A helpmeet for him (FINAL)

Question 1

form

Answer 1

roundel

11 lines

started using roundels after her friend charles swinburne dedicated it to her

Question 2

ryhme shift

Answer 2

middle stanza, an attempt to go against but forced to reconform by thrird

Question 3

context

Answer 3

1889

-idea of gendered sphere’s in victorian england that rossetti believed in as she aged and became more religious/ traditionalist

CONFLICTING FEMINIST VIEWS
-signed anti-sufferage petition in 1889 but was a part of the early langham femenist group and wrote a letter argueing for female MPS

-decline augusta Webster

-idea of the ‘angel in the house’- coventry patimore 1884

Question 4

who created the roundel

Answer 4

charles swinburne, he dedicated the roundel to rossetti as they were friends

Question 5

when was it written

Answer 5

1888

Question 6

what are the differing messages in each stanza

Answer 6

FIRST STANZA
-the first stanza has a regular rhyme scheme to accentuate normalised traditional gender roles

SECOND STANZA
-emphasisies the superficiality of patriarchal views

THIRD STANZA
-elevates the role of women and celebrates them

Question 7

significance of title

Answer 7

reference to genesis: eve was made of one of adams ribs, women created as a companion for men (subsidary to men)

absence of a female from title reinforces domination of man

a helpmeet is a helpful companion

Question 8

‘woman was made for a mans delight’

Answer 8

-highlights the possessive nature of men

-repetition of the preposition ‘for’ in the title, reitterates women’s role as subsidary to men

-word delight carries sexual connotations , suggest women must sexually satisfy a man

Question 9

significance of ‘O woman don’t be afraid!

Answer 9

exclamatory and archaic O- evokes a divine command (rossettis traditionalist views)

Question 10

his shadow was made by day, his moon by night’

Answer 10

metaphor of women as a mans shadow shows how women are forced to submit- suggests she must serve him, links to idea of the angel in the house

-contrast in light imagrey (shadow and moon) CALLED ANTITHISIS

‘his moon by night’
fill sexual needs
moon control tides, victorians thought that the moon circled ariund the earths
conection to mentraual cycle
‘luna’tics- impact of emotions, moonacy

Question 11

whats the technique used in contrast between ‘shadow and moon’ and ‘strenth and weakness’

Answer 11

antishisis

Question 12

‘her strength with weakness is overlaid’

Answer 12

antithesis is used again, in contrast of strength and weakness, used to emphasise the juxtaposing expectations of women

(society expected women to be fragile and dependent and hide their strength)

Question 13

‘meek compliances her veil might’

Answer 13

veil metaphor, shows how she must veil her strengths to submit to societies expectations

Question 14

‘world wide companion in trth and delight’

Answer 14

-w alliteration emphasises breadth of w womans potential influence

Question 15

‘tender and faithful, ruddy and white’
Woman was made

Answer 15

-ruddy and white is a reference to song of soloman which describes men needing both physical attractiveness and pleasentness from a woman

-adjectives tender and faithful are positive but in a way also allude to mens desires of women

Question 16

repetition of first line in final stanza

Answer 16

reinforces the cyclical confinement of womens subordinance to men in a patriarchy

Question 17

what was a world wide champion

Answer 17

“world wide champion”

moral guardian, coventry patromal 1866 wrote ‘angel of the house’ idea that women should keep men on track/ not cheat