Poem Analysis for Christina Rossetti’s Whatsoever is Right, That Shall ye
Receive
Themes:
Devotional
Earthly life vs eternal existence
Worth
Summary:
This is a highly devotional poem, whereby the speaker expresses her thoughts on
being worthy “enough”. There is a persistent sense in the poem the speaker worries
she will not be entered into heaven, as her life on earth has not proved her
worthiness. There is a divide in the poem between earthly chores and the relief God
can provide us.
Structure:
The poem is divided into two equal stanzas, both of equal rhyme schemes perhaps
to demonstrate the drudgery of everyday life. Yet as the second stanza concerns
heaven does this identical rhyme scheme subtly demonstrate Rossetti’s doubts the
afterlife will not be the great glorious existence she has been waiting for?
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The title is a direct quote from the bible: “you will be rewarded by God if God deems
it correct”. The first stanza is flooded with biblical imagery: “having sown prepare to
reap” (reap what you sow- actions dictate your consequences—Rossetti having
structurally placed the sentence in opposition suggests a sense of finality),
suggesting we have completed the menial jobs and now are waiting to receive the
benefits. The use of anaphora “delivered from the crossway rough/ delivered.../
delivered from the tossing surge” describes the hardships of life, which will soon be
the past as we join God in heaven. The final line of the stanza suggests we must
Receive
Themes:
Devotional
Earthly life vs eternal existence
Worth
Summary:
This is a highly devotional poem, whereby the speaker expresses her thoughts on
being worthy “enough”. There is a persistent sense in the poem the speaker worries
she will not be entered into heaven, as her life on earth has not proved her
worthiness. There is a divide in the poem between earthly chores and the relief God
can provide us.
Structure:
The poem is divided into two equal stanzas, both of equal rhyme schemes perhaps
to demonstrate the drudgery of everyday life. Yet as the second stanza concerns
heaven does this identical rhyme scheme subtly demonstrate Rossetti’s doubts the
afterlife will not be the great glorious existence she has been waiting for?
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The title is a direct quote from the bible: “you will be rewarded by God if God deems
it correct”. The first stanza is flooded with biblical imagery: “having sown prepare to
reap” (reap what you sow- actions dictate your consequences—Rossetti having
structurally placed the sentence in opposition suggests a sense of finality),
suggesting we have completed the menial jobs and now are waiting to receive the
benefits. The use of anaphora “delivered from the crossway rough/ delivered.../
delivered from the tossing surge” describes the hardships of life, which will soon be
the past as we join God in heaven. The final line of the stanza suggests we must
