Remember

Question 1

What is the tone shift in the Petrarchan sonnet about death and remembrance?

Answer 1

From insistent to selfless at line 9 (the volta)

This shift reflects the speaker’s change in focus from their own desire for remembrance to the happiness of the loved one.

Question 2

What are the two main sections of the structure of the sonnet?

Answer 2

• Octave (lines 1-8)
• Sestet (lines 9-14)

The octave deals with remembrance and separation, while the sestet addresses emotional shifts and permission to forget.

Question 3

What is the rhyme scheme of the sonnet?

Answer 3

ABBAABBA CDDECE

This rhyme scheme mirrors control and restraint in the poem.

Question 4

In the first four lines of the sonnet, what is the focus?

Answer 4

Physical absence

This section conveys the loss of touch, illustrated by the phrase ‘hold me by the hand.’

Question 5

What does the section from lines 5-8 focus on?

Answer 5

Emotional separation

This part reflects the loss of a shared future between the speaker and the beloved.

Question 6

What is the significance of line 9 in the sonnet?

Answer 6

It marks the volta or shift from insistence to concession

This line indicates a turning point in the speaker’s emotional stance.

Question 7

What theme is prioritized in lines 9-14 of the sonnet?

Answer 7

Selfless love

The speaker prioritizes the beloved’s happiness over their own desire to be remembered.

Question 8

Identify a key theme related to death in the sonnet.

Answer 8

Calm, inevitable, ‘silent land’

This theme reflects the acceptance of death as a natural part of life.

Question 9

What theme is explored regarding memory in the sonnet?

Answer 9

Questions the value if it causes grief

The speaker contemplates whether being remembered is worth the pain it may bring.

Question 10

How is religion referenced in the sonnet?

Answer 10

‘counsel or pray’ → Christian context, spiritual perspective

This reference adds a layer of spiritual contemplation to the themes of love and loss.

Question 11

What literary device is used with the repetition of ‘Remember’?

Answer 11

Urgency, fear of being forgotten

This repetition emphasizes the speaker’s anxiety about their legacy.

Question 12

What type of imagery is used in the phrase ‘hold me by the hand’?

Answer 12

Physical imagery

This imagery conveys a sense of concrete intimacy and connection.

Question 13

What semantic field is present in the words ‘gone, silent, darkness, corruption’?

Answer 13

Semantic field of absence

These words contribute to the theme of loss and separation.

Question 14

What contrast is presented in the final lines of the sonnet?

Answer 14

Better to forget and smile than to remember and be sad

This contrast highlights the speaker’s selfless love and desire for the beloved’s happiness.

Question 15

What is the volta in the sonnet indicated by the word ‘Yet’?

Answer 15

Emotional turning point → selfless love

This moment signifies the shift in the speaker’s perspective on remembrance.

Question 16

What was a significant cultural aspect of the Victorian era related to mortality?

Answer 16

mourning culture important

The high mortality rates during this period led to a strong emphasis on mourning practices.

Question 17

How did Rossetti’s Anglo-Catholic faith influence his view on death?

Answer 17

calm acceptance of death

His faith contributed to a serene perspective on mortality.

Question 18

What type of sonnet is typically used for romantic love but was repurposed for themes of devotion and mortality?

Answer 18

Petrarchan sonnet

This form was adapted to express deeper themes beyond romantic love.

Question 19

The themes in Rossetti’s work reflect Victorian ideals of what two concepts?

Answer 19

• female self-sacrifice
• emotional restraint

These ideals were prominent in the literature and culture of the Victorian era.