Page 2: Structure and Imagery Analysis

The poem's structure reveals a careful progression through three stanzas, each exploring different aspects of the speaker's grief and longing.

Vocabulary: Oxymoron - a figure of speech combining contradictory terms, as in "speaking silence."

The first stanza establishes the nighttime setting and the speaker's desperate plea. The second stanza explores the bittersweet nature of dreams, while the third confronts the reality of death.

Highlight: The imagery of the "slow door" serves as a powerful metaphor for the barrier between life and death.

Example: The simile "bright as sunlight on a stream" creates a vivid contrast between life and death, emphasizing the speaker's memories of their loved one.

Quote: The repeated use of "too" in phrases suggests the overwhelming nature of the dream experience, making it "bitter sweet."

The analysis reveals how Rossetti masterfully employs various poetic devices to create a haunting meditation on love that transcends death, while maintaining the poem's connection to its mythological roots.

Page 3: Dream Imagery and Emotional Depth

This section explores the intricate relationship between dreams and memory in the poem, focusing on the speaker's desperate attempts to reconnect with their lost love.

Quote: "Pulse for pulse, breath for breath" emphasizes the intimate physical connection the speaker seeks to recreate.

Highlight: The revelation that significant time has passed since the loss adds depth to the speaker's persistent grief.

Example: The detailed description of the loved one's breathing and heartbeat demonstrates the speaker's careful preservation of memory.