song Flashcards
Key context for the poem
religious beliefs and attitudes
Rossetti’s belief in soul sleep
Rossetti’s romantic experiences
key analysis of the poem
There is a reference to her “dearest”- which may be in reference to a romantic lover, though may also be in reference to another relation. “When I am dead” implies that the speaker has come to terms with her mortality.
The speaker will list a number of intructions that prevent commemoration. “plant thou no roses at my head”
“nor..cyprus tress”
The negatives link to Rossetti’s own views surrounding the afterlife and suggest that it doesn’t matter if she is remembered on Earth if she is going to heaven.
“I shall not” “see, feel hear”- reference to the afterlife.
The reference to the “nightingale” which is associated with desperate human emotion suggest that Rossetti is aware of human perception.
“dreaming through the twilight”- reference to soul sleep and a peaceful, calm image.
“haply I may remember and haply I may forget”- the speaker is going to be happy regardless.
the structure and form of the poem
Elegy
repetition
Focus on stanza one is the lover and stanza two is the speaker
iambic rhythm which falters- falters on the word “remember “
balance- the final couplet of each stanza inverts the expectation of traditional mourning.
critical interpretations
Landow- the lines, “and if thou wilt remember/ if thou wilt forget”- is a way to embody the Victorian view of female selflessness.
Angela Kim- there is growing indifferent towards her partner, “song” implies happiness to remember her beloved.
“haply”- suggests that the woman feels contentment without being with her beloved, goes against the Victorian ideal.
key ideas from the poem?
The “Cyprus tree” is a reference to greek and roman tradition
In the last lines she is telling her beloved that it is ok to forget her
There is a link to Rossetti as a Tractarian and the Oxford Movement- Martin Luther/soul sleep
Tone- uncertainty/belief
This poem could be seen as a prayer to God.
