up-hill

Question 1

what are the key themes of this poem?

Answer 1

The difficult journey of life- this poem is an allegory of the journey from life to death this is explained through a series of questions and answers.
The extended metaphor suggests that life is inherently difficult.

deaths inevitability and restfulness- the poem displays that death as the “sum” of all “labour”
death in imagined as an “inn” that the travellers cannot miss. There is also an optimistic reading of the poem, they will meet “those that have gone before”. This may link to Rossetti and her own christian faith

Question 2

the form, meter and rhyme of the poem?

Answer 2

The poem is made up of four quatrains and use a Q&A style

Question 3

key context

Answer 3

This poem emphasises the theme of religion and devotion that are used in Rossetti’s poems.
The poem reflects her anglo-catholic faith
Christian piety was the norm in public life- there are allusions to this in the poem.
Rossetti’s own brother would say that the bible was literal
Rossetti had an anti-romantic stance she did not believe that the bible could be changed.

Question 4

what are the key religious phrases to relate to the poem?

Answer 4

“I am the way the truth and the life”
“knock and it should be opened”

Question 5

key ideas within the poem

Answer 5

The poem has a conversational tone
Metre is regular- sense that God may be keeping hardship at bay?
Question and Answer may represent prayer
strong- masculine rhyme- may allude to the figure of God?
There is the key idea of reassurance within the poem
doubting vs faith- Rossetti would believe in the power of the bible.

Question 6

key quotes/ideas

Answer 6

There is imagery of darkness/light- hope
“may not the darkness hide it from my face” “you cannot miss that inn.”- the end-stop highlights that God will always answer. There is reassurance
“will there be beds for me and all who seek” “yea, beds for all who come”- sense of comfort and stability. There may be a link to the wider world?