Remember

• Poet


  Christina Rosetti
• Context


  She was a pre-raphaelite poet and acceptance of death is common among these people. This was written during the Victorian era known for it's cult of mourning.
• Voice


  First person narrative presumably female dying of an illness addresses her loved ones expressing her fears of becoming forgotten
• Form


  Petrarchan sonnet with the theme of love. The split in structure is evident through rhyme scheme
• Rhythm


  Iambic pentameter adds sincerity to her message and reflects sense of control
• rhyme scheme


  Very regular until it changes in the sestet, reflecting her change in attitude
• Title


  Is direct and an imperative immediately showing the speaker's fears of being forgotten
• " remember"First instruction given by the imperative repeated 5 times in the poem. It gains importance as it is placed near the starts of sentences

  
• "gone away"


  Connotes separation caused by death
• "gone


  faraway"Adjective emphasises distance between life and death
• "silent land"

  Euphemism is employed on the clarification of "silent land." She finds it too hard to address death directly

  
• "hold me by the hand,"

  Romance/affection/death connotations, emphasises in the caesural pause

  
• "Nor I half turn to go,"

  Negative diction connotes long term illness
• "when


  no moreday by day"Second instruction given emphasises the finality of death
• "our future that you planned"

  Opposing pronouns reflect the patriarchal Victorian society. She doesn't have a say in the relationship. Tone of resentment, suggesting death has robbed them of plans or that she has never had independence in the relationship.
• " Only you remember me;"The third instruction is the message of the octave. The caesural pause reinforces the message and clarifies the next line

  
• "It will be late to counsel then or pray."


  Theme of death is presented through the frantic tone, implying death is nearing. Prayers are being said.

  
• "Yet"


  Final sentence of the poem begins. A tonal shift is evident in this conjunction
• "And afterwards remember,


  do not grieve:"Contemplative and reflective tone is created. "Remember" is not followed by "me" showing she is more concerned for others. The colon creates a caesural pause, which combined with the monosyllabic words, emphasise her fourth instruction

  
• "if the darkness and corruption leave"


  Euphemism for death but less pleasant of an image than "silent land." She is now more accepting of the realities of death
• "A vestige of thoughts"

  Symbolic of the memories that her loved ones will be left with. The message attached is positive

  
• "Better by far you should forget and smile/Than that you should remember and be sad."


  Final instruction ironically juxtaposes the title. It shows her expression of true unconditional love and willingness to put others' well being above her own desires. The opposing ideas presented create a light negativity as they do not allow for memories causing happiness
• Poet


  Christina Rosetti
• Context


  She was a pre-raphaelite poet and acceptance of death is common among these people. This was written during the Victorian era known for it's cult of mourning.
• Voice


  First person narrative presumably female dying of an illness addresses her loved ones expressing her fears of becoming forgotten
• Form


  Petrarchan sonnet with the theme of love. The split in structure is evident through rhyme scheme
• Rhythm


  Iambic pentameter adds sincerity to her message and reflects sense of control
• rhyme scheme


  Very regular until it changes in the sestet, reflecting her change in attitude
• Title


  Is direct and an imperative immediately showing the speaker's fears of being forgotten
• " remember"First instruction given by the imperative repeated 5 times in the poem. It gains importance as it is placed near the starts of sentences

  
• "gone away"


  Connotes separation caused by death
• "gone


  faraway"Adjective emphasises distance between life and death
• "silent land"


  Euphemism is employed on the clarification of "silent land." She finds it too hard to address death directly

  
• "hold me by the hand,"

  Romance/affection/death connotations, emphasises in the caesural pause

  
• "Nor I half turn to go,"

  Negative diction connotes long term illness
• "when


  no moreday by day"Second instruction given emphasises the finality of death
• "our future that you planned"

  Opposing pronouns reflect the patriarchal Victorian society. She doesn't have a say in the relationship. Tone of resentment, suggesting death has robbed them of plans or that she has never had independence in the relationship.
• " Only you remember me;"The third instruction is the message of the octave. The caesural pause reinforces the message and clarifies the next line

  
• "It will be late to counsel then or pray."


  Theme of death is presented through the frantic tone, implying death is nearing. Prayers are being said.

  
• "Yet"


  Final sentence of the poem begins. A tonal shift is evident in this conjunction