Maude CLare Flashcards
narrator
detached and omniscient
no bias to either side
rhythm
alternating iambic tetrameter and trimeter lines
awkward meter parallels the situation
written in
1859
queenly
“lofty step”
appears superior to Nell
unashamed and proud
Nell was like
a “village maid”
contrast to Maude like a “queen”
structure
12 quatrains, ballad
marriage
the conversations in the poem shatter the image of marriage as a state of fulfilled love
perhaps Rossetti’s view
Thomas’s mother
“your father thirty years ago” - perhaps history repeating itself
comparing the marriages
innocence
“so pale” - Nell
pure, unlike Maude
Maude
embodies a scorned Victorian woman
victim of societies conventions
the fallen woman was a popular figure in Victorian culture
Maude’s sarcasm
“bless the marriage-bed”
curse or sarcasm
Maude going against society
“we waded ankle deep”
intimacy that would’ve been inappropriate in Victorian era
Maude and Thomas’s
level of familiarity detracts from Maude’s worth rather than Thomas’s
flowers
“lilies in the beck”
flowers for funerals or connotating innocence and fragility
marriage formed the
structure of a stable society
women who ignored this were considered dangerous to social harmony
Rossetti is challenging Victorian society’s outlook on women who step outside their predetermined roles
virginity
“we plucked from the budding bough”
suggesting she lost her virginity to Thomas
“budding” - could hint at an illegitimate pregnancy
Thomas calls Maude
“Maude Clare” which could imply their close relationship
caesura
” - and hid his face”
Thomas can’t articulate but Maude can
a clear critique of dominant masculinity
theme of female rivalry
Rossetti has implied that women require the presence of men to be content
jealous female natures
blooms
“the blooms were gone”
the best of Thomas has gone to Maude
heart
“fickle heart” and “paltry love”
suggests men are changeable and fickle
Nell is a
paragon of womanly virtue
faithful
“he’s my lord for better and worse”
Nell and Maude contrast
Nell contrasts the unfeminine Maude. Shows her Christian values
Nell has future, whereas Maude only has a past
“what you spurn, I’ll wear”
Thomas’s continued love for Maude
implied by Nell as she says “I’ll love him till he loves me best”
persevering love
poem ends on
“Maude Clare” - ends on her name, suggesting she gets the last word
Rossetti uses
the contrasting women to comment on the difference between a woman’s actual desires and the limitations of her place with Victorian society
presentation of men
as weak - “strove to” “faltered”
as vulnerable - “pale”
contrast to Victorian expectations and shifts the power to women
Rossetti shows
an interest in female dialogue
power shift to Maude Clare
Simon Mold
Rossetti’s poems give a vibrant voice to the female experience, despite Victorian women being denied social and economic freedom
often uses the word “lo”
which expresses her authority and determination to be heard
