‘Winter: My Secret’ : A complete set of notes for OCR Paper 1 A Level Comparative
Essay
- The essay tests AO1,AO3, AO4 and AO5
From the Antique’ was written in 1854 but published after Rossetti’s death. So, it was
actually published in 1896. One reason people believe this is because the poem is so critical
and nihilistic — unless you’re a man — so it would’ve caused much speculation.
● Idea of life being “weary” — so life is exhausting, much like Christine Linde, who has
been working to provide for her children and has aged because of it. Both writers are
middle class, and it’s seen as unusual for these women to work as part of this class.
Nora is exhausted by keeping a secret the whole time as she admits to Torvald in Act
3: “Yes, it’s been a hard fight.”
● The quote “I wish and I wish I were a man” links to Torvald calling Nora “How like a
woman” when she was unaware of money and the professional sphere. Nora says “It
was almost like being a man” in Act 1 when telling Kristine.
● Avery says that it may be an “unmistakable critique” — causing the delay of this
poem. Many critics comment on Rossetti showing insight into a character with no
spirituality and how bad life is for them.
● Rossetti may have experienced isolation and restriction herself as the only female in
the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, mirroring what the persona of From the Antique also
experiences, as she posted her poetry anonymously under the pseudonym Ellen
Alleyne. Meanwhile, her brothers William and Dante enjoyed their art openly. She
was a social outcast in the Brotherhood.
Essay
- The essay tests AO1,AO3, AO4 and AO5
From the Antique’ was written in 1854 but published after Rossetti’s death. So, it was
actually published in 1896. One reason people believe this is because the poem is so critical
and nihilistic — unless you’re a man — so it would’ve caused much speculation.
● Idea of life being “weary” — so life is exhausting, much like Christine Linde, who has
been working to provide for her children and has aged because of it. Both writers are
middle class, and it’s seen as unusual for these women to work as part of this class.
Nora is exhausted by keeping a secret the whole time as she admits to Torvald in Act
3: “Yes, it’s been a hard fight.”
● The quote “I wish and I wish I were a man” links to Torvald calling Nora “How like a
woman” when she was unaware of money and the professional sphere. Nora says “It
was almost like being a man” in Act 1 when telling Kristine.
● Avery says that it may be an “unmistakable critique” — causing the delay of this
poem. Many critics comment on Rossetti showing insight into a character with no
spirituality and how bad life is for them.
● Rossetti may have experienced isolation and restriction herself as the only female in
the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, mirroring what the persona of From the Antique also
experiences, as she posted her poetry anonymously under the pseudonym Ellen
Alleyne. Meanwhile, her brothers William and Dante enjoyed their art openly. She
was a social outcast in the Brotherhood.
