Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Mrs Rumsey

78K views 7 years ago

Warm-up Questions

When you hear the title “Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti,” what do you think the video will focus on: story, language, or exam technique?
Have you ever studied a poem for an exam? What parts were hardest: meaning, structure, or techniques?
What themes do you expect from a poem called “Remember”?

Up Next

What Do You Want To Eat? Song for Kids | Food Song | Learn English Kids Dream English Kids
Keep your brain from declining after age 30 Big Think
People Who Hate Cats Live With Cats For A Week // Presented By BuzzFeed & Rachael Ray Nutrish BuzzFeedVideo
My Daily Routine | Easy English Listening Practice (A2 Level) English Phrases Hub
Easy, Cheesy, Creamy Pasta Recipe You’ll Crave Weekly Refika's Kitchen

Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

…

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Introduction + first reading: the title and the poem’s situation (00:00 – 01:55)

Transcript will load here…

1. Why does the speaker say the word “Remember” (as a title) feels powerful or urgent?

Because it is an imperative that can sound forceful and desperate
Because it is a metaphor for a peaceful place
Because it is a question asking for advice
Because it is a rhyme scheme pattern

2. According to the speaker, what is the poem mainly about when you first read it?

Someone moving to a new country for work
Someone about to die and wanting to be remembered
Someone celebrating a new relationship
Someone describing nature in detail

3. At the end of the poem reading, what contrast does the speaker highlight?

Forget and smile vs remember and be sad
City vs countryside
Rich vs poor
Youth vs old age

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Close analysis: repetition, euphemism, metaphor, and separation (01:55 – 06:00)

Transcript will load here…

1. What does the speaker say the repetition of “gone away” emphasizes?

How quickly time passes
How distant the separation will be
How excited the speaker feels
How funny the poem is

2. Why does the speaker call “gone away” a euphemism?

It is a softer way of referring to death than saying “dead”
It is a type of rhythm
It is a rhyme scheme rule
It is a scientific term for death

3. What two possible interpretations does the speaker offer for “silent land”?

A place of wealth OR a place of poverty
A real country OR a fictional island
A loud city OR a quiet village
A peaceful place OR loneliness/being forgotten

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Turning point, structure, and themes: Petrarchan sonnet and control (06:00 – 11:35)

Transcript will load here…

1. What does the speaker identify as the poem’s volta (turning point)?

A shift from sadness to comedy
A shift from desperation to a more contemplative focus on the partner’s feelings
A shift from modern language to archaic language
A shift from worrying about the partner to demanding attention

2. What does the speaker say the antithesis shows in the final lines?

A misunderstanding of the poem’s topic
The speaker wants revenge
True love and sacrificing personal desires for the partner’s happiness
Confusion about who is speaking

3. How does the speaker interpret iambic pentameter in this poem?

It represents the speaker’s lack of education
It proves the poem is a comedy
It is used mainly to hide the rhyme scheme
It contrasts with the lack of control in death and suggests a form of control

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Transcript will load here…

1. Which best describes how the speaker says the poem’s focus changes across the sonnet?

From describing nature to describing a city
From anger to celebration
From telling a story to giving instructions for homework
From demanding to remembering to prioritizing the partner’s happiness

2. What is a key reason the speaker gives for the repeated imperatives (“remember,” “do not grieve”)?

They show the poem is meant to be acted on stage
They show fear of being forgotten and later show care for the partner
They create a playful tone
They show the poem is written in free verse

3. Which pair of themes does the speaker say a sonnet typically relates to, and this poem can be about both?

Travel and adventure
Science and technology
Love and death
Crime and punishment

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

Analysis of 'Remember' by Christina Rossetti

Do you agree with the speaker that the title “Remember” sounds forceful or desperate? Why or why not?
Is it more loving to ask someone to remember you, or to allow them to forget so they can be happy? Explain your view.
Which interpretation of “silent land” is more convincing: peacefulness or loneliness? Use evidence from the poem summary in the video.
The speaker says the poem shows “love at its most selflessness.” What actions or language in the poem (as described) support that idea?