From The Antique Flashcards
what is the poetic form of the poem?
- the poem has four quatrains
- irregular rhyme scheme
- the poetic form is typical of a ballad, this is a traditional folk song; there was a renewed interest of these in the Victorian period.
what was key about female writers during this time?
There were female writers that were read, but the expectations of these people were different from males, they tended to belong in separate artistic spheres. Writers such as Caroline Southey tended to write about nature, religion and key topics for women at this time. Hemans was praised because her poems were “in fine keeping with the sex of the writer”. Rossetti was to some extent part of this tradition, though she struggled with being modest as a female writer, she struggled with seeming at odds with the “feminist ideal”.
is this poem referring to middle class women or working class women?
Rossetti is careful to distance herself from the poem, with the frequent metrical changes- this may suggest that the poem represents the flight of all women.
how did society view feminism at this time?
Whilst women aimed for respect there was a general acceptance that equality did not need to be achieved, this would have extended to the beliefs of Rossetti.
is there a separation of body and soul in the poem?
“not so much as a grain of dust”- represents a funeral, a sense that women have been metaphorically sold of the face of the Earth. In a religious time, this is significant as Rossetti suggests that there would be no mourning should a female die- suggesting that they are not worthy of such practices.
The nature imagery of the poem also extends to this point, nature is indeed not eternal, “go and come”.
what is the structural inability of this poem?
The complex poem calls for a more natural structure- this catches one of guard. This may have served as an effective technique to display to men the inabilities that women have to face. Thus, making this a feminist poem.
what are the key critical viewpoints of this poem?
Simon Asvery- “women annihilation is preferrable”
Dolorus Rosenblum- “women inevitably experiences herself as object and other”
what are the key historical moments to consider within this poem?
- feminism
- married women property act, 1956
- society for the employment of women, 1860
- suffrage and female emancipation
- the poem was written in 1854 but was not published until after her death
- Queen Victoria and her views on feminism (compare to the duchess)
what is key with Eve and Mary within this poem?
This reinforces the patriarchal idea that there is a good female and a bad female, Eve- Satan, this everything that a woman should not be.
Mary- this represents an obedient mother, immaculate conception who gave birth just as she was supposed to do.
what are 5 key quotes in the poem and their significance?
“I wish and I wish I was a man”- the repetition and use of the pronoun, both techniques that Rossetti is known for. Though, there is also “she said”- Rossetti is distancing herself from the narrative.
Repetition also suggests a monotonous life that women are subject to.
Religious imagery- “not so much as a grain of dust”, (see above)
“still the world would wag on the same”- sense that women are separated from males (A03)
“cherries ripen and wild bees hum”- link to femininity, ironic that the world would quite simply halt if females were to leave. Women are fundementally oppressed, their singular role is to simply carry children.
what is the significance of emerging feminism during this time?
in 1854 Rossetti was introduced to Howitt, Smith and Parkes, all three of these figures were connected with the emerging female movement, this was said to be female version of the pre-raphaelite brotherhood. Anna Howitt stated, when she visited the royal academy of painting “how terribly did I long to be a man so I could paint there”. She was able to combat this, she published a long magazine story called Sisters in Art and was able to exhibit her paintings.
Barbara Smith, wanted to establish an artistic community called an Associated Home this was seen as a place for women to be away from men.
Bessie Parkes was a poet and essayist and campaigned for women’s rights for example restrictive poverty laws. it was these meetings that inspired from the antique, though there is irony as this poem was not published until after the death of Rossetti.
what is key historical context for this poem?
Works like this highlight how Rossetti was seen to be a key early feminist figure.
Rossetti was influenced by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, strong ties to Italy like Rossetti.
The society that Rossetti lived in was extremely conservative, being submissive to such a culture could mean social exile. Rossettis work came at the same time as the Bronte sisters who achieved immense fame, despite their gender.
