The poem "Remember" is written by Christina Rossetti, a British poet from the 1800s.
The title is a plea, urging someone not to forget the speaker.
Speaker's Perspective
The speaker is contemplating death and expresses a desire not to be forgotten by her beloved.
Despite the poem's profound themes, Rossetti wrote it when she was a teenager.
Structure and Form
The poem is structured as a sonnet.
Line-by-Line Analysis (Lines 1-2)
Line 1: "Remember me when I am gone away"
The title and first line form a command to the beloved to remember the speaker.
Line 2: "Gone far away into the silent land"
Uses euphemisms for death:
"Gone far away" is a polite way of referring to death.
"Silent land" is another euphemism for the afterlife, suggesting the dead cannot communicate with the living.
These euphemisms are metaphors: death is compared to a distant journey, and the afterlife to a silent place.
Speaker's Awareness of Death
The speaker is aware of her impending death and wants to be remembered by her beloved.
It is important to differentiate between the sentiments of the speaker within the poem and the poet (Rossetti) herself. The speaker knows that she will die.
Physical Connection (Lines 3-4)
Line 3: "When you can no more hold me by the hand"
Holding hands symbolizes the physical relationship between the speaker and her beloved.
Highlights that they will no longer be able to be physically close.
Line 4: "Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay"
Refers to shared moments where they held hands.
The speaker is hesitant to leave, preferring to stay with her beloved.
This hesitation reveals her reluctance to face death.
Lost Future (Lines 5-6)
Line 5: "Remember me when no more day by day"
"Day by day" emphasizes the constant time they spent together, always wanting to be with each other.
Line 6: "You tell me of our future that you plann'd"
The pronouns "you" and "our" indicate the speaker is directly addressing her beloved, possibly in a letter after her death.
These lines highlight that they can no longer plan a future together due to the speaker's impending death.
Speaker's Concern (Lines 7-8)
Line 7: "Only remember me when it will be late to counsel then or pray"
Repetition of "remember" emphasizes the speaker's fear of being forgotten.
She wants to live on in her beloved's memory.
Line 8: "Late to counsel then or pray"
"Counsel" means to get advice, and "pray" means to seek divine intervention.
The speaker knows that nothing can bring her back from the dead.
Petrarchan Sonnet Structure (Octave)
The first eight lines (the octave) focus on:
Memories
The pain of separation
The speaker's need to be remembered
The tone in these lines is urgent and fearful.
Volta and Change in Tone (Lines 9-14)
Line 9: "Yet if you should forget me for a while and afterwards remember, do not grieve"
The word "yet" indicates the volta (turn) in the sonnet, signaling a change in tone.
The speaker now suggests it's acceptable if her beloved forgets her temporarily.
There is a change where she doesn't expect her beloved to always be thinking of her.
Lines 10-12: "For if the darkness and corruption leave a vestige of the thought that I once had"
The colon in line 10 introduces an explanation.
"Darkness" represents her sadness, knowing she will soon die.
"Corruption" refers to the disease that is killing her.
"Vestige" means a trace of something.
"The thought that I once had" represents her rationality and mind.
These lines express that if her disease allows her to retain her mind, she will make the right decision.
Lines 13-14: "Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad"
Forgetting and smiling is preferable if it allows her beloved to be happy rather than heartbroken.
The speaker chooses selflessness, preferring to be forgotten if it brings happiness to her beloved.
Irony and Contrast
The last two lines contrast with the title, which demanded remembrance.
Petrarchan Sonnet Structure (Sestet)
In the sestet (last six lines), the speaker shifts from looking back to looking forward.
The tone becomes calm, rational, and accepting of her fate.
Technical Aspects
The poem consists of 14 lines, following the structure of a Petrarchan sonnet.
The volta occurs in line 9, marking a shift in mood or argument.
The word "volta" is Italian for "turn."
The poem also employs iambic pentameter, borrowing from Shakespearean sonnets.
Themes
Elegy:
The poem functions as an elegy, remembering a loved one after their passing.
Contemplation of Death and Afterlife:
It explores the inability to communicate with loved ones after death.
Remembrance:
It discusses how those we've lost can live on through our memories.
Living Life:
Ultimately, the poem suggests that the living should continue to enjoy their lives. Remember the dead, but live your life.