Structure and Analysis of "Remember"

Christina Rossetti's "Remember" analysis reveals a masterful use of the Petrarchan sonnet form to explore themes of love, memory, and acceptance of death. The poem's structure and language work together to create a poignant reflection on mortality and the nature of remembrance.

The sonnet follows the traditional Petrarchan rhyme scheme (abba abba cdd ece) and is divided into an octave and a sestet. This structure is crucial to the poem's development:

Definition: Volta - The turning point in a sonnet, typically occurring between the octave and sestet in a Petrarchan sonnet.

The volta in "Remember" occurs at line 9, marked by the word "Yet." This turning point shifts the poem's focus from the speaker's desire to be remembered to an acceptance of potentially being forgotten.

Highlight: The repetition of the word "remember" throughout the poem creates a refrain-like effect, but its power seems to diminish as the poem progresses, mirroring the fading of memory.

Rossetti's language is notable for its simplicity and directness, avoiding sentimentality while addressing profound themes. This approach allows for a more intimate and genuine exploration of love and loss.

Quote: "What marks Rossetti's treatment of this theme is the plainness and directness of her speech: she speaks to her lover with an intimate simplicity and tenderness and a refusal to give way to a sentimental desire to be eternally and continuously remembered by those she leaves behind." - Oliver Tearle

The poem's structure and language work together to create a nuanced exploration of Victorian era mourning poetry themes, balancing the desire for remembrance with the acceptance of being forgotten for the sake of the beloved's happiness.

Context and Victorian Mourning Customs

Christina Rossetti's poem "Remember" is deeply rooted in the Victorian era mourning poetry themes. Written in 1849 and published in 1862, it coincided with a period of intense focus on death and remembrance in Victorian society. The poem's publication followed the death of Prince Albert, which heightened public interest in mourning literature.

Victorian mourning customs were elaborate and strictly observed. Families would engage in various rituals to mark the passing of a loved one, including:

• Stopping clocks at the time of death
• Covering mirrors with crepe or veiling
• Turning family photos face down
• Hanging wreaths on front doors
• Draping door handles with black crepe

Highlight: The length of mourning depended on one's relationship to the deceased, with widows expected to mourn for two years.

Example: Mourning attire progressed from black to grey, mauve, and white, symbolizing the gradual transition from deep grief to acceptance.

Vocabulary: Jet - A hard, black coal-like material used in mourning jewelry, often combined with woven hair of the deceased.

The Victorian fascination with death extended to photography, with families often taking photos of deceased loved ones, sometimes posed as if still alive among family members.

Quote: "Death photography soon became a very popular trend. For many families, it was the first and only opportunity to get a photograph with a loved one, particularly if the deceased was a child."