Religion

Rossetti was a Tractarian, Oxford movement

Goblin Market

• “Apples” link to Adam and Eve first sin

• Laura gets tempted like Eve

• Goblins = snake

• 7 deadly sins all displayed

• Sacrifice of Jesus mirrors the same way Lizzie risked her own life to save Laura - Mary-Lu Hill said Lizzie is a christ-like figure (Eucharist (breaking bread))

• Epic poem

Uphill

• “Cannot miss that inn” = naivity

• ‘My father’s house has plenty of room’ = John 14.2 - relate to “all those who seek”

• “Then I must knock” - Doctrine of Reserve, if you knock you can enter

• Conversational poem - catechism (questions and answered by self during prayer)

• “those who have gone before” - soul sleep

• Questioning - Rossetti’s religious doubt

Shut Out

• “One small twig from shrub or tree” - dove and olive branch. Seeking safety

• “Blinded with tears” - acknowledgement of their sins

• “Violets” - religious faith

Good Friday

• Crucifixion - debating own religion

• Devotional poem - prayer sounding

• “those women” loved Christ and “with exceeding grief” → 3 Marys

Twice

• “O my God, O my God” - Does not conceal love. Stands alone

• Struggles with earthly love to achieve God’s love - Doctrine of Reserve

Birthday

• “Apple” - Eve

• “Halycon” - Garden of Eden

• New beginnings and resurrection

Song

• “Cypress tree” - Carried at funeral. Created by God to show his love of life

• “Rain” - rebirth

• Religious doubt

In the Round Tower

• “God forgive them this” - suicide is sin

• Saving of soul

Remember

• “Silent land” - better place than Earth

Soeur Louise de La Misericorde

• “Misericorde” - Room for monks to relax

• “Fount of tears” - Suffering caused by earthly love (Doctrine of Reserve)

• “Rose of life gone to all prickles” - Crown of thorns crucifixion

Echo

• “Paradise” c/r Shut Out. Death is not finality. New beginning

• “Souls brimful of live abide and meet”

No, Thank You John

• “Toast” - wedding

• “Pray” - pleading for love

Maude Clare

• Wedding