rossetti context Flashcards
(13 cards)
when was rossetti born? when did she die and how?
1830
1894 - cancer
why was she a spinster?
Was engaged to james collinson but ended the engagement when he reverted to roman catholicism
Was in love with charles cayley but refused to marry him bc she found out he was not a christian
what kind of christian was rossetti? what does this mean?
devout ‘high church’ member of the evangelical branch of the church of england
High church stressed the catholic belief in an individuals ability to be saved through their own actions - their most important ritual was the belief in transubstantiation
what were rossetti’s personal christian beliefs?
That our current life is a preparation for a sweet afterlife, and that if pleasures are avoided in this life they will be replaced with even greater pleasures in the afterlife
how did rossetti’s life reflect her religious beliefs?
She gave up playing chess bc she enjoyed winning
Pasted paper strips over anti-religious parts of books
Objected to nudity in paintings
Refused to go and see Parsifal (music drama) bc it celebrated pagan myths
Worked for the Society promoting christian knowledge in the 1870s
what did rossetti believe about women and feminism
She didnt support the suffrage movement - she thought womens rights were at odds with christianity
She believed that men and women were created for different purposes
Women should not be politically equal to men - nu uni, no right to vote etc
Her beliefs about women were complex - she was not a feminist and believed in the biblical idea of women BUT she argued for female representation in parliament, and spoke out about sexual exploitation of female prostitutes
how did rossetti help women?
from 1859, she volunteered at St Mary Magdalen House for fallen women which was a refuge for prostitutes and gave her more awareness of how women could be abused
what did rossetti and her mother do when her dad fell ill and was forced into retirement?
Started a day school but had to give it up after a year
how are fairy tales relevant to rossetti?
Her mother told her and her siblings fairy tales, and as they got older they continued to read fairy tales themselves
what features of ballads are important to poetry?
Highly dramatic narratives
Story told in bold outline with graphic detail
Who were the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood?
A secret society formed with the aim of creating a new British art by seven rebellious young artists in London (Dante Rossetti being one of them)
They were inspired by the art of late medieval and early Renaissance Europe
How did Rossetti relate to the brotherhood?
She is considered a pre raphaelite poet even though she was never an official member
She was closely associated with the brotherhood - she contributed to The Germ (under a pseudonym) and modelled for some of their paintings
What is The Germ
A magazine featuring the work and ideas of its founding members - it was intended to promote their artistic and literary ideals
Rossetti contributed to this under a pseudonym
