This document covers the poem: 'Our Mothers' by Christina Rossetti. I studied this poem for my A Level, Edexcel English Literature Exam as part of the poetry module.
By constructing these summarises and notes these provided me with ideas and themes which I could for my essays and thesis. It was...
• Use of the persona pronoun ‘our’ creates a sense of unity that champions and celebrates the
role of mothers both past and present
• Plural of ‘mothers’ elucidates the importance of present mothers and foremothers
• In this sense poem immediately sets the light of elucidating the importance of mother's role and
the difficulties they have had to overcome in a male dominated society.
Language:
• Voice is that of a first-person narrator, probably the poet. Octet refers to the collective ‘we’ and
‘our’, drawing in all remake readers. In the sestet she uses the more persona ‘I’.
• The tone is warm and loving, conveying universality rather than personal emotion
• Most noticeable and memorable technique is the repetition in line four to seven, which creates
a moving, rhythmic flow.
• First two lines forms the dedication mothers and sisters in the Univeral sense. Both lines begin
with ‘our’, an example of anaphora. In terms of syntax, the emphasis is on the nouns which
come first, with the description following...
• Equally the use of the personal pronoun ‘our’ creates a sense of boundness and closeness.
Highlights the liminal connection between ‘mothers’ whose role continues to be of the
uttermost importance. Rossetti's use of the plural noun ‘mothers’ elucidates the message to all
mothers. Creates a sense of unity and community from the mothers in the world whose
objective is to care for children
• Poem begins with the persona stating that all mothers are ‘lovely’ and ‘pitiful’. They live hard,
brave and troubled lives that stay with their children. Due to their graciousness in life and death.
They give everything. Persons uses the next lines to connect the experiences of those still living
with those of the long dead. Memories tell hell that ‘we’ referring to the offspring of those dead
mothers, did as their mothers did. They all worked hard, learned to live in their circumstances,
were patient, and maintained hope in the face of fear. Poem concludes with the persona
wondering over whether or not the mothers in paradise can see their children below.
• Adjective ‘pitiful’ is problematic. Is it the ‘mothers’ who pity those around them, or should they
themselves be pitied? Both possible and applicable. Unusual word order with the adjective at
the end, to emphasise its importance
• Additionally, Rossetti lexical choice of the adjective ‘lovely’ indicates the idea of the maternal
and caring mother towards her children. Elucidates the importance of the angel in the house
role of women in society, and the conformity to those
• Mothers as ‘our sisters’. No matter if one is related to the woman or not, they are one by means
of common humanity. Refers to them as being ‘gracious in their life and death’. Mothers give
everything to those they take care of. Live are dedicated to the well-being of those in their
charge. Rossetti interested in exploring the generational relationship between mothers and
their children, specifically female children. Persona says that whenever recalls a special memory.
Thoughts of her mother reminded her of the commonalities between mother and daughter
, • ‘sisters’ are also sometimes refired to as nuns. Could allude to Rossetti's work with the fallen
women. In this sense she suggests that even the fallen women in capable of fulfilling the role of
the dutiful and submissive housewife. However, equally ‘sisters’ could highlight a sense of
continuality. These mothers' daughter will likely go on to become mother demonstrate the idea
of continuality and the natural cycle of motherhood.
• ‘Gracious in their life and death’. Rossetti use of the adjective ‘gracious’ paints an image of the
angel in the house women who conforms to traditional views of remaining both chaste and pure
in their fulfilment of their roles.
• Rossetti use of the persona pronoun ‘us’ perhaps elucidates the significant impact her mother
had on her life. She champions her mother for educating and caring for her which allowed her to
become this intelligent and praised poet. The idea of ‘us’ equally creates a sense of universality.
Endorses a sense of respect and compassion for the reader when thinking of the role their
mothers played in their live, altogether a contemporary reader may reflect this in the role of
their parents in their lives as unlike in Victorian society, in the modern age women are not
expected to fill such a limiting role as just being a mother and caregiver.
• ‘Unforgotten memory’ significant is suggestion ongoing comradeship and love, even if
separated, referring to female loyalty to her partner in order to conform to the angel in the
house ideology. Rossetti's lexical choice of the adjective ‘unforgotten’ compounds the abstract
noun ‘memory’. Suggests the permanent imprint that mothers leave in shaping and influencing
their children and passing on the role of the mother. In this sense Rossetti praises and
champions the role of the foremothers in their legacy of motherhood that has been passed on
for generations and continues to shape society. Yet, ‘saith’ juxtaposes creates a sense of
condemnation by Rossetti. ‘saith’ meaning archaic in third person suggests from the perspective
of an Victorian women she is also able to understand the limitation that society have in
restraining and suppressing women to this role. Rossetti hence criticises such conditioning of
women perhaps in the belief of the stereotypical women. Rossetti could use this in light of the
fallen women and her belief that they are able to be redeemed.
• Tone changes to one of ennui and listlessness. Idea of ‘learn as we learned’, ‘work as we
worked’, ‘walk as we walked’, ‘hope as we hoped’. The interchangeability between presents
mother and past is illuminated by Rossetti to creates a sense of monotony in the role of
mothers. Perhaps here Rossetti condemns society suggesting that its regimented beliefs in the
role of women limits women to extending themselves. Rossetti perhaps suggests that mothers
today are unable to build upon the legacy of past mothers as a result of these tight constraints
• Women of the world taught in the same ‘sufficient school’ life. Speaks to the still uncommon
practice of educating women when Rossetti was writing this piece. Women were forced to learn
through life, not within an institution. All women ‘work’ and have patience. ‘Walk... by faith’
rather than by sight. They are forced to lean on one another and make their way through the
word with hope and good intuitions'. Rather than with a firm knowledge of what they’re going
to do next or where they’re going.
• ‘Patience of our role’. Persona goes through a speech that lays out the way that women and
their daughters are taught to behave in the world. These societal norms and expectations ate
passed down through the generations and have become a mantra of sorts.
• Mothers and daughters both ‘hope’. One of the most important things that is passed down from
person to person. Should be, and is maintained throughout ‘slips and scathe’. One is injured, but
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