Revision Notes

10. ‘Remember’ by Christina Rossetti

Bio of the Poet

  • Christina Rossetti (1830–1894): A Victorian poet known for her devotional poetry and explorations of love, death, and loss.
  • Her religious beliefs often shaped her work.
  • She wrote about women’s roles and inner emotional conflict.

Detailed Summary

  • The speaker addresses a loved one, asking to be remembered after her death.
  • Initially, she urges remembrance, but by the end, she prioritises her loved one’s happiness.
  • If remembering causes pain, then forgetting may be better.
  • The poem reflects emotional maturity, love, and acceptance of death.

Main Themes

  1. Love and Death
  2. Memory and Mourning
  3. Selflessness
  4. Emotional Acceptance

Literary Analysis

  • Form: Petrarchan sonnet (ABBA ABBA CDD ECE).
  • Tone: Gentle, melancholic, reflective.
  • Language:
    • Repetition of “Remember” – creates rhythm and focus.
    • Euphemism: “gone far away into the silent land” softens death.
  • Volta (line 9): emotional shift from desire for remembrance to selfless love.

Main Message

  • True love is not possessive; it considers the well-being of the other even after death.
  • It shows a mature understanding of grief, letting go, and memory.

Expected Exam Questions

  • How does Rossetti present the theme of remembrance in the poem?
  • Explore how love is shown as selfless in ‘Remember’.
  • How does the poet deal with the idea of death?
  • Compare this poem’s treatment of memory with another poem you have studied.