Poem Analysis for Christina Rossetti’s Twice
Themes:
Earthly relationships
Spiritual relationships
Heart break
Empowerment
Summary:
In the lyrical poem ‘Twice’, Rossetti explores the inferior and flawed nature of earthly
love in contrast to the empowering nature of spiritual love.
Structure:
6 equal stanzas of eight lines- intensely structured in contrast to the fragile nature of
the speaker. The volta appears to show the point in which the speaker rejects earthly
love to be at one with God
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The poem begins with an image of vulnerability as the speaker “took my heart in my
hand” representing that whilst love can be given freely its precious nature restricts
the speaker to a naïve position. Alternatively, we can also consider this opening line
as somewhat empowering for women, with emphasis on the “I” pronoun to suggest
the female character is in control of her actions and emotions. Despite if love can be
given freely, Rossetti is preoccupied with the notion love involves our whole selves,
as though we must offer our earthly beings to another, expressed in the line “let me
live or die”. Through the oxymoronic phrase, the speaker is portrayed as again
unprotected in this earthly world and completely interlaced in the power of human
relationships, that she is undoubtably willing to sacrifice herself. Alternatively, at the
Themes:
Earthly relationships
Spiritual relationships
Heart break
Empowerment
Summary:
In the lyrical poem ‘Twice’, Rossetti explores the inferior and flawed nature of earthly
love in contrast to the empowering nature of spiritual love.
Structure:
6 equal stanzas of eight lines- intensely structured in contrast to the fragile nature of
the speaker. The volta appears to show the point in which the speaker rejects earthly
love to be at one with God
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The poem begins with an image of vulnerability as the speaker “took my heart in my
hand” representing that whilst love can be given freely its precious nature restricts
the speaker to a naïve position. Alternatively, we can also consider this opening line
as somewhat empowering for women, with emphasis on the “I” pronoun to suggest
the female character is in control of her actions and emotions. Despite if love can be
given freely, Rossetti is preoccupied with the notion love involves our whole selves,
as though we must offer our earthly beings to another, expressed in the line “let me
live or die”. Through the oxymoronic phrase, the speaker is portrayed as again
unprotected in this earthly world and completely interlaced in the power of human
relationships, that she is undoubtably willing to sacrifice herself. Alternatively, at the
