Remember by Christina Rosetti- Analysis
Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
Octave
"Remember me when I am gone away,": The poem begins with a
direct imperative, establishing the theme of remembrance.
"Gone far away into the silent land": The speaker acknowledges
their impending death, emphasizing the distance and finality of their
departure.
"When you can no more hold me by the hand,": The speaker
refers to the physical intimacy lost in death.
"Nor look upon me with the loving eyes": Further emphasizing the
loss of physical connection.
"That used to light the world for me of old,": Nostalgia and
longing are evident in the reference to past happiness.
"Remember me then as I am now,": The speaker requests to be
remembered in their present form, not as a fading memory.
"Young and unchanged, and full of hopeful hours": The speaker
wants to be remembered in the prime of life, full of potential.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller iebseller101. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.02. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.