Rossetti Poetry- Critical views Flashcards
Who says the following view on Rossetti’s poetry?
“[Rossetti] used biblical idea of women’s subordination to man as reason for maintaining the status quo”
- Dr Simon Avery
- Avery describes Rossetti as a “particularly complex thinker about the position of women in society.”- her different speakers in her poems show different perspectives, e.g. Twice Vs. No, Thank you, John.
-He also describes her views as “usually far from conservative and often questioning, challenging and potentially subversive.”
Simon Avery said: “Time and again in Rossetti’s poems, the female figure is depicted as entrapped or confined- physically, psychologically or both.”
What poems can this view link to? Are there any poems that might challenge this view?
Can link to:
- Shut out
- From the Antique
- Soeur Louise
- Echo
Can be challenged by:
- Maude Clare
- No, Thank you, John
- Winter: My secret
What does Avery say about the poem of ‘Maude Clare’?
He describes the poem as “A critique of dominant masculinity” as Thomas remains silent and “Nell wrestles power back from the ex-lover and asserts her centrality in relation to her husband”.
What does C.M Bowra say about the influence of love on Rossetti’s work?
- “Love released a melancholy desire for death”
- “[Rossetti] felt that claims of love were not for her”
- “Christina’s denial of love was not strong enough to curb all her womanly and human instincts.”
- “In some of her most famous poems, Christina is obsessed by thoughts of death.”
“Your sister’s poems are so full of beauty and power. But no publisher…would take them.”
Who said this in a letter to Rossetti’s brother, Dante Gabriel?
John Ruskin
What did Sir Walter Raleigh say about Christina Rossetti and her work?
“I think she is the best poet alive…the only thing Christina makes me want to do is cry, not lecture.”
Edmund Goose said: “association with men… so well equipped in scholarship, gave her an instant and positive advantage.”
How does this link to context of Rossetti’s poetry?
The critic believed that it was Rossetti’s link with academic men that influenced her poetry so heavily. He also refers to Rossetti’s link with the pre-Raphaelite movement as an influence on her poetry.
Kathleen Burke says: “[Rossetti] thought women’s rights and Christianity were at odds”.
Why does this challenge Rossetti’s religious views?
Rossetti was a devout Christian yet her poetry often presents a dominant female so she challenged her own views and could be seen as questioning her religious views too.
Complete Jan Marsh’s view on Rossetti:
“There is today no (1)____________ of Christina Rossetti being forgotten, but we are only beginning to understand her (2)____________ and (3)_______________ personality.”
Why else does Marsh praise Rossetti?
1) Prospect
2) Complex
3) Contradictory
- Marsh praises Rosetti’s ability to connect with emotional pain in her poetry.
- She also appreciates the ‘eternal depth’ that Rossetti’s writing possesses.
Complete Frances Thomas’ quotes on Rossetti:
“[Rossetti] can be passionate, contradictory and (1)___________”.
“Her tone is often (2)________________, and even when she deals with religious matters, is unpredictable, sometimes (3)_____________.”
“Feminists can find feminism in her work, radicals see (4)_____________ and sly dissent. Psychologists can have a field day…there are many routes to enjoy [her] work.”
1) Fearless
2) Unexpected
3) Daring
4) Subversion
What are the two main literary approaches that can be applied to Rossetti’s work, why can they be applied?
Feminism can be applied to Rosetti’s work because many of her poems show women’s ability to voice their opinions and assert themselves in a patriarchal society.
Psychoanalysis is the study of therapies and theories to diagnose and treat mental and emotional problems, it can be applied to Rossetti’s work because of the preconscious mind which contains memories that are easily retrieved and her work looks at memories of the past.
