Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'

Concept Map

Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' is a Victorian sonnet that addresses the profound themes of love, death, and memory. The poem, part of her 1862 collection, uses a Petrarchan structure to express the tension between the desire to be remembered and the act of forgetting as a form of kindness. Rossetti's use of literary devices like alliteration, apostrophe, and metaphor enriches the poem's emotional depth, making it a timeless piece in English literature.

Summary

Outline

Want to create maps from your material?

Enter text, upload a photo, or audio to Algor. In a few seconds, Algorino will transform it into a conceptual map, summary, and much more!

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each Card to learn more about the topic

Poem's Structure

Petrarchan sonnet form: octave and sestet with a volta.

Speaker's Initial Request

Speaker asks to be remembered posthumously.

Speaker's Shift in Tone

Volta marks transition to acceptance of being forgotten for loved one's happiness.

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic

Similar Contents

Explore other maps on similar topics

Serene winter landscape with a snow-covered fence leading to a distant farmhouse nestled among bare trees under a pastel-hued sky.

The Life and Legacy of Robert Frost

Antique hourglass with golden sand flowing between glass bulbs, set against a warm sky gradient, on a reflective wooden surface.

Exploring Love and Time in Carol Ann Duffy's "Hour

Sparrow perched on a mossy stone birdbath in a lush garden, with soft reflections and a blurred floral backdrop.

Analysis of Emily Dickinson's "A Bird, came down the Walk"

Can't find what you were looking for?

Search for a topic by entering a phrase or keyword

Exploring 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

'Remember' is a poignant sonnet by Christina Rossetti, featured in her 1862 collection 'Goblin Market and Other Poems'. This Victorian poem delves into the profound themes of mortality, love, and the enduring power of memory. The speaker, presumably Rossetti herself, addresses a loved one, entreating them to keep her memory alive posthumously, yet also to prioritize their own happiness should her remembrance prove too burdensome. The sonnet is structured in the Petrarchan form, consisting of an octave and a sestet, with a pivotal volta that transitions the poem from an appeal for remembrance to a comforting acceptance of eventual forgetfulness.

Victorian-era writing desk with open leather-bound notebook, antique brass pen, and porcelain inkwell by a window with sheer curtains and a potted plant.

The Structure of 'Remember': A Petrarchan Sonnet

'Remember' is crafted in the style of a Petrarchan sonnet, a form perfected by the Italian poet Francesco Petrarch. Comprising 14 lines, the sonnet is typically written in iambic pentameter, a metrical scheme with five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables. The sonnet is bifurcated into an octave with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA, which sets up the argument or situation, and a sestet, following either CDECDE or CDCDCD patterns, which resolves or counters the octave. In 'Remember', the sestet follows a CDE EDE scheme. The volta, occurring after the octave, signifies a thematic or argumentative shift, which in this poem, moves from a plea for remembrance to an acknowledgment of the potential need to forget.

Poetic Techniques in 'Remember'

Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' is rich with literary and poetic devices that contribute to its emotional and thematic depth. Alliteration is used to create rhythm and focus on specific phrases, while apostrophe allows the speaker to directly address the absent beloved. The poem is laden with metaphorical language, such as the 'silent land' representing death or the afterlife, enhancing the poem's vivid imagery. Additionally, Rossetti employs a paradox to convey a complex truth: the initial plea for remembrance is juxtaposed with the notion that forgetting may be a mercy if remembrance causes pain.

Themes of Death, Memory, and Love in 'Remember'

The themes of 'Remember' are interwoven to reflect the speaker's contemplation of death, the role of memory, and the nature of love. Death is presented as an inevitable separation, prompting the speaker to consider the impact of her absence on shared experiences and the beloved's life. Memory is depicted as a means to transcend death, allowing the speaker to remain present in the beloved's thoughts. Yet, the poem also contemplates the potential anguish that such memories might evoke, suggesting that forgetting could be an act of kindness. Love is portrayed as a force that endures beyond physical existence, highlighting its ability to persist through the preservation of memory.

The Enduring Message of 'Remember'

Christina Rossetti's 'Remember' imparts a moving message on the intricacies of love and the nature of loss. Initially, the poem's tone is insistent, urging the beloved to cling to the speaker's memory. However, it evolves to prioritize the beloved's emotional well-being, even if it entails relinquishing painful recollections. This progression from a focus on being remembered to an emphasis on the beloved's happiness reveals a selfless love. 'Remember' continues to resonate with readers for its timeless themes and its nuanced exploration of the tension between the wish to be remembered and the recognition of the weight that memories can impose. Its mastery of form, evocative imagery, and profound insight ensure its lasting impact as a distinguished work of Victorian poetry.

Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'

Concept Map

Summary

Outline

Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'

Poem Structure

Petrarchan Sonnet Form

Rhyme Scheme

Meter and Rhythm

Literary and Poetic Devices

Alliteration

Apostrophe

Metaphorical Language

Paradox

Themes

Mortality

Memory

Love

Evolution of Tone

Insistence

Selflessness

Tension

Learn with Algor Education flashcards

Click on each Card to learn more about the topic

Q&A

Here's a list of frequently asked questions on this topic