Remember

Remember

Overview:

• “Remember” is an elegiac sonnet by the acclaimed English poet, Christina Rossetti.
• The poem deals with the themes of memory, love, and grief, exploring the speaker’s wish to be remembered after death.
• Rossetti uses a direct, intimate tone to convey her subject matter, creating a personal dialogue between the speaker and an implied individual.

Themes:

Theme: Love and Death

• The poem intricately blends the themes of love and death.
• Rossetti presents a speaker who, while in apprehension of impending death, expresses a deep desire to remain in the memory of the loved one.

Theme: Self-Sacrifice

• The theme of self-sacrifice is also prevalent in “Remember”.
• The speaker’s sentiments shift in the final lines as they place the loved one’s happiness above their desire to be remembered, showcasing their selfless devotion.

Theme: Memory and Forgetfulness

• “Remember” also explores the complex theme of memory and forgetfulness.
• The speaker initially implores their loved one to remember them, but later concedes that forgetfulness may bring relief, creating a nuanced portrayal of the impact of memory and loss.

Devices and Structure:

Device: Metaphors and Repetition

• Rossetti employs metaphors, comparing death to a journey to an unknown land, enhancing the poignancy of the poem.
• The poet also uses repetition, with the word “remember” resonating throughout, emphasising the speaker’s intense desire to be remembered.

Device: Structured Rhyme and Tone Shift

• The poem follows a structured Italian sonnet form with a rhyme scheme of ABBA ABBA CDDECE, demonstrating Rossetti’s mastery over the traditional sonnet form.
• A distinct tone shift is observed in the concluding sestet. A characteristic feature of sonnets, this shift signifies a change in the speaker’s perspective.

Structure: Sonnet Form

• “Remember” follows the structure of an Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet, composed of an octave and a sestet.
• Rosetti’s choice of sonnet form mirrors the poem’s exploration of love, loss, and remembrance – themes traditionally associated with this literary form.

Interpretation:

• Christina Rossetti’s “Remember” presents a moving exploration of the relationship between love, memory, and death.
• Through its intimate tone and emotionally charged diction, the poem initiates a poignant dialogue about the human fear of being forgotten.
• Ultimately, “Remember” ponders over the importance of memory in human relationships, and the sacrifice and healing entailed in forgetting a loved one.