Died

Question 1

How is the Form if the lyric utilised in ‘Died’?

Answer 1

• Reflective on people’s opinion on death, noting that it doesn’t matter what people think as God decides

Question 2

What context could ‘Died’ be centred around?

Answer 2

• The poem is addressed to Elizabeth’s husband, Robert, as they appear to have an argument over a dead person, the person who died may not have been famous as it was common for The Times to publish in their notice
• EBB wrote about the plight of the poor in London which was defined by extreme overcrowding, rampant disease, dire and inescapable poverty
• As the city’s population doubled between 1800 and the 1850s, the infrastructure failed to keep pace and created slums - she could be referencing this
• Notes of the crisis of faith (only God is the true judge to promote an afterlife)

Question 3

How is the Form of the Ode utilised in ‘Died’?

Answer 3

• criticises Victorian Society by addressing ‘you’.

Question 4

How is the Form of the Elegy utilised in ‘Died’?

Answer 4

• Ironises elegiac traditions by not praising the dead

Question 5

Summarise the poem ‘Died’.

Answer 5

• It is a dramatic, conversational poem (often believed to be between her and Robert Browning) that critiques harsh judgment of the dead
• The speaker argues that mortality renders earthly praise or blame meaningless, urging compassion over criticism, as all individuals are ultimately frail and equal in death

Question 6

Past paper question: How are social conventions presented in ‘Died’?

Answer 6

• Refer to crisis in faith
• EBB refers to the idea that our own opinion does not matter in death as Gid is the true judge, therefore only his opinion truly matters
• This then links to how people lacked compassion in death often resorting instead to criticism (death brings everyone to the same level)
• Refer to previous essay

Question 7

What other poem could you write about to show ‘social conventions’?

Answer 7

• Grief - social conventions of grieving audibly
• Let the world’s sharpness - expectation on courting and marriage
• Role of women: My last duchess , Autumn day its course has ran