Remember - check for anything else in anthology

What form does Remember follow

Petrachan sonnet

How is Remember typical of a Petrachan sonnet (other than basic form)?

It features a volta at the start of the second section as the poet moves to accept that her lover will forget her. More focus is placed on her lover rather than the speaker.

How else is the volta indicated in the 9th line?

Internal rhyme of “yet” and “forget” - draws attention to the volta

What artistic movement was Rossetti a part of?

Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood - a group of artists who drew their inspiration from Italian works before Raphael. Enjoyed exploring medieval settings and characters and acceptance of death

In what way does Remember reflect a typical pre-Raphaelite philosophy

Acceptance of death and material troubles fading when compared with the troubles of the mind

How could Rossetti’s personal life link into ideas of love?

She was engaged twice but never married, citing differences in religious opinion (Rossetti was devoutly religious)

In what way was Rossetti surrounded by death and tragedy in her life?

Her father’s health was deteriorating during her teenage years, Rossetti suffered a mental breakdown at age 14

Melancholy critical view

Her unhappy love affairs “seem only to have tempted her to an even greater melancholy of temepr… Over all her work… lies this sense of something lost” - Elizabeth Jennings

Significance of the word “remember” throughout the poem

Acts almost like a refrain. Its power seems to decrease as the sonnet goes on as Rossetti utilizes it less frequently and it becomes detached from the speaker (“me”) - e.g. lines 1 and 5, repetition of “remember me” at the start of the line, softens in 7 with “only remember”, by line 14 is towards the end of the line and is no longer “remember me” - saying rather it is better that they “forget” and “remember and be sad”

Meaning of “the silent land”

Reference to Heaven, draws parallels to Biblical descriptions of Heaven. Describing a spiritual rather than physical place (link to ideas of distance between lovers).

Significance of use of euphemisms (e.g. “the silent land”)

Creates a more tender, reflective tone and shows the sorrowful pain/fear associated with the subject she is discussing,

Significance of rhyme scheme at start/end

Cyclical rhyme scheme - uses the same rhyme sound in the last line as the second line. Reflects the cyclical nature of life and death

Significance of the narrative/use of pronouns in the poem

Directly addresses the speaker’s lover. Makes it more intimate and therefore heightens the bittersweet emotions.

Feminist perspective of poem, particularly lines 3-7

Could argue relationship doesn’t seem entirely positive, Rossetti connotes a level of control by her lover over her (“half turn to go yet turning stay” - can’t leave, “you tell me of our future that you planned” - removing Rossetti’s autonomy - it seems the only thing she has any autonomy over or at least attempts to establish autonomy over is how she is remembered!!!!)