an apple gathering Flashcards
structure
The regularity of the four lines in each stanza = symbolize that she will never be able to escape from her suffering.
structure is in quatrains
written?
1857, just started working at highgate
rhyme scheme
regular (ridgedness of society)
context
This poem is written at a time when Rossetti has lost her first love, James Collinson, after his fitting between Catholicism and Anglicanism left them with irreconcilable differences.
context
highgate
religion
gender
morning loss of James Collinson, after his fitting between Catholicism and Anglicanism left them with irreconcilable differences.
SIGNIFICANCE OF APPLES
The significance of the apples comes from the Garden of Eden, where the forbidden fruit was consumed.
‘Plucked pink blossoms’
sexual appeal, premature loss of innoncxe
chnage of season
rejection from society is permenant due to passing of time
What is the context behind the making of this poem?
This poem is written at a time when Rossetti has lost her first love, James Collinson, after his fitting between Catholicism and Anglicanism left them with irreconcilable differences.
“Plump Gertude passed me with her basket full” (4th stanza)
Whereas the narrator is left with none.
At this point we might understand that the apples symbolise knowledge, fertility and joy and that they can only be consumed by married women.
lilian and lilies
names derived from lilies representing purity
dimilarity of names suggest homogeneity (following societal expectations of women as the majority do)
‘and wore them all that evening in my hair’
idea of seeking attraction and temptation, emphasises it was a fateful decision via ‘plucked;
‘then due in season nwhen i went to see
i found no apples there’
-due season refers to fertile prime, needing to adhere to marriage in order to obtain happiness and sexuality/ acceptance in to society
-no warning to women that if they engage in pre marital relations they won’t be desireable later
‘with dangling basket all alomg the grass
As i had come when i went the same selfsame track:
My neighbours mocked me as they saw me pass
So empty handed back’
-contrasts to wearing blossoms in hair that suggested beauty and frivolity
-reprecussions of not adhering to social order, social shame
-links to societal shame placed on fallen women
-rendered as an outcast due to sexual impurity
‘their heaped up basket teased me like a jeer;
sweet voiced they sang beneath the sunset sky,
Thei mother’s home was near’
-by adhering to social order they are desired to fufill marital roles and can obtain a sense of order and security
-idea that those who wait can fufill their maternal role but the speaker can’t (safety in cyclical nature reinforced by the safety and security of their mother’s home)
‘plump gertrude passed me with her basket full,
A stronger hand than hers helped it alomg,
A voice talked with her through the shadows cool
More sweet to me than a song
curves association with plump alludes to sexuality
hand protects and guards her
“Ah, Willie, Willie, was my love less worth/
Than apples with their green leaves piled above?/
I counted rosiest apples on the earth/
Of far less worth than love.”
-tonal shift to introspection and regret
So once was it with me you stooped to talk
Male figure above the persona, CRs ‘hidden edge’ this poem which seems to dimple warn women against premarital sex also contains criticism of men
stooped represents breaking social boundaries, maybe he was of higher class
The night grew chill/ and hastened: but i loitered still, while the dews/ fell and i loitered still
‘Night’ ‘chill’ ‘dews’ pathetic fallacy, cold represents persona’s lack of emotional warmth
Repetion of loitered emphaisises personas isolation and stasis
change of season represents the permenance of societies rejection of her, shows passing of time
