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Summary A* analysis of Christina Rossetti's The Keynote
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This A* poetry revision sheet includes: THEMES, SUMMARY OF THE POEM, STRUCTURE AND IMAGERY ANALYSIS.
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Poem Analysis for Christina Rossetti’s The KeynoteThemes:
Music, passage of time, seasons, birds/nature, hope
Summary:
The persona questions her past as she realises how time has passed and she is
approaching the “Winter of my year”. Despite the presence of death, the second
stanza can be read hopeful, as she explores the Robins that thrive in the Winter
months.
Structure:
The poem consists of two equal stanzas of eight- to reflect the constant, monotonous
passage of time. There is a Volta in “yet” (second stanza) and the poem becomes
much more poetic and hopeful.
RHYME/ RHYTHM:
There is a spondee on the opening words, to emphasise the “where” and the
personas questioning. The poem then follows the natural heartbeat of iambic
(stressed/unstressed) to represent the natural passage of time. The rhyme is
constant (again this inevitable passage of time) yet changes from ABBA- rhyming
couplets to portray some assertion, then to alternate end rhyme- brings into question
if the persona knows how they feel about entering old age (doubt).
Imagery:
Natural imagery: use of seasons, despair in “now Autumn is so shrunk and sere”- dry
and withered away. Sense of finality in the “Winter of my year”, with the personal
pronoun making it apparent the persona is entering old age/end of hope. The “Robin”
acts as a symbol of hope, with colours of red “ruddy breast” to show vibrancy. Also,
ideas of rebirth and fruitfulness “berries”. The end line “why not I” can be read 1) the
persona cannot reach this state of hope in Winter or 2) if the Robin can sing and be
cheerful, what’s stopping the persona?
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