Twice

What happens?

• Female speaker offers her heart to her beloved who does not appreciate gesture

• Feels heart breaking, becomes depressed, then brings her broken heart to God

• Asks God to judge her accurately

• Aware of her acceptance by God, with a renewed sense of optimism

Chivalry

In male poetry, men were chivalrous whereas in Rossetti’s poem they are cold and cruel

The heart

Referenced in each stanza other than the third. It is the central image of the poem and has a sense of progression/journey for heart

Fire

Destroying and cleansing, central image

Corn and cornflowers

• Corn harvested = something taken

• Waits for it to be “brown”

• “Cornflowers” alluding o them being cut during the harvest (rejection)

Economic Interpretation

Buyer = man

Seller = woman selling her heart

→ Woman is part of the transaction and man is trying to decide if she is worth it

→ Some women had dowries. No worldly love

Turning Point

• Caught between earthly love to spiritual

• Movement from ignorance to realisation

• Negative to positive

• Struggle necessary to reach God

“hope was written on sand”

Nothing is permanent. Not built on anything substantial

“hold”

More comforting than “took” feels calm with God. Rhymed with “gold” to show how highly she values stability

“unripe”

Immature. Heart as fruit (sweet and luscious). Can’t make good decisions

“O my God, O my God”

Does not conceal her love. Stands alone

Doctrine of Reserve

Struggles with human love to achieve God’s love

“(O my love O my love)”

• When O is stressed → dactyl /uu

• When love is stressed → anapaest uu/ (emphasises passion)

• Emotional tone

• Put into parathesis because she is repressing her love and emotions

“I took my heart in my hand”

Switch indicates the loss of self possession. Rossetti’s own engagements (possible)

“you took my heart in your hand”

Accusing, placing blame. “My” is surrounded by “you” and “your”