Rossetti poems (summary + quotes + links)

Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Summary

The speaker is giving their loved ones instructions about what they are to do once they die. They want to go quietly and not be mourned, the poem also explores their coming to terms with their own death.

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Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Quotes

"When I am dead, my dearest,"
"Sing no sad songs... plant thou no roses..."
"And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget."

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Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Links to ADH - DEATH

Both texts showed them accepting death.
Nora viewed death as an escape, so does the speaker. Death is inevitable, Nora turned to suicide to solve her problems and the speaker contemplated their death despite not knowing when they will die.
Dr Rank left in

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Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Links to ADH - MEMORY

When Dr Rank spoke to Nora about death, he said people come and go into people’s lives and are therefore easily forgotten and replaced.
Nora was afraid her children would forget her once she left but the speaker in the poem did not care if they were forgo

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Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Links to ADH - LOVE

Although Nora loves her children, she cannot be herself in the home. Her role as a mother has a detrimental impact on her mental health and she loses her identity as a result, she does not have her own beliefs and perspectives.
Rossetti’s poem explores t

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Song: When I am dead, my dearest
Links to ADH - EARTHLY LIFE VS AFTERLIFE

The afterlife presents new opportunities, Nora had to die to live freely suggests that earthly life is miserable and painful. Similarly, the speaker is unhappy on earth and looks forward to the afterlife.
Both texts glorify the afterlife in comparison t

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Remember
Summary

The speaker is leaving more instructions as to what their loved one should do once they die, they show indifference towards them. The speaker accepts their death and that they may be forgotten.

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Remember
Quotes

"Gone far away into the silent land;"
"Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay."
"Better by far you should forget and smile"
"And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

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Remember
Links to ADH - REMEMBER

Nora wants Torvald to remember her instead of communicating with her once she leaves. The speaker also wants to be remembered.

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Remember
Links to ADH - LOVE

The speaker is disappointed with earthly love because they feel as though their loved one will forget them. Nora is also disappointed with her earth love with Torvald.

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Remember
Links to ADH - HESITANCE

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay:
This links to the two different endings in ADH where the conflict between leaving and staying is shown. The speaker is also conflicted about leaving.

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Remember
Links to ADH - CONTROL

‘You tell me of our future that you plann’d’ the speaker is controlled by her partner, similarly to how Nora was controlled by Torvald.

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Remember
Links to ADH - ESCAPISM

‘Gone far away ‘ shows that escapism is only possible once you leave, this can be linked to Nora’s choice to turn to suicide and then leave Torvald. in order to be liberated.

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From the Antique
Summary

The poem details the plight of all Victorian women, no matter their class. It explores the universal experiences of all women.
It shows the fundamental differences between the genders in the eyes of society.
It details the societal expectations of the gen

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From the Antique
Quotes

"It's a weary life, it is, she said:"
"I wish and I wish I were a man: / Or, better then any being, were not:"
"Not so much as a grain of dust / Or a drop of water from pole to pole."

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From the Antique
Links to ADH - DEATH

Both the speaker and Nora would rather die than face the consequences of being a woman.

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From the Antique
Links to ADH - NATURE

Both the speaker and Nora are described using feminine natural imagery that shows the facade that they are expected to portray. The women are demeaned and expected to be passive, gentle and beautiful.

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From the Antique
Links to ADH - THE EXPERIENCE OF WOMEN

Both women were expected to be submissive to their partner and put on happy facades to be the perfect women. Both women also would rather die than live as women and uphold these facades.

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Shut out
Summary

The speaker tries to look into the garden but is locked out, they lament that what they have lost. They ask the guard to take some flowers but are ignored. The guard builds a brick wall, blocking the view entirely. The speaker is heartbroken and sees some

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Shut out
Quotes

"My garden, mine, beneath the sky,"
"From flower to flower the moths and bees;"
"Mortar and stone to build a wall;"
"A violet bed is budding near, / Wherein a lark has made her nest:"

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Shut out
Links to ADH - DOORS

Doors in ADH mentioned 40 times (reoccurring symbol)
Torvald’s shut Nora out-> clear division between the male sphere and the female sphere.
It also portrays the lack of communication between them.
In both texts, a door represents exclusion.
In shut ou

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Shut out
Links to ADH - THE GUARD

Poem-> spirit may represent sin, an angel or a deceased loved one.
In ADH, the keeper of the door is Torvald as he shuts her out and keeps her contained within the domestic sphere.
Nora was a keeper as she did not allow herself to leave.
Society (male a

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Shut out
Links to ADH - MAN-MADE WALLS

The spirit built a strong wall of mortar and stone, it shut out the speaker from seeing the garden.
In ADH wall is metaphorical, it is the expectations that restrain and oppress women.
The walls of the house trapped Nora.
Krogstad; his past sins created

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Shut out
Links to ADH - OUTCAST

Shut out; ‘outcast’
The speaker is cast out of the garden.
Nora is cast out of the wider world, from the male sphere.
Rosetti; at the time women in society, were shut out as they were assigned specific roles and were not allowed to mingle with the busines

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Shut out
Links to ADH - EXCLUSION

The speaker was forced out of the garden and shut out.
Nora was forced out and shut out from the male sphere.
Rossetti was shut out from the masculine sphere due to societal expectations.

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In the Round Tower at Jhansi
Summary

The poem commemorates the Indian uprising that massacred British colonists. They stand on the tower and decide to take their lives instead of letting the revolt kill them. The narrator asks God to forgive them for this action. They kiss to create a final

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In the Round Tower at Jhansi
Quotes

"The swarming howling wretches below"
"Young, strong, and so full of life,"
"God forgive them this!"
" I wish I could bear the pang for both. / I wish I could bear the pang alone:"

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In the Round Tower at Jhansi
Links to ADH - LOVE

ITRT - Physical intimacy/ they're willing to suffer so their partner doesn't/ they spend their last moments sharing as much affection as possible. / ADH - Christine and Krogstad are passionate for one another/ there was once real love between Nora and Tor

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In the Round Tower at Jhansi
Links to ADH - SACRIFICE

ITRT - each partner wanted to take the suffering of the other. / ADH - Nora was willing to risk her reputation to save Torvald, yet he was more worried about his reputation as a result of her action. Christine sacrificed marrying the man she loved to hel

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A Birthday
Summary

A narrator expresses their happiness about their love's upcoming birthday.

They compare their heart to several things in nature, e.g a singing bird.

They end the poem by joyfully exclaiming that their love's birthday has arrived.

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A Birthday
Quotes

"My heart is like a singing bird"
"My heart is like a rainbow shell"
"Hang it with vair and purple dyes; Carve / it in doves and pomegranates, And peacocks"

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A Birthday
Links to ADH - CELEBRATION

The celebration and joy can be linked to when Nora and Ms Linde were happily reunited, when Nora plays with her children or when Nora finally left her life behind (this was, however a bittersweet happiness).

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A Birthday
Links to ADH - LOVING ONESELF

Rossetti references love of a God / religion as well as love to herself. We see this love to oneself when Nora rejected Torvald as her husband and chose to focus on her needs.

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Maude Clare
Summary

The poem talks about the story of Maude Clare and Nell. They are both in love with Sir Thomas and he had chosen to marry Nell. On the day of the wedding, Maude came with wedding gifts, these were the gifts Thomas gave her during their unfulfilled courtshi

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Maude Clare
Quotes

"Maude Clare was like a queen."
"To bless the hearth, to bless the board, To bless the marriage-bed."
"Yea, though you’re taller by the head, More wise and much more fair: I’ll love him till he loves me best"

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - RELATIONSHIP FACADE

MC - Nell and Thomas pretend to be happy but their relationship is a facade.

ADH - This can be linked to Nora's and Torvald's relationship as she realised that they do not truly know each other.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - SOCIETY'S EXPECTATIONS

MC - Thomas' mother is happy with the match as it matches society's expectations e.g Nell is obedient.

ADH - Nora's father was pleased with her marriage to Torvald as it met society's expectations.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - MARRIAGE TURMOIL

MC - Nell is happy with the marriage but Thomas is stressed.

ADH - Torvald thinks they have the perfect marriage but Nora is miserable, she has to hide her true self to please Torvald.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - REGRETTING LIFE CHOICES

MC - Thomas may not feel complete in life, he seems to still have feelings for Maude Clare.

ADH - Nora does not feel as though she has lived and she leaves Torvald to try and find herself.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - EXPECTATIONS OF MEN

MC - Thomas is weak, laid back, does not get involved in the conflict.

ADH - Torvald is far more controlling and traditionally 'masculine', he uses his voice, unlike Thomas.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - REJECTED LOVE

MC - Maude Clare was a jilted lover twice (rejected).

ADH - Torvald became a jilted lover when Nora left him.

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Maude Clare
Links to ADH - SOCIETY + WOMEN

MC - There is a competition between the women over Thomas. Maude Claude desires to have what Nell does.

ADH - Ms Linde desires to have Nora's marriage, children and domestic bliss.

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Up-Hill
Summary

During a journey, the narrator asks a guide eight questions about the road ahead of them. They ask if the road is uphill and if the journey will take all day, the guide replied yes. They asked if they will have a place to rest, the guide replied yes. They

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Up-Hill
Quotes

"Does the road wind up-hill all the way?"
"Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?"
"Will there be beds for me and all those who seek? Yes, beds for all who come."

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Up-Hill
Links to ADH - JOURNEY

Both the novel and the play depict the challenges and the journey of life. Whilst the poem details the journey from the start of life to death, ADH follows Nora's journey of self-discovery and self-actualisation.

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Up-Hill
Links to ADH - HOPE

The inn symbolises hope, this could be linked to Nora's hope of a new beginning when she left the house. Both instances represent the closing of a past 'chapter'.

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Up-Hill
Links to ADH - COMFORT

Both texts end with a sense of comfort for both the speaker and Nora.

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No, Thank you, John
Summary

The poem is an autobiographical piece that could be rejecting the proposal of John. An alternative interpretation (due to the vague name) states that it may be a criticism of the societal expectation for a woman to submit to a man's wishes.

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No, Thank you, John
Quotes

"With always "do" and "pray"?"
"Why will you haunt me with a face as wan As shows an hour-old ghost?"
"I dare say Meg or Moll would take Pity upon you, if you'd ask:"
"Song-birds of passage, days of youth:"

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No, Thank you, John
Links to ADH - BIRDS

ADH - a symbol of love, submissiveness and passiveness whereas in NTJ they represent the sadness of the past.

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No, Thank you, John
Links to ADH - REJECTION + UNREQUITED LOVE

ADH and NTJ the women take power and reject the men, in both texts the women are annoyed by the men's advances.
Nora does not love Dr Rank, the speaker does not love male.
Both texts show that romantic love is unfulfilling and damaging.

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No, Thank you, John
Links to ADH - MEN

ADH - Torvald can be argued to fit the masculine stereotypes as he continued to challenge Nora and fight back against her, in NTJ the male counterpart remained silent. / In NTJ the speaker was willing to continue a friendship with the male but in ADH Nor

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Good Friday
Summary

This is a devotional poem that conveys the speaker's desire to partake in Christianity. However, they are not ready to adopt the religion until Jesus comes down and guides them the way a shepherd would guide a sheep. The speaker compares their lack of emo

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Good Friday
Quotes

"Am I a stone and not a sheep"
"To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss, And yet not weep?"
"Not so those women loved Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;"
"Greater than Moses, turn and look once more And smite a rock."

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Good Friday
Links to ADH - CONTEXT (TIMES OF RAPID CHANGE)

Both texts were written during times of rapid change. At the time of Rossetti's poem, many people were questioning their faith in God. In Norway, the feminist movement was gaining speed. It can be argued that Ibsen may be more open to change.

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Good Friday
Links to ADH - CHRISTIAN NOTIONS

Both texts challenge Christian notions, ADH questions marriage and the role
of women whereas GF explores the fear of commitment to religion despite the expectation for believers to have complete trust in God.

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Good Friday
Links to ADH - REBIRTH

Both texts also explore the idea of rebirth. Nora's 'doll' facade had to die in order to allow self-actualisation. In GF, Jesus died on the cross and resurrected to save humanity from sin.

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Goblin Market
Summary

Laura bought the Goblin men's fruit with a lock of her hair. After eating it, she began to waste away. Lizzie goes to the market to look for a cure, the men tempt her but she resists. The men attack her and try to force the fruit in her mouth, she keeps i

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Goblin Market
Quotes

" Laura, Laura, / You should not peep at goblin men"
"Buy from us with a golden curl."
"Dear, you should not stay so late, / Twilight is not good for maidens."
"Lizzie utter'd not a word; / Would not open lip from lip / Lest they should cram a mouthful in

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH -ANTI CAPITALIST

The poem can be interpreted from a Marxist anti-capitalist perspective.
This can also be said about ADH, there are many references that depict the wealth of the middle class and the excess they have.
Similarly, the poem depicts a large excess of fruit t

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - NEGATIVE MALE ANTAGONIST

The antagonists are primarily males.
GM - the goblins
ADH - Krogstad and Torvald
Shows the cruelty and negative impact of the patriarchy.

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH -SELLING THEMSELVES TO MALE FIGURES ‘SEXUALISED UNDERTONES’ -

Laura used her hair to buy the fruit, can be interpreted as selling herself.
Nora used her body and dressed up to please and ease Torvald.
She danced and made herself pretty for his pleasure.
In both texts, women are seen as sexual objects.

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - WOMEN AND SISTERHOOD

The poem shows the bond between Laura and Lizzy.
In ADH we see the sisterly bond and support between Christine and Nora.
In both texts, we see how women have to help and support each other due to the negative consequences of the patriarchy.

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - REDEMPTION

Lizzie redeemed Laura by bringing back the juices of the fruit.
Christine helped Krogstad to redeem himself.
Both texts show that it is easier to seek redemption when you are helped by someone else.
They also both suggest that anyone can be redeemed no ma

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - ISOLATION

Lizzie was in a panicked and hysteric state when she realised she could not hear the goblin men (isolated)
Similarly, Nora was also driven to a manic-like state when she realised how little Torvald truly knows and loves her.
Nora was also hysterical whil

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - TRANSFORMATION

Both women were transformed into a different form due to the patriarchy, Laura started to decay because of the fruit the men forced her to eat and Nora turned into the Angel of the house to please Torvald.
Both women then transformed into their previous

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - INDEPENDENCE

Lizzie tossed the goblin men a penny, she was independent and it was her own penny.
Unlike Lizzie, Nora was not self-sufficient and relied on Torvald for her income.
This shows how women that are not under the patriarchy are free and independent.

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - SELF-SACRAFICE

‘Eat me, drink me, love me’ is a reference to Jesus’ sacrifice, Lizzie sacrificed herself and her safety when facing the goblin men to help Laura.
Kristine sacrificed herself by constantly working.
Nora risked and sacrificed her reputation to help Torvald

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - MACAROONS

Torvald forbade Nora from eating macaroons, she did so anyway.
The sisters were forbidden from eating the fruit as it was deemed dangerous. they did so anyway.
The foods symbolise temptations and the yearning to be freed from patriarchal control.
They sym

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Goblin Market
Links to ADH - REBIRTH

Laura almost died but was redeemed and rebirthed when Lizzie gave her the juice of the fruit.
Krogstad was reborn when he became a better person as Christine asked to try their relationship again.
Nora was reborn when she became her true self and stood u

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Twice
Summary

The speaker offered her heart to her lover.
He did not accept it. / He did not believe that she was ready to commit. / He was not ready to commit.
Her heart breaks and she brings it to God.
She asks God to help her, she knows her heart will be safe with h

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Twice
Quotes

"Yet a woman's words are weak: You should speak, not I."
"Then set it down, And said: It is still unripe,
Better wait awhile;"
" Broke, but I did not wince; I smiled"

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Twice
Links to ADH - GENDER STEREOTYPES

Traditional gender norms that are displayed in both ADH and Twice.
The women are expected to be passive and submissive.
These are the concepts of the Angel of the House, both the speaker and Nora are expected to display these.

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Twice
Links to ADH - REFUSING TO SUBMIT CRUEL MALE ANTAGONIST

The speaker is not outwardly affected by the cruel treatment, similarly to Nora’s cold behaviour when Torvald turned on her and proceeded to verbally abuse her.
Both of the women realised their oppression at this point, they also decided to escape it.
Wh

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Twice
Links to ADH - FACADE

Both women had a perfect facade that pleased and entertained their partners.
Furthermore, both women also did not challenge the men due to their oppression under the patriarchy.
Both women were deluded into accepting such treatment, highlighting their nai

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Twice
Links to ADH - EPIPHANY

Emphasises the women’s epiphany once they realised the oppression they were trapped beneath.
Both women were determined to improve their lives once they escaped their partner’s control.
Underlines the magnitude of the women’s oppression, portrays the pat

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Winter: My Secret
Summary

The speaker is taunting and playing with the listener who is pleading to hear the secret- it can only be revealed at the right time which evidently is not during the winter season. The poem avoids a clear meaning, the interocular remains silent and the se

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Winter: My Secret
Quotes

"Today’s a nipping day, a biting day;"
"A veil, a cloak, and other wraps: I cannot ope to everyone who taps,"
"Spring’s an expansive time: yet I don’t trust"

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Winter: My Secret
Links to ADH - SECRETS

A recurring theme in ADH e.g Nora hiding Macarons. These lies snowball and grow e.g the fake signature. WMS the speaker has a blatant secret

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Winter: My Secret
Links to ADH - THE DANGER OF CURIOSITY

ADH, Torvald was curious about the letter this led to Nora's loss of control during the Tarantella + his choice to read the letter forced their marriage to end. Nora was also curious of life outside of her home, ultimately led to the breakdown of her marr

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Winter: My Secret
Links to ADH - SEXUAL DESIRE

ADH, Torvald's desires are dangerous to Nora at times. He forces his desires onto her e.g 2019 Young Vic Production Torvald was about to **** Nora whilst she was pregnant. WMS the speaker has to keep the door closed to keep desire out of her life.

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Winter: My Secret
Links to ADH - DOORS

WMS, keeps desire out and women oppressed e.g Shut out. In ADH the doors also represent oppression e.g Nora does not have keys to her own home however it later changed to symbolise new opportunities, as well as a gate way to liberation.

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Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde
Summary

The poem depicts the persona of Sister Louise in the form of a dramatic dialogue. She feels conflicted and is tormented by desire and longing. She has wasted her life and feels conflicted about her sins, she questions what is the point of her life now tha

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Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde
Quotes

"But now the days are over of desire, Now dust and dying embers mock my fire;"
"Longing and love, pangs of a perished pleasure, Longing and love, a disenkindled fire,"
"Oh vanity of vanities, desire!"

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Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde
Links to ADH - DESIRE + DENIAL

SL -> she gave up desire to dedicate her life to God. 'Oh vanity of vanities, desire!' shows how earthly love is selfish.

Could be influenced by Rossetti's life experiences e.g she rejected several suitors due to her dedication to God and other religious

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Soeur Louise de la Miséricorde
Links to ADH - DESIRE + DENIAL 2

ADH:
“You’ve always been kind to me. But our home has never been anything but a playroom.”

“My mother...was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers; so I did not think I was justified in refusing his offer.” Christine ha

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Rossetti poems (summary + quotes + links)

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