The World Flashcards
(4 cards)
(THE WORLD)
Tone? Reasoning? Form?
- Presumably a male speaker, Rossetti is possibly reflecting on Adam and Eve, temptation leading to darkness and punishment. Could also be the duplicity of Victorian nature.
- Octet is more wondrous and reflective, sestet is more graphic and scathing, strain and pain, “take hold on hell?”, very uncertain ending, perhaps reflects her on instability.
- Usage of interchanging end stops, caesura and enjambment allows for a train of thought type feel.
How is The World about Eve?
“subtle serpents…
Biblical imagery of the “ripe fruit”, as well as the fallen woman connotations as she is “void of love and prayer”.
“subtle serpents gliding in her hair”, the sibilance evokes the trickery of Eve, perhaps relates to Medusa.
How does Rossetti show her conservative Christian perspective in The World?
“By day…
“With pushing horns…
Tempted by her in the day “By day she wooes me” used as a refrain, seduced by her “soft” nature. Rossetti uses a binary opposition with night time with heavily satanic imagery, “With pushing horns and clawed and clutching hands.” sexual imagery with alliteration to amplify her harshness.
How does The World evoke female power?
“But all night…
“Is this…
as the moon so changeth she;” the ‘moon’ correlates to the Greek goddess Selene, feminine power can change even nature.
a friend indeed… give her my life and youth”, the assumed male speaker is greatly swayed by this promiscuous woman, Rossetti perhaps explores male weakness instead.
