Poem Analysis for Christina Rossetti’s From the Antique
Themes:
Bleak
Nihilism
Women
Death
Earthly life
Summary:
Rossetti seems somewhat nihilistic as she focuses on being utterly nothing. This
poem is clearly derived from Rossetti’s bouts of depression as he ponders how futile
human life is. However, there is some comfort found in the implication the animals
and nature will continue to thrive- as though God has the power to make these
aspects of life long lasting, and thus he is an emblem of hope in an otherwise futile
existence. Alternatively, by admiring the natural world, this only emphasises the
speaker’s depression- as she does not want to be part of the beauty she sees
Structure:
Regular rhyme scheme and regular structure, ABCB and four regular stanzas-
dreariness of life. This incomplete state is further represented by the interspaced
alternate end rhyme- suggesting there can be a harmony between man and the
world, yet the persona has never quite found this, or perhaps it is because she is a
woman.
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The poem begins with an unusual convention of narrative; the poem is told from the
narrative of a third-party speaker “It’s a weary life, it is, she said”- Rossetti somewhat
distances herself from this political poem. The stanza continues from the perspective
of this woman, naming life as “doubly blank”, an unusual expression to use as
something cannot be more blank, perhaps to convey there are limited words to
Themes:
Bleak
Nihilism
Women
Death
Earthly life
Summary:
Rossetti seems somewhat nihilistic as she focuses on being utterly nothing. This
poem is clearly derived from Rossetti’s bouts of depression as he ponders how futile
human life is. However, there is some comfort found in the implication the animals
and nature will continue to thrive- as though God has the power to make these
aspects of life long lasting, and thus he is an emblem of hope in an otherwise futile
existence. Alternatively, by admiring the natural world, this only emphasises the
speaker’s depression- as she does not want to be part of the beauty she sees
Structure:
Regular rhyme scheme and regular structure, ABCB and four regular stanzas-
dreariness of life. This incomplete state is further represented by the interspaced
alternate end rhyme- suggesting there can be a harmony between man and the
world, yet the persona has never quite found this, or perhaps it is because she is a
woman.
More A* analysis on page 2!
Imagery:
The poem begins with an unusual convention of narrative; the poem is told from the
narrative of a third-party speaker “It’s a weary life, it is, she said”- Rossetti somewhat
distances herself from this political poem. The stanza continues from the perspective
of this woman, naming life as “doubly blank”, an unusual expression to use as
something cannot be more blank, perhaps to convey there are limited words to
