Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'
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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.
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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.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.
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Poem Structure
Petrarchan Sonnet Form
The poem follows the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet, with 14 lines and a volta
Rhyme Scheme
Octave Rhyme Scheme
The first eight lines follow an ABBAABBA pattern
Sestet Rhyme Scheme
The last six lines follow a CDE EDE pattern
Meter and Rhythm
The poem is written in iambic pentameter, with five pairs of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables creating a rhythmic flow
Literary and Poetic Devices
Alliteration
The use of alliteration creates rhythm and emphasizes certain phrases in the poem
Apostrophe
The speaker directly addresses an absent beloved, using apostrophe to convey emotion
Metaphorical Language
The poem is rich with metaphors, such as the 'silent land' representing death, to enhance its imagery
Paradox
The poem presents a paradox, juxtaposing the desire to be remembered with the recognition that forgetting may be a mercy
Themes
Mortality
The poem contemplates death as an inevitable separation and its impact on shared experiences and the beloved's life
Memory
Memory is portrayed as a means to transcend death and remain present in the beloved's thoughts, but also as a potential source of pain
Love
Love is depicted as a force that endures beyond physical existence and can persist through the preservation of memory
Evolution of Tone
Insistence
The initial tone of the poem is insistent, urging the beloved to remember the speaker
Selflessness
The tone evolves to prioritize the beloved's happiness, revealing a selfless love
Tension
The poem explores the tension between the desire to be remembered and the weight that memories can impose
Analysis of Christina Rossetti's 'Remember'
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Poem's Structure
Petrarchan sonnet form: octave and sestet with a volta.
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Speaker's Initial Request
Speaker asks to be remembered posthumously.
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Speaker's Shift in Tone
Volta marks transition to acceptance of being forgotten for loved one's happiness.
