remember - Rossetti Flashcards
What does the title ‘remember’ signify?
The title ‘remember’ is an imperative command, compelling the reader to acknowledge the speaker’s desire to be remembered.
What is the speaker’s acknowledgment regarding memory?
The speaker acknowledges that she may be forgotten, emphasizing the importance of cherishing loved ones while they are alive.
How does the poem’s ending reflect the theme of memory?
It ends with a rhyming couplet, highlighting the conflict between remembering and being forgotten: ‘a vestige of the thoughts that I once had, better by far you should forget and smile than you should remember and be sad.’
What does ‘vestige’ mean in the context of the poem?
‘Vestige’ refers to a trace or remnant of something that is gone and fading away, reflecting the speaker’s fading memory.
What does the repetition of ‘remember’ imply?
The repetition implies the speaker’s fear that her beloved may not fulfill her request to remember her.
How is the structure of the poem reflective of the theme of love?
The poem is structured as a Petrarchan sonnet, with lines 1-8 presenting the problem, line 9 as the Volta, and lines 10-14 offering a resolution.
How is separation due to death presented in the poem?
‘Gone far away’ emphasizes the distance created by death, suggesting the speaker writes from the boundary between life and death.
What imagery is used to convey loneliness in death?
The phrases ‘silent land’ and ‘darkness and corruption’ suggest loneliness and isolation, emphasizing the finality of death.
What does ‘you can no more hold me by the hand’ signify?
This line signifies independence and separation due to death, highlighting the emotional impact of their forced solitude.
What classical allusion is made in the poem?
‘Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay’ alludes to Orpheus and Eurydice, implying mental anguish and the fear of death.
What is the significance of iambic pentameter in the poem?
Iambic pentameter creates a metrical foot similar to a heartbeat, reflecting the theme of love.
How does the rhyme scheme in the octave contribute to the poem?
A more complicated rhyme scheme in the octave conveys the speaker’s complex feelings about love and memory.
What is the effect of simple language juxtaposed with intricate structure?
The simple language contrasts with the precise, intricate structure, meter, and rhyme scheme, enhancing the emotional depth of the poem.
