This document covers the poem: 'An Apple Gathering' 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....
• An is non-specific and non-generic. Suggests that this could apply to anyone. In this case it is
more significantly an allegorical moral fable in warning against the danger of losing one's
virginity due to temptation
• ‘apple’ is symbolic of temptation. Idea of losing their virginity due to their desire. Fruitful and
virginity. Allusion to the garden of Eden
• Gathering connotes the idea of a community. Idea of isolation from this group
• Put the poem at the centre of the poem. Like she is being shamed by the patriarchal society.
Rossetti criticises this shame.
Language:
• Poem begins with the speaker describing how she chose to pick the flowers from her apple tree.
This choice changed the course of her life. Rather than wait for marriage and gather her apples
when they are ripe, she engaged in a sexual relationship with a man who did not love her. When
she returns to the tree and there are no apples to harvest, she falls into a deep depression.
Realizes that the prospect of her having a good life is virtually zero. The persona returns from
the path she travelled and becomes more dejected and overwhelmed as she passes other with
full baskets.
• The dynamic verb ‘plucked’ is associated with the Garden of Eden. Implies the indulgence in
earthly pleasures, such that the ordained pleasures of the ‘due season’ are cut off.
• ‘Apple tree’ is symbol of the roots and foundation of the persona's purity. Suggestion of her
choice to give away this symbol of purity due to her giving into her temptation
• Persona describes the plucking of ‘pink blossoms’ from her own apple-tree. Alliteration in ‘p’
and ‘b’ sounds relate directly to pulling flowers from their blanches plosive sound creates
unease that is at odds with the visual sweetness of the flowers. Something of a tonged-twister,
difficult to say any way other than slowly Tree is described with the possessive pronoun ‘mine’
as the speaker alone has experienced these blossoms, and the story that will follow will be
exclusively her. After a period of time the speaker returns to the apple tree to find that there
are ‘no apples there’. Suggestion that the persona indulged herself too early and is now going to
suffer from it. Metaphor Rossetti crafted revolves around a young woman’s loss of virginity and
the way society makes her suffer for it. Allusion to the garden of Even. Giving into temptation
and hence barred from paradise. Through comparison the poetic voice wouldn’t be barred from
haven necessarily, but she feels her reputation has been tainted and prevents men from
wanting to marry her and settle down
• ‘Due season’ is symbolism of the time after being betrayed. Expresses the Transcience of their
relationship. Persona with premature carnal knowledge is left empty handed. An unchaste girl
who consequently lose the chance to marry and is ostracised. Suggestion of the personal
punishment the persona feels from herself and society as a result of losing her virginity at this
, stage of life. Yet, this is significant as in a Victorian society you were seen as not ready for a
relationship if you were not married
• Picks the flowers and ‘wore the all evening’ in her hair'. Suggests the persona was not upset by
the sexual relationship she was engaged in. She was proud of her decision and felt free enough
and liberated to let the world know what had happened Suggests indiscretion, she does not hide
what we learn is her willing loss of her chastity
• Indirect, symbolic confession in ‘due season’. Person infatuated and frivolously enjoyed the
apple orchard before the fruit was ripe, ‘plucking the blossoms’ regardless. Highlights the
personas enjoyment of some sort of romantic relationship; but clearly feels she has experienced
this before she was ready.
• ‘apples’ become symbolic to represent societal success, acceptance and the fruit of good
marriage. Things that are now denied to the speaker, all due to her decision to pick the pink
flowers before the apples were ready. Apples can be considered a symbol of fertility. She found
love when the tree was in ‘pink blossom’, which implies youthful beauty, but perhaps a sense of
not yet being ready with no fruit on the branches. Her youthful love has been celebrated as
these blossoms were worn in ‘evening in my hair’. When she wants to experience the joys of
motherhood, however, there are ‘no apples there’ meaning she has no chance as her only love
affair has come to an end. You can sense her desire to experience motherhood. Conveys a sense
of worthlessness associated with not achieving womanly fulfilment.
• ‘Dangling basket’ suggest that she is dragging it, signifying disappointment or weariness; she
hasn’t the energy or will to walk with vigour and confidence. Persona is ‘empty handed’ not only
in the sense of having literally no apples, but also having lost something more abstract and
important. At this stage we might guess that it is a lost lover, or her self-respect or the good
opinions of her neighbours
• The imagery of the ‘dangling baskets’ in itself connotes curiosity from the reader. In this case
the apple gathering becomes a morale fable by suggesting how easily one is lured to fall into
their own temptation. The idea evokes the allusion to the garden of Eden. The link to
temptation alludes to Eve who was deceptively tricked by the snake to take the forbidden fruit,
this becoming the core of the original sin.
• The dynamic verb ‘mocked’ expresses the personas alienation as a result of succumbing to her
own temptation and desire. In this way Rossetti expresses societies traditional patriarchal view
towards women's virginity. Rossetti belief that would should help guide a fallen woman back to
a life with God hence uses her poem to criticise society suggesting that they add to the problem
due to their confining attitudes towards women
• ‘Empty handed’. Details of her situation are clear to anyone who can see her. Equally, the
adjective ‘empty’ represents the personas unrequited love from her persona. In this sense
Rossetti builds sympathy from both a contemporary and modern audience for the persona as
she is isolated and alienated from society.
• Similar names ‘Lilian and Lilias’ represent the girls of her generation. The ‘heaped up’ basket
represents their happiness and the deferred sexual pleasure to come; they still hope their hope
and their good names. They retained their virginity and there expect good marriages. Proximity
of their ‘mother’s home’ suggests cosy comfort and protection. Verb ‘trudging’ could imply that
they women are pregnant but have not been betrayed by their men, an idea reinforced by the
reference to ‘their mother’s home’. Some rural communities newly married girls would return to
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