which is why she can only observe rather than experience this for herself.
men and women were also viewed very differently for doing the same thing - Lord Thomas gets a chance at marriage, but Maude Clare cannot. This is similar to ‘An Apple-Gathering’, in that men are not judged, but women are.

Question 58

Q

Maude Clare: interpretations

Answer

A

feminists may say that it is empowering. In Victorian society, promiscuous women were meant to feel ashamed, but Maude being proud of her actions could be viewed as very inspiring for women and the breaking of such traditional stereotypes.

Question 59

Q

In an Artist’s Studio: literal meaning

Answer

A

An artist creates portraits of the same model in different positions. She is his motivation.

Question 60

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In an Artist’s Studio: implicit meaning

Answer

A

This poem explores the objectification of women / the model is presented as being without a voice or emotions, reflecting the treatment of women in Victorian society

Question 61

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In an Artist’s Studio: narrative voice

Answer

A

First person ‘we’ = personal, even though the objectification isn’t happening to the speaker, it is a topic close to them and happening all around them, highlighting the universality and personal nature of the topic and that this must be changed.

Question 62

Q

In an Artist’s Studio: form and structure

Answer

A

Sonnet = associated with love. By making the poem a sonnet, the traditional style of love poems, Rossetti ironically exposes the twisted perception of relationships during the Victorian period. Regular ABBA rhyme scheme = she can’t escape and is trapped, this is something continuous that she can’t break free from

Question 63

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In an Artist’s Studio: key imagery + language

Answer

A

‘nameless girl’, ‘selfsame figure’ and the anaphora of ‘one’ all add to the idea that she is just another female to be added to his collection of portraits
the model’s personality + character are stripped away and replaced by vague titles, such as ‘queen’, ‘saint’ and ‘angel’
‘he feeds upon her face day and night’ = artist seen as a predator or parasite, the artist has this woman as his motivation - she is his ‘food’ for his paintings and the one that drives him to paint all the time, the model’s humanity becomes more extracted from the poem as the artist is simply using her as a way to fulfil his fantasies
‘mirror gave back all her loveliness’ = just as the mirror can only reflect the model’s appearance, the artist is incapable of moving beyond the muse’s surface level beauty and seeing the deeper side of the woman
mirror = could suggest that the woman is not viewed as a person in her own right, but is merely a reflection of what the man wants to find
hidden = almost like she’s a secret
he feeds = this is a necessity for him - he needs her to live
night = sucking the life out of her
moon = symbol of chastity + ‘wan’ - she’s frozen in time here, not changing like the moon changes, he’s able to preserve her. Could show how, because she can no longer keep the attributes of the moon, her chastity is being stripped away by the man - he has the power + is controlling.
he shapes the woman to frame his desire = establishes objectification

Question 64

Q

In an Artist’s Studio: title interpretations

Answer

A

quite intimate + creepy
not one particular artist, creates the idea this isn’t something unusual
focuses on him, could suggest he is more important than her being objectified

Answer 65

A

the objectification of women
external display vs internal emotions
gender roles in society

Answer 66

A

Rossetti’s brother, Dante Gabriel, was a painter
‘opal’ and ‘ruby’ have contextual links. In 19th century art and literature, there was a tendency for men to depict women as either virgins or whores. (Opal = white, associations with innocence + purity, ruby = red, associations with prostitution)
canvases are white, white is associated with purity - he’s painting onto them, so is destroying her purity and innocence

Answer 67

A

Rossetti suggests that death is sweeter than life. The speaker believes that we should accept our fate. Life cycle of flowers compared to humans.

Answer 68

A

An analogy of flowers is used to suggest that death is sweeter than life. Rossetti describes how flowers must die and return to the earth, nourishing it and making it richer for re-growth in the following year. This is comparable to the life cycle of humans; young, beautiful people also die, their bodies return to earth, but their souls go to heaven and, therefore, are spiritually reborn. Fertility, beauty and youth defines women, but it doesn’t actually matter, because we’ll be accepted by God regardless.

Answer 69

A

First person, personal experience, they were just an ordinary person who observed this and had a realisation towards the themes explored, in that death is sweeter than life.

Answer 70

A

3 stanzas with 8 lines each. 3 is associated with religion, because of beliefs around the Trinity - religion plays a part in shaping the poem. Complex rhyme scheme which is the same in each stanza = life is entrapping and away from God, death is therefore preferable, for you can be with him?

Answer 71

A

sweetest blossoms = associated with life, ironic when Rossetti juxtaposes them with dying
Church + praise + pray = introduces the semantic field of religion, could show how religious Rossetti was. Also, this is in 3rd line - 3 has religious significance
graves + leaves contrast = graves relate to death, but leaves suggest growth and regeneration
the sky = it is hinted that this represents heaven, the destination of dead souls
perfume = similar to the souls of people in that it is unable to be touched (intangible) and so, the reference of the perfume rising up to the sky reminds the reader that souls do the same
sweet + sweeter = polyptoton emphasises the positivity of the theme, despite it being concerned with death
sweeter death = an oxymoron
3rd stanza has a strong semantic field of religion
rhetorical questions = these express that we shouldn’t be afraid of death
so be it = Volta
why should we shrink from our full harvest? = acceptance that death is a part of life
graves + flowers = death is inevitable. ‘Flowers’ = symbols of fertility + the circle of life, a key theme in this text
first stanza = focus on beauty, second stanza = focus on youth, third stanza = focus on God

Answer 72

A

life
death
nature
religion
renewal / rebirth
afterlife

Answer 73

A

There is a reference to the Old Testament Book of Ruth, which is unexpected and has a disturbing effect for it is out of place with the rest of the poem. The aspect of Ruth’s story relevant here is the fact that the Biblical character suffered hardship and she worked in the fields to survive, so the reference to ‘glean’ here relates to the positive ‘harvest’ that ended Ruth’s story. Rossetti is saying that Ruth’s trials (her gleaning) are less preferable than the ‘full harvest’, which is that of union with God. Ruth was a woman who, after being widowed, remains with her husband’s mother. Ruth is a symbol of loyalty and devotion.

Answer 74

A

Rossetti juxtaposes the joys of love with the sadness of life that gets in the way of this joy

Answer 75

A

Everything pleasurable has sadness in it and she looks forward to dying, which is an idea that dominates much of her poetry. This poem deals with two abstract ideas: a life with love is full of pleasure and a life without love is burdensome. Time ‘which should be flying’, as it does when one is happy and loved, drags when one is unhappy and loveless. Death is longed for when one is unhappy.

Answer 76

A

The first stanza has no voice, but the second stanza has the 1st person plural ‘we’. This could suggest that she has experienced the longing, but not necessarily the love. Rossetti could have intended for the meaning to be universal, as presented by ‘we’ on the last line.

Answer 77

A

2 stanzas of 5 lines each, which are very similar in their appearance and structure and both share the same ABABB rhyme scheme. This could suggest that just as life has pleasant aspects, there is equally a great amount of sadness. This could be argued as suggesting that death is more desirable to life, because you cannot experience this large amount of pain and sadness when you are dead. Also, 5 is odd, which could suggest that you can never feel truly complete, for there will always be other things getting in the way of joy. The number 2 symbolises dualities - which in this case, is love and longing and how they exist together, showing how with pleasure, there must always be sadness, which is why death may be viewed as preferable, for you won’t experience these negative emotions.

Answer 78

A

line 1 = no verb, speaker seems not to have the time. They are thankful that they only need to spend a short amount of time away from them when they’re asleep
brings such pleasure = never boring, gives joy + happiness
harmless = could suggest there is nothing wrong with sex. Could also reference Platonic love (this is also suggested in the night normally being associated with sex, but she looks forward to the day). This could suggest that she’s not hiding her love, it’s in broad daylight + she’s not ashamed. ‘Harmless’ further suggests peace + safety that comes from being in love.
sweet love-making = could be symbolic as this was written in Victorian times. The ‘harmless sport’ could suggest that this love affair was happy and innocent
treasure = repeated, emphasis on how rare and beautiful love really is
without measure = describes love, it’s limitless and cannot be bound by earthly restrictions
love = anaphora, ‘love’ is the subject, which is an abstract idea that, in the poet’s view and probably the view of the reader, is key to life
juxtaposed opening lines of stanzas - being in love vs being without it
long = repetition, life drags on slowly, speaker unhappy
when the speaker is single, they take note of the time passing, because there is no one to spend it with
time lags + dying = life feels so tiresome and empty and the thought of death sounds appealing without love
we live who would be dying = those who are unhappy continue to live, despite longing for death
we = reader is drawn in + the assumption is that we share the speaker’s grief at lost love

Answer 79

A

joy vs sadness
love
the passage of time
longing for death

Answer 80

A

Rossetti was engaged to be married twice, although, she never married. This sadness could be reflected in the poem
She was very religious, but her experiences of life were often disappointing. Therefore, she longed death where she could be at peace with God, and this idea of longing for death can be seen in this text.

Answer 81

A

The poem describes a speaker who regards themselves as a ‘fool’ and that they are isolated in society.

Answer 82

A

The poem explores the pressures of society regarding the innocence and purity that women have. Rossetti describes a speaker who has sinned through her promiscuity and, as a result, has become isolated and marginalised by society. The idea of a fallen woman and loss of virginity is expressed throughout this text.

Answer 83

A

First person, the perspective is that of an anonymous woman who feels isolated by society, as a result of having sex before marriage, which was seen as disgraceful at the time the text was written. The voice is that of a sad woman who regrets the fate that has ruined her life. The tone is sad and bitter.

Answer 84

A

The poem is made up of 3 stanzas of 5 lines each. These numbers are odd, possibly reflecting how the speaker will never be treated in the same way again and always made to feel like an outcast due to her promiscuity. Also, 3 has religious associations (The Trinity), possibly suggesting the strong influence of religious belief on society at the time of writing, including for Rossetti herself. Each stanza has a regular ABAAB rhyme scheme, which adds regularity to the text, possibly suggesting that this treatment from society is a regular occurrence for any ‘fallen woman’. This strict structure could mirror the strict rules women had to follow in the Victorian era.

Answer 85

A

title = ‘a’ suggests there are multiple and she is only one of them, therefore, exploring the sin that all women carry. The text explores a speaker who has sinned through her promiscuity and has been marginalised by society.
a fool = this is how the speaker characterises themselves for their past actions
sleep at noon = sex at night?
chilly = could reflect the consequences of her actions. Links to AAG, left out in the cold + isolated by society.
comfortless cold moon = reflects society. We need the moon for existence, suggesting we need society for existence. Not having the approval of society is, therefore, not good for the speaker as it could lead to social death and lack of a fulfilling existence = feeds into feelings of depression etc. The moon also has several associations, such as femininity - the woman doesn’t even get support from other females = adds to idea of isolation, this is something Rossetti worked to prevent with her work at the penitentiary. Moon also associated with romance, mystery and madness, all of which can be applicable to the narrative of this text.
rose + lily = metaphors for virginity. Flowers symbolise purity + chastity, so the picking of these suggests promiscuity and that the women has become ‘fallen’
I have not kept = neglect to important things
faded and all-forsaken = ‘f’ alliteration could suggest she is frustrated for doing this
weep + wept = polyptoton emphasises her feelings
summer + winter = reference to summer can be seen as a metaphor for happier, innocent times + winter could be a metaphor for her present grief
slept = obliviousness
waken = pain of reality
sun-warmed sweet = rhythmic, contrasts to ‘stripped bare’, which gives a harsh effect
no more to laugh, no more to sing = syntactic parallelism, adds emphasis on the pain her actions have brought her and the harsh treatment of society
sit alone with sorrow = emphasis on isolation of promiscuous women and the harsh treatment of society, empathy evoked
no explicit reference to ‘autumn’ unlike the other seasons. Could suggest that she is what has fallen, not the leaves, she is what has become ‘stripped bare’ and dehumanised to being on a natural level. (?)

Answer 86

A

prostitution and sin
unforgiveness
regret
isolation

Answer 87

A

It is likely that the subject of this text is inspired by a woman that Rossetti met whilst she volunteered at the St. Mary Magdalene Penitentiary in Highgate for prostitutes and unmarried mothers. Rossetti was a High Church Anglican and one of her aims for her work was to reconcile women having sex outside of marriage with her faith. In addition, this text, much like others she has written, has links to the Pre-Raphaelite movement in that, they believed art should be as similar to the real world as possible, so lots of her language used in this text is also simple and undisguised.

Answer 88

A

The speaker is reflecting on a memory with their lover and asking them if they can remember it

Answer 89

A

Natural beauty is explored at the beginning, which develops to a focus more on religion and society. Ideas of loss and love are presented and the fact that they took no notice of time together, but the Church ultimately made them realise time through its chiming could show that religion is more powerful and valuable than the love a man can give.

Answer 90

A

First person, speaker is talking about their own memory, invites readers in = makes us empathise with her more for her loss, personal, intimate, possibly reflecting the nature of the relationship once shared between the speaker and their lover

Answer 91

A

sonnet = powerful, these were traditionally used by men to present the idealisation of women to the point where it becomes unrealistic. Rossetti challenges the idealisation of women and the male gaze - she reworks the masculine form by giving the woman a voice
ABBA rhyme scheme, regular, could reflect the speaker’s consistent confusion through the lack of closure they are receiving

Answer 92

A

title = sense of loss, could suggest struggle/confusion, could be saying have you forgotten me? - sense of distance between speaker and her lover
you = intimate, direct address
one Summer night = importance of one night, etched in memory. Night = could suggest a sense of secrecy established at the start of the poem
together = unity
moon = symbol of femininity/chastity. Could be suggesting that, because the moon doesn’t shine on its own and needs something else, women need something else - men. = a view which would not be liked by a feminist!
‘w’ alliteration = memory beautiful, sounds musical, sounds like a lullaby, honeymoon phase, too good to be true
sleepy tune = power her memory has to recall this image
praised = respected, celebrated, worshipped (religious connotations) - he could be talking about her directly or referring to the world in general
light = juxtaposition to ‘night’, reflects both good and bad
darkness = could suggest depression/confusion, relationship hidden?
glare = exposed verb choice, harsh, critical, links to being seen or being watched
noon = he feels exposed
stars = stars are symbols of hope and fate vs night being a symbol of secrecy
You blushed = very female, suggestion that in nature there isn’t male power? He is vulnerable + she feminises him. Women are more comfortable in nature, whereas men are more comfortable in society.
wandered = suggests a lack of direction
took no note of time = time is fundamental to society - this relationship only works outside the constraints of society?
till = volta, suggesting something before and something after
of church bells = religion dividing them, this is God’s judgement
second chime = measure of time
repetition of questions helps to highlight a sense of confusion she feels

Answer 93

A

love
loss
memory
questioning
religion
the passage of time
secrecy
societal expectations + gender

Answer 94

A

Rossetti broke off two serious relationships for religious reasons - religion is in control of everything and asserts its importance in this text

Answer 95

A

The relationship between love, youth and spring is discussed. She is saying that violets belong in the spring time.

Answer 96

A

Violets are a metaphor for love and youth, showing that the speaker feels these belong in the Spring. Love should remain for the youth, for love is riper and more beautiful when you are young. The reference to Ruth could be suggesting that we should be grateful for what little love is granted to us.

Answer 97

A

3rd person? Not particular to an individual, violets should always belong in the spring, for that is when we are young and most beautiful, not specific to an individual, but the view the speaker holds as true for the whole society

Answer 98

A

sonnet = associated with love, love is the central theme in this poem, as violets symbolise this. The speaker (and possibly Rossetti herself) could feel that love is what shapes life - links to her context - love + devotion for God etc. There is rhyme, but the rhyme scheme is inconsistent - we should keep this same, regular idea universally that violets belong in the spring and the inconsistency could suggest this is not being done (as reflected by the title) or love is something which cannot be controlled and feelings don’t always come about at good points. The inconsistency could also be reflective of the inconsistent love Ruth faced throughout her lifetime, due to her referencing in the last stanza.

Answer 99

A

serious, inquisitive tone
violets = an extended metaphor for love
youth = negative connotations, e.g., being related to immaturity and irrationality
‘bloom when worn-out autumn grieves/ Let them lie hid in double shade of leaves’ = undertones of denial, love will be repressed if experienced during autumn
keep violets for the spring, and love for youth = reiterates Rossetti’s possible belief that love flourishes most during youth
worn-out + grieves + double = focus is entirely gloomy
home birds = introduces the idea of birds migrating, as if love also flees in autumn
the poet associates the changing seasons with the pattern of love and relationships
but when the green world buds to blossoming = plosive ‘b’s creates a lively, percussive sound
later sadder love = looks at the sadder aspects of life, this could be autobiographical (Rossetti known to have at least 2 broken serious relationships)
grace = means with God’s approval. Rossetti could be saying that some relationships which arise later in life should be accepted with their limitations, with no aspirations for more than it can be
a grateful Ruth tho’ gleaning scanty corn = Ruth was grateful for whatever happiness and acceptance she could gain in her new life, despite its limitations. Therefore, whatever love can be found, though ‘scanty’, is precious. Rossetti sees a parallel between Ruth’s situation and the acceptance of the limitations of love in later life.

Answer 100

A

love
youth
seasons
nature

Answer 101

A

Ruth was a biblical character who left her religion to marry her husband, but then his sudden death means she must go back and hope for the mercy of others. She then developed a fond relationship with her mother-in-law. Rossetti may have viewed Ruth’s story as a tale of loyalty, and also the limitations of loving completely - this can be alluded to Rossetti’s consistent fear of losing a loved one early due to her chronic illness.

Answer 102

A

An area is described where there is nobody around to do the work

Answer 103

A

This text could be thought as describing the upper-class world and how these people don’t do anything to help the world. This poem takes imagery directly from the Bible, yet instead of showing God’s forgiveness, she explores God’s vengeance and a world lacking any love and hope. The only hope that Rossetti offers us is in the title, that a new world can be rebuilt.

Answer 104

A

3rd person, Marxist. Rossetti is criticising the class system and that people who benefit from it don’t do the work. Narrative voice = they are not in it, so they’re criticising it (could have contextual links to Rossetti feeling isolated and alone because of Graves’ disease)
the speaker is not directly involved and simply observes what they can see. This could suggest that the people in the area are so clearly not committed to doing work it is obvious even to outsiders. This shows us the general personality traits of upper-class people.

Answer 105

A

consistent rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDCD. The progression from AB > CD could show that time is progressing and changing, but the inability to break away from the strict rhyme scheme could show that even with time, the upper-class are not changing their behaviour. The fact that there is another CD couplet emphasises this lack of progression and inability to change.

Answer 106

A

unripe = could represent naivety of upper-class world / unripe also suggests youth
hath none to reap it = no people to do the work, Marxist criticism of class
unprofitable space = suggests that the outside is no longer valuable, because no-one is there to do the work, so it is not kept in a good state
enjambment at the end of line 3 could suggest danger, there’s no-one to keep it from the world
living men and women = connotations of death, idea they could be soulless
there is also the suggestion that people disagree with the upper-class. ‘Orbs’ = representation of royalty, which is closely followed by ‘poles’, suggesting that they are not fully supported
line 9 = the upper-class don’t do anything to help the world
shades of bodies = lifeless idea
masks = idea of facades, need to do this + cover themselves
Biblical quote at the start

Answer 107

A

the upper-class (disparities in wealth)
isolation (the upper-class from the world, the speaker from the text etc)
religion
desolation
vengeance
God

Answer 108

A

Bible quote from Isaiah 34:11 is featured at the start of this text. It suggests that destruction should be entire, with nothing left but confusion and emptiness.
the speaker is isolated from the poem, which could reflect the isolation Rossetti faced in suffering with Graves’ disease.

Answer 109

A

The text describes the appearance of flowers and plants and how this changes through the seasons

Answer 110

A

This is a hopeful poem based on a quote from the Bible found in Zechariah 4:10, which essentially means that those who have despised earthly life will rejoice.

Answer 111

A

First person, could show the speaker’s close connection to religion (could be Rossetti). The flowers described by the speaker could be seen as metaphors for their state of mind, e.g, ‘violets’ are vibrant and full of life, which could be the state of the speaker or reflect how they feel about being able to rejoice.

Answer 112

A

This is a lyric poem, which is highly personal and devotional. There are 2 equal stanzas with an ABAB rhyme scheme. This complete, equal structure could reflect the calmness and peace of the speaker, for they know that even if they’ve despised earthly life, they will be able to rejoice (after death?).

Answer 113

A

violets = connote vibrancy and life
I recluse = she closes herself up, brings about ideas of self-denial of the earthly world, echoing the title of the poem
unaccounted rare = describes the daisies, suggests that women who deny all earthly pleasures are such rarities
peaceful sibilance (lines 3/4) = reflects the peace the speaker has found
lowly = image of being below others and less important
still = anaphora = shows dependability of small things in nature
forest trees tower = shows images of power
bleak + bare = reflect how even the big parts of nature aren’t always the most important
idea that nature is embracing the summer heat. It’s their time to shine as summer flowers
make them fair = nature makes things equal
bloom = suggests new life

Answer 114

A

joy + comfort
the passage of time
innocence
nature

Answer 115

A

Rossetti was very religious so the inspiration for this poem was based off the Bible verse Zechariah 4:10. Rossetti herself may have despised earthly life through her separation from God, difficult romantic relationships and ill-health, so she finds comfort in the idea that she can rejoice beyond earthly life.

Answer 116

A

A speaker addresses someone who had never loved her, questioning whether they will change their mind and how if the speaker themselves had done things differently, their future would be different.

Answer 117

A

The disjointed nature, by starting with the speaker answering a question and then stating one could suggest the confusion she feels. The idea of having hope deep down is arguably expressed in this poem. The speaker could be experiencing inner conflict through the conflicting views expressed and brackets and there could be a link to power dynamics within relationships in the Victorian Era, too.

Answer 118

A

First person, this is personal to the speaker and a look into their thoughts and feelings, makes readers feel a greater sense of empathy, because it clearly has a deep effect on the speaker.

Answer 119

A

Sonnet - the focus of this poem is love and the speaker’s life is so revolved around this that it shapes the poem. ABBAABBACDCEDC rhyme scheme = lack of consistency, could reflect the speaker’s confusion / idea of progression shown, they begin to think about what the future could have been and existence after death with ‘eternal years’

Answer 120

A

because = she is creating her own assumption of what she thinks is going on, she could be forced to come up with her own answer, because there was no closure
dear = idea of desperation, she’s still showing signs of affection, idea of false hope
questions reinforce confusion
surely = still questions and has to answer her own questions, reflects no closure
life’s dying = oxymoronic, reinforces the confusion. Reminder of how we’re all slowly dying, whilst everything else moves on, she’s still stuck in the past
lingers still = could show her thoughts are dead weight, but she can’t let go of it
shall never = oxymoron, anaphora, the fact she’s repeating it could almost reflect why she has to remind herself why she’s holding on
had loved = it’s in the past, he’s moved on, it’s final for him, separated with a comma shows she has a different view to him
loving = in the present, she’s still loving him, juxtaposes how he has loved and moved on
urged me with the tender plea = it would have taken this man very little to completely win her affection and urge her, sense of desperation, needs to hope on something
our + might = collective pronoun, shows uncertainty of their future together, she knows a future together probably won’t happen
brackets reflect her inner conflict, she’s almost trying to hide from what she really feels and there’s no running from it
eternal years = she’s willing to wait all of eternity, eternal years could be a reference to heaven, he has God-like qualities? she is devoted to him like someone is devoted to God?
Time = capitalised, could emphasise that time is what is holding her back, this is what is in the way + this is the obstacle
was possible = past tense, signifies the finality of it - it’s not going to happen
natural imagery = links to fertility, female sexuality and gender
almost like the reverse of ‘No, Thank You, John’

Answer 121

A

unrequited love
longing
confusion
questioning

Answer 122

A

Rossetti struggled with love during her lifetime, rejecting 3 possible suitors of James Collinson, Charles Cayley and John Brett

Answer 123

A

Describes a female speaker who is rejected by an earthly suitor and as such, offers her heart instead to God.

Answer 124

A

This poem discusses the transition from eros to agape love. There is a strong devotional sense in the poem.

Answer 125

A

First person, makes it more personal and intimate for we can get a greater understanding of their feelings and how the rejection left them, it also helps to heighten the sense of empathy as a reader.

Answer 126

A

6 stanzas of 8 lines each, quite a regular rhyme scheme of ABACDBDC, could reflect the prolonged effect this rejection has had on the speaker and the damage it has done to them, with the consistent repetition of this in each stanza possibly suggesting it is non-stop, heightening the empathy felt by the reader.

Answer 127

A

hand = moment of exposure / tension
brackets = addressed to lover, but the fact it’s in brackets could bring about the question of were they ever truly a part of her? They could also suggest does she have to hide this deep feeling?
let = repeated, could be a reckless throwing off of responsibility
fall or stand + live or die = hyperbolic
speak + weak = does she feel as the woman she is weaker?
you took my heart in your hand = first line is echoed but slightly different from the first stanza, giving the choice and action to her lover.
scanned = quite an objectifying word. Maybe he’s looking at her critically + rejects her heart
then set it down = short, simple phrase of its own emphasises her sense of loss and disappointment
unripe = sexualised? Either you’re not mature enough, or you’re not ready for this
skylarks = larks are symbols of joy and hope for a new beginning. Skylarks sing during the day - is the lover waiting for a moment of joy before marrying?
extended metaphor of her heart being passed around
broke = repeated + carried onto two lines, emphasises the disruption and pain of her broken heart
dash after ‘broke’ = unexpected interruption, didn’t see this coming, creates a pause, prolongs it, her pain is lasting a long time = she is heart-broken
I did not wince = strong, self-contained
judgement = links to stanza 2 with him judging her / Biblical links?
nor questioned since = doesn’t have the confidence to go back to her lover again / has more pride than that + doesn’t have the confidence to go elsewhere to look for earthly love
nor cared for + nor sung = despite the strength with which she took the rejection, her heart is broken
thou = addresses God / much more intimate form of ‘you’ = closer to God
my hope was written on sand = has a Biblical connotation of ‘those who turn away from you will be written in the dust’. This could question whether she is worthy of being accepted by God, having sought out the earthly love in preference to the heavenly. Also suggests that this can be washed away by the incoming tide.
sand = could be a Biblical reference to the Parable of the Builders who built their house on sand + it was hopeless and blew away - reflects the speaker who built her hopes on something that wasn’t going to last. / Sand could also suggest that she understands the imperfect nature of her earthly love.
O my God = repeated, becomes a plead / the speaker turns to God for the love she cannot find on Earth
heart = not mentioned until the 3rd line in the 5th stanza = it’s painful for the speaker to talk about the damage felt
refine + purge = language of sin and redemption / purging with fire is a repeated image in the Bible
without = she promises that no-one on Earth will be able to remove her from God’s love
hold = could be the hold of a hand / ship
I take my heart in my hand = repeated, was also used at the start of the 4th stanza, could imply the resolution to her experiences and decisions
die = belief in Christianity that eternal life with God requires dying on Earth
all that I have I bring / All that I am I give = echoes of the Christian marriage service, reflects the liturgy of commitment from the marriage ceremony during the exchanging of the rings. This could be viewed as a symbolic marriage to God - she is dedicating herself to him.
shall not question much = this kind of love doesn’t need questioning / scanning

Answer 128

A

earthly love vs divine love
fulfilment
the role of women in relationships
the nature of marriage
sin + redemption

Answer 129

A

Rossetti had difficult experiences with earthly love, rejecting 2 serious relationships between herself and James Collinson and Charles Cayley, for they couldn’t accept her religious beliefs. Rossetti devoted herself to God and never married, so there are arguably parallels between the speaker in this text and Rossetti herself. There are also Biblical references throughout, such as to sin + redemption, judgement and the Parable of the Builders with the referencing of ‘sand’.

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