A Christmas carol Flashcards
what is the speaker/langauge/meaning?
- The poem begins with winter, symbolizing pre-Christian paganism and desolation.
- The second stanza introduces Jesus’ birth, with his mother’s love sustaining him.
- The final stanza links his birth to humanity’s salvation, emphasizing simple worship—offering one’s heart.
- The poem metaphorically represents pre-Christian ignorance.
It also reflects modern struggles of the poor and redemption for sinners.
what is the form of this poem?
- The simple structure matches the humble subject: Christ’s birth in a stark winter setting.
- The final stanza shifts in tone to personal devotion but keeps the quatrain form.
what is the rhyme of this poem?
- Follows an ABAB CDCD rhyme scheme, making it musical, though some slant rhymes appear.
- The song-like structure aligns with its status as a hymn (In the Bleak Midwinter).
- Irregular meter, leaning toward iambic patterns, creates a gentle, meditative rhythm.
what is the context of this poem?
- Commissioned by Scribner’s Monthly in 1872.
- Rossetti was in her early 40s, reflecting her life of asceticism and self-denial.
- She rejected marriage proposals from James Collinson and Charles Cayley due to religious beliefs.
- In 1871, she developed Graves’ Disease, leading to a shift toward devotional themes.
what are the themes of this poem?
- Love
- Spirituality
- Religion
- Hope
- New beginnings
what are good pairings for this poem?
- Twice
- Piteous my rhyme is
- Up-hill
- Goblin Market?
“in the bleak mid-winter,/frosty wind made moan,/Earth stood hard as iron,/water like a stone;”
- “Bleak mid-winter” symbolizes unredeemed humankind.
- “Frosty wind” is personified—moaning like a troubled soul.
- Similes compare earth and water to iron and stone—unyielding, lifeless.
- Frequent commas and end-stops create a jarring, unstable rhythm.
- The unnatural imagery suggests that life without Christ is unnatural.
- “Stood hard as iron” conveys stillness, stagnation, and suffering before Christ’s arrival.
“snow had fallen, snow on snow/snow on snow,/in the bleak mid-winter/long ago.”
- Repetition of “snow” (five times in four lines) reinforces the world’s bleakness.
- Suggests the monotony and cyclical nature of life without faith.
- The overwhelming whiteness creates a spiritual blindness, obscuring true joy.
- “Long ago” signals that this condition has changed with Christ’s coming.
“Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him,/Nor earth sustain;/Heaven and earth shall flee away/when He comes to reign:”
- Capitalization of “He” emphasizes reverence for Christ.
- Hyperbole underscores Christ’s limitless power—even Heaven is insufficient to contain Him.
- Abrupt juxtaposition highlights the stark contrast between his humility and future reign.
- “Our” makes his love communal and inclusive, inviting the reader into God’s warmth.
“in the bleak mid-winter/A stable-place sufficed/The Lord God Almighty/Jesus Christ.”
- “Stable-place” suggests both physical humility and spiritual assurance.
- “Sufficed” implies that this humble setting was enough, despite its worldly inadequacy.
- “The Lord God Almighty” dramatically shifts tone, contrasting divine majesty with earthly humility.
- “Jesus Christ” follows with simple, humanizing directness.
“Enough for Him whom cherubim/Worship night and day,/A breastful of milk/And a mangerful of hay;…”
- Juxtaposes celestial worship with basic human needs.
- “Night and day” suggests constant devotion.
- “Breastful of milk” and “mangerful of hay” emphasize warmth, nourishment, and motherly care.
- Repetition of “enough” (echoing “sufficed”) reinforces humble sufficiency.
- “Mangerful” mirrors “breastful,” keeping the language earthy and familiar.
“enough for him,/ whom angels fall before/the ox and ass and camel /which adore”
- Angels “fall down” before Him, a dramatic gesture of awe and submission.
- “Ox and ass” reference Isaiah 1:3, and “camel” nods to the Magi’s journey—symbolizing both lowly and exalted worshippers.
“Angels and archangels/May have gathered there,/Cherubim and seraphim/Throng’d the air,/But only His mother/In her maiden bliss/Worshipped her Beloved/With a kiss.”
- “Maiden bliss” highlights Mary’s purity, joy, and devotion.
- “Kiss” contrasts the grandeur of angelic worship with human intimacy.
- “May have” adds a speculative, dreamlike tone.
- “But only” creates contrast, elevating Mary’s unique role.
“What can I give Him,/Poor as I am?…/Yet what I can I give Him,/Give my heart.”
- “Poor” suggests both material and spiritual humility.
- Shepherds and wise men had fitting gifts, but the speaker offers personal devotion.
- “Give my heart” is a simple, profound resolution, inviting all to participate in faith.
- The final line stands alone as the climax, closing the poem with quiet conviction
