Out Of The Deep

Question 1

summary of out of the deep

Answer 1

This sad, tortured poem reflects many of Christina Rossetti’s overwhelming fears and concerns; the essence of her being, as expressed in her poetry. Deeply religious, full of guilt and insecurity, she was consumed with a death wish, a yearning to reach God, but deeply doubtful as to her worth. Few of her poems express this as profoundly as this.

Question 2

Have mercy, Thou my God; mercy, my God;

Answer 2

plea, address to God
imperative and repetition shows the poets distress

Question 3

Lo for Thy staff I have but felt Thy rod
Along this tedious desert path long trod.

Answer 3

religious illusion to the bible,
metaphor for how god uses just punishment to discipline and guide his followers

Question 4

traitor slunk back from the goal:
Lord, I repent; help Thou my helpless loss.

Answer 4

oximoron
ultimately her problem is not resolved
there is no satisfying conclusion

Question 5

While still Thou haunts’t me, faint upon the cross,
A sorrow beyond sorrow in Thy look,
Unutterable craving for my soul.

Answer 5

repition of sorrow
speaker has deep self hatred
she wants to know if God views her as negatively as she views herself

Question 6

Context

Answer 6

Illusion to bible
Judas is a traitor