This document covers the poem: 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti. I studied this poem for my A Level, Edexcel English Literature Exam as part of the poetry module.
By constructing these summaries and notes they helped me to form my essays in thesis during an exam. It was this which helped me to ...
• Imperative
• Importance
• Re-alliteration of time but becomes less effectiveness
• Command
• The title is ambiguous for what they are remembering. Could be a person or a thing. Through
memory?
• Viewing the poem in the idea of remembering a dead relative or friend hence the poem takes on
a comforting tone in that the person will always be with them if not physically then they remain
in memory.
Language:
• Speaker envisages herself dead or departed and speaks to her loved one who is left behind after
her death.
• ‘Remember me’ imperative verb. Use of direct and simple language so that it can be understood
by the reader. Highlights simplicity of the nature of life in that we born, we live, we die. Realism
evoked from this process
• Rossetti uses the euphemism ‘gone away’ for death. Reflects the persona potentially using as a
form of an eulogy to comfort whoever may be reading this when she has passed away
• ‘Gone far away’ extends from previous line. Re-alliterates the boundary between life and death.
However, this does suggest the liminality between the living and the dead suggesting that
although they are physically gone, they will remain in one's memory, imprinted.
• Poems shows her urging her lover to remember her when she is ‘gone away, / Gone far away
into the silent land.'. Euphemism for death through the use of terms like ‘gone away’ and
repeats the same words in the second line to put emphasis on the finality of death. Distance
between them, and knows after death he cannot ‘hold by the hand’. First quatrain which she
started off
• ‘Silent land’. The abstract noun ‘silent’ of this abstract place could become a metaphor for
death. In this sense the poet deals with the element of death and try to make her lover
understand that he needs not remember her even after her death. Alludes to that of heaven or
hell, suggesting the spiritual connection that they will have. Liminal boundary between death
and the living which is separated eternally as a result of her death. Metaphor “Gone far away
into the silent land”. Said to be noted here that the notion of eternal life is depicted as a ‘silent
land’ which hints at the lost connection between the dead and living, kept only in the memory
hats fluid, transient and insubstantial
• ‘Silent land’ for eternal life. Indicating towards the Calvinist belief in predestination
• In place of heaven or hell as she is not aware of which eternal life, she is destined to live in.
Language of this sonnet is to simple and meaningful that the reader can also easily apply it to
his/her life. The message that this sonnet wants to give is that death is unescapable, but it must
not gobble up the lives of those who are still alive
, • Says that when she has died, she will go into the ‘silent land’ from where it will be impossible for
him to ‘hold her by the hand’ Cannot come back halfway
• ‘Hold me by the hand’. Use of the concrete noun ‘hand’ is symbolic of the physical connection
between the persona ad another. The physicality of this has been lost in death. However, by not
using an abstract noun Rossetti highlights the tangibility of the relationship that was and
continues to be shared between the two
• ‘No more day by day’ The use of ‘no more’ commands the speaker to move, almost as it if it a
plea for them to live their life instead of continuing to grieve. The repetition of ‘day’ suggests
that despite her death, for the person who the poem concerns life continues
• ‘Late to counsel then or pray.’. Suggests the dependence of spirituality in the case of death. This
dependence is suggested by Rossetti to highlight the transient importance of prayer for the
persona to console herself. Form a direct relationship with God. Perhaps refers to the annates
that used to occur
• Poet further says that it is of no use to counsel or pray later when she is gone. She says what If
you will forget her for a while, and the pretend to remember her by grieving over her death
• Valta- turning point in tone of the poem
• Only uses two ‘ifs. In this case perhaps it suggests a possibility. The speaker should not beat
themselves up if it does happen. Does not outright say it will happen as potentially does not
want to anger or frustrate the reader in being told of their future emotions towards her. Could
also suggest the liminal boundary in the idea of uncertainty on where the loved one will go. Also
not saying they will but by suggesting this is less horrifying then saying they will
• Dynamic verb ‘forgets’. Suggests that she is at peace with this idea. The tone is melancholic and
does provides a reassuring tone perhaps to console the grieving reader. Comforts anyone who
may be upset from her death by saying she want to be remembered in joy, but wants others to
continue living their life even though she is unable to
• ‘Do not’ imperative and instructing from the poet. Important to remember that there is a life
ahead. Next to the adjective ‘grieve’ suggests that the persona only wants to be remembered if
it brings joy into their lives. Wants to be remembered for the right reasons
• Euphemism here refers to the poet's death. Could be viewed as a metaphor when comparing
death with the notion of undertaking a journey. Journey starts from one world to next.
• Third euphemism can be seen in “for it the darkness and corruption leave”. Death is viewed as
corruption and darkness. It is like a body decaying. The poet here is very optimistic and says that
he should not take her death and his subsequent. Suggests that they are leaving for heaven
• Rossetti's use of the abstract noun ‘vestige’ suggests a sense of spirituality. Suggests that even in
death if she does not exist, they are still connected by the memorise that they share. Equally in
past tense ‘though I once had’ perhaps is used to console the reader in the suggestion that they
do not hold it against them that they had been forgotten.
• Poet gives instructions to her lover by saying that he must go on with his life and shout not keep
thinking about her death as she would rather “... forget and smile... than remember and be sad”.
• Juxtaposition between ‘forget and smile’. This contrast in this sense could epitomize the
anxieties fulling society surrounding forgetting their love ones. Suggests its more important to
treasure the memories you have with a person rather than to forget their existence
• Final ‘remember’ suggests the importance of the remembrance of past grief as long as it does
not consume a person. Does not want to stop them from living their life
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