4. Analysis of Rossetti's Up-Hill # Detailed Analysis #Critical Analysis

Summary

Dr. Sandra Cote's video on the poem 'A Field is Found' by Christina Rossetti explores the metaphorical journey of life's struggles and rewards. The poem, structured with questions and answers, conveys the idea of life as an uphill climb, with the promise of rest and comfort at the end. It encourages viewers to embrace the challenges and maintain a positive outlook, with the assurance that perseverance leads to a heavenly reward. The analysis highlights the poem's allegorical nature and its comforting message that all will be well after the journey's completion.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is a lecture by Dr. Sandra Cote on the poem 'A Field is Found' by Christina Rossetti, exploring its themes and meaning.
• 🎨 The poem is metaphorical and allegorical, with an underlying meaning beyond the literal interpretation of climbing a hill.
• 👤 The poem's speakers are unnamed, leaving their identities and roles open to interpretation.
• 🗣️ The poem uses a question-and-answer format, with each stanza consisting of two questions and two answers.
• 🚶‍♂️ Life is compared to a journey in the poem, suggesting that it is filled with challenges similar to walking through a field.
• 💡 The central theme of the poem is about embracing goodness, duty, and sacrifice amidst suffering, with the promise of a heavenly reward.
• 🌅 The poem contemplates the idea of a resting place, suggesting that there is only one ultimate resting place at the end of life's journey.
• 🤔 The speaker questions the existence of comfort and rest for the weary traveler, and the poem assures that such comfort will be found.
• 🏆 The final stanza implies that success in life's journey is a personal concept and that there is room for all who seek it.
• 📖 The poem is structured in a common style of poetry with four verses, each containing four lines, and follows an ABBA rhyme scheme.
• 👋 The lecture encourages viewers to take the poem positively, learn from it, and apply its messages to their own lives.

Q & A

Who is the author of the poem 'A Better Resignation'?

The author of the poem 'A Better Resignation' is Christina Rossetti.

What is the primary theme of Christina Rossetti's poem discussed in the video?

The primary theme of the poem discussed in the video is the metaphorical journey of life, its challenges, and the hope for a heavenly reward.

What is the significance of the title 'A Better Resignation' in the context of the poem?

The title 'A Better Resignation' suggests a sense of acceptance and surrender to the inevitable challenges and the journey of life, with an underlying hope for a better outcome.

What is the structure of the poem as described in the video?

The poem is structured with four verses, each containing four lines, and follows a question and answer format between two distinct narrators.

How does the poem use metaphor to convey its message?

The poem uses the metaphor of climbing a hill to represent the struggles and challenges of life, with the underlying message that there is a purpose and reward beyond the difficulties.

What is the central idea of the poem according to the video?

The central idea of the poem is the promotion of goodness, duty, and sacrifice in the face of suffering, with the promise of a heavenly reward.

How does the video interpret the 'night' and 'mountain' in the poem?

In the video, 'night' is interpreted as death, and 'mountain' symbolizes the challenges and struggles of life that one must overcome.

What is the significance of the questions and answers format in the poem?

The questions and answers format in the poem serves to explore the uncertainties and doubts about life and the afterlife, providing a dialogue between doubt and reassurance.

What does the video suggest about the resting place mentioned in the poem?

The video suggests that the resting place mentioned in the poem could be interpreted as the end of life, where one finds peace and rest after overcoming life's challenges.

How does the video describe the poem's exploration of life's journey?

The video describes the poem's exploration of life's journey as a constant struggle and challenge, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and the hope for a rewarding end.

What is the rhyming scheme of the poem as discussed in the video?

The rhyming scheme of the poem is abab, where 'a' represents the question and 'b' represents the answer, creating a clear distinction between the two narrators.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 'A Birthday' by Christina Rossetti

Dr. Sandra Cote introduces the poem 'A Birthday' by Christina Rossetti, discussing the title's metaphorical meaning and the poet's background. Rossetti, an English poet known for romantic, devotional, and children's poems, wrote 'A Birthday' using a question-and-answer style, with unnamed voices adding to the poem's mystery. The poem is described as metaphorical and allegorical, hinting at an underlying message beyond the literal act of climbing a hill.

05:03

🚶‍♂️ Life as a Journey in 'A Birthday'

The second paragraph delves into the poem's central theme of life as a challenging journey, likening it to walking uphill. The poem's structure is explored, with its four stanzas of questions and answers, and the metaphorical representation of life's struggles and the promise of a heavenly reward for goodness, duty, and sacrifice. The speaker's queries about the journey's length and the existence of a resting place are highlighted, suggesting the universality of life's challenges and the hope for rest and reward.

10:04

🌌 The Metaphorical and Allegorical Depths of 'A Birthday'

This paragraph continues the analysis of 'A Birthday,' focusing on the metaphorical and allegorical aspects of the poem. It discusses the speaker's contemplation of life's limitations and the assurance of a resting place at the end of the journey, symbolizing death. The stanzas are examined for their questions about meeting other travelers, the availability of rest, and the promise of comfort for the weary. The poem's message is interpreted as one of perseverance and positivity, despite life's inevitable challenges.

15:05

📖 Poetic Structure and Interpretation of 'A Birthday'

The final paragraph provides an overview of the poem's structure, rhyme scheme, and the dual perspective of the narrators. It emphasizes the poem's common style with four verses, each containing four lines, and the rhyme pattern that distinguishes the questioner from the responder. The analysis concludes with various interpretations of the poem, suggesting that it addresses existential questions about life and the afterlife, with a core message of reassurance that all will be well post-journey. The video ends with an encouragement to view, subscribe, like, and share for further literary insights.

Keywords

💡Poem

A poem is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke emotions, ideas, or tell a story. In the script, the poem 'A Field is White' by Christina Rossetti is the central focus, with its themes and messages being discussed in detail. The poem is presented as a metaphorical journey, reflecting the struggles and rewards of life.

💡Christina Rossetti

Christina Rossetti is an English poet known for her romantic, devotional, and children's poems. Born in 1830 and died in 1894, she is the author of the poem discussed in the video. Her works often explore themes of love, faith, and nature, and her style is characterized by its vivid imagery and emotional depth.

💡Metaphorical

Metaphorical refers to the use of one thing to represent another for the purpose of comparison or to convey a deeper meaning. In the context of the video, the poem is described as metaphorical in nature, suggesting that the literal act of climbing a hill symbolizes the challenges and obstacles faced in life.

💡Allegorical

Allegorical is a term used to describe a narrative or a story that conveys a deeper meaning beneath the surface, often involving symbolism or a parallel to real-life situations. The poem 'A Field is White' is described as allegorical, implying that it uses the journey of climbing a hill to represent the broader journey of life with its trials and rewards.

💡Journey

Journey is a term that refers to a trip or voyage, often used metaphorically to describe a process of personal change or development. In the video, life is compared to a journey, emphasizing the challenges and the need for perseverance, with the poem suggesting that there is a heavenly reward at the end of this journey.

💡Goodness, Duty, and Sacrifice

These are central themes of the poem that encourage moral and ethical behavior. Goodness refers to moral excellence or virtue, duty implies a moral or legal obligation, and sacrifice involves giving up something for the sake of others or a higher purpose. The video explains that the poem counsels these values in the face of suffering, promising a heavenly reward.

💡Suffering

Suffering is the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship. In the context of the poem, it is presented as an inevitable part of life's journey. The video discusses how the poem addresses the idea that one must endure suffering while striving for goodness, duty, and sacrifice.

💡Heavenly Reward

A heavenly reward in the poem symbolizes the ultimate prize or fulfillment that awaits those who have successfully navigated life's challenges. The video interprets this concept as a metaphor for the peace and satisfaction that comes from living a virtuous life, possibly referring to an afterlife or a state of spiritual contentment.

💡Rest

Rest is a recurring concept in the poem, representing a place of repose or relief from the struggles of life. The video script discusses the idea of a 'resting place' or 'roof' that is available at the end of life's journey, suggesting that there is a place of comfort and peace for those who have completed their journey.

💡Rhyming Pattern

The rhyming pattern is a structural element of poetry where the ending words of lines rhyme with each other. In the video, it is mentioned that the poem uses an 'abab' rhyme scheme, which helps to distinguish between the questions and answers within the poem, enhancing its conversational and interactive nature.

💡Narrators

Narrators are the voices that tell a story or deliver the content in a literary work. The video explains that the poem features two distinct narrators, one asking questions and the other providing answers. This dialogue format contributes to the poem's exploration of life's journey and the search for understanding.

Highlights

Introduction to the poem 'A Better Resignation' by Christina Rossetti.

Explanation of the poem's title and its metaphorical meaning.

Christina Rossetti's background and her influence on the poem.

The poem's unique style of questions and answers.

The anonymity of the poem's speakers and its impact on interpretation.

The metaphorical and allegorical nature of the poem.

Life as a journey in the poem, with its challenges and rewards.

The central theme of the poem: goodness, duty, sacrifice, and heavenly reward.

Recitation of the poem's stanzas and their analysis.

Interpretation of the poem's first stanza focusing on life's continuous journey.

Discussion on the resting place in life and its symbolic meaning.

The welcoming nature of the resting place for those who have completed their journey.

The final stanza's promise of comfort and rest for the weary traveler.

Analysis of the poem's structure, rhyme scheme, and narrative technique.

Different interpretations of the poem's ending, including views on life, death, and the afterlife.

The poem's exploration of existential questions and the unknown.

The dual perspective of struggle and reassurance within the poem.

Encouragement to embrace the poem's positive message and learn from it.

Transcripts

hello everyone this is dr. Sandra Cote

I welcome you all to my youtube channel

English guru for all dear friends today

we are going to discuss the most

important poem entitled a feel and the

author of this poem is Christina

Rossetti now see the picture of this

poetess it is given on the slide now in

this slide you are aware of the title of

the poem then the author of this

particular poem as well as the picture

is given there first you need to

understand or you have to make some kind

of gaze so what does it mean means what

is the meaning of this particular title

are filled up means going up and heel is

nothing but what a kind of mountain now

let us discuss what is the idea of

Christina Rossetti about this particular

poem that is a feel now please observe

the picture and guess something about it

now what is given there there is a

picture picture of a person is given

there you can see this one and that

person is going up so in what case you

here you need to understand that you can

understand what is given there exactly

that person is facing some kind of

obstacles while going up it means there

may be some kind of problems when you

are going to climb the hill but is it so

is it the meaning that the poetess is

going to discuss here definitely not so

there may be some kind of underlying

meaning the poetess is trying to convey

to us let us discuss about this now at

the initial stage we are going to know

about this poet is and what is the name

of the poetess Christina Rossetti so she

was born on

fifth of December 1830 and she died on

29th December 1894 now knowing about the

author is very important here you can

understand that what are the different

aspects that influence this particular

you can say author now you know the

period that she was born in 1830 and she

died in 1894 now she was English poet is

who wrote a variety of romantic

devotional as well as children's poems

so her you can say specialization was

what writing about the romantic aspects

then devotional aspects as well as

children's poem related to children now

what is next she is famous for writing

two particular works are given here

one is goblin market and second one is

remember now let us talk about what this

poem already we discussed about the poet

is now about the poem at the initial

stage what is given there Christina

Rossetti's boy ever feel is written

using questions and answers so this is

the style which is used in this

particular poem so somebody is asking

the questions and somebody is answering

the questions now even the most

important aspect is what readers are not

told who each of the voices are they

remain unnamed it means the person who

is asking the questions we do not know

and the person who is answering the

questions even we do not know what is

the next one the poem is metaphorical in

nature this is very important dear

friends you need to understand this part

over here what does it mean metaphorical

so here there is some kind of comparison

as that initially or initially what I

told you that there is some kind of

climbing of the heel but definitely that

is not only the surface level meaning

but there is some

kind of what metaphor so underlying

meaning is there now let us see what is

next what is given there what is the

next one very important part please read

this one properly allegorical in nature

what does it mean already I told you

that that is there is some kind of

underlying meaning so with the help of

climbing up or you can say the heel in

that case it doesn't mean that there is

only the literal meaning but there is

some kind of underlying meaning also now

again continue it about the poem Wow

very important part is given there a

life is compared to a journey of feel it

means what walking of field is

challenging and in the same manner life

is also challenging this is very

important dear friends walking are

freely challenging in the same and our

life is challenging and here you need to

understand what to do with this one this

is very important part I am going to

repeat this one walking awfully

challenging in the same manner life is

challenging now what is given there what

is the central idea of this poem the

poem councils goodness duty and

sacrifice in the midst of suffering and

promises are heavenly reward in return

so this is the central idea what is

important here goodness

duty and sacrifice but at the same time

you are going to face what so many

sufferings and so many vows or promises

can be there now let us start with the

poem what is the poem this is the first

stanza second third and fourth now I am

going to recite this poem does the road

wind uphill all the way this is the

question and what is the answer yes to

the very end will the day's journey take

the whole long day from mountain

I ate my friend but is there for the

night resting place a roof or when the

slowed our cars begin may not the

darkness hide it from my face

you cannot miss that in shall I meet

other Wayfarers at night those who have

gone before then must I knock or call

vain just in sight they will not keep

you standing at the door shall I find

comfort travel sore and weak of labour

you shall find some will there be baits

for me and all who seek yah baits for

all who come now here you can understand

there are four stanzas and in stanza

contains how many lines four lines the

first line is what it is ten the first

line is the question second line is the

answer again third line is the question

and fourth line is the answer now let us

discuss this poem what is given there

let it start about it stanza number one

already I raised this particular stanza

and what is the meaning here here the

speaker is questioning whether life is a

continual journey of words or not and

what is the answer who here the

reference to the journey taking from on

tonight it refers to what from beginning

of life that is Mon to death and night

stands for death here so it is nothing

but what again I am going to explain

this does the road wind uphill all the

way and what is the answer here yes to

the very end what is the next question

of the speaker will the day journey take

the whole long day and what is the

answer from Mon tonight from birth to

death and that is what my friend there

is friendly conversation and life is

nothing but a continual journey and you

have to face so many obstacles and

struggles but you have to

oh I hate that is only the meaning that

you can understand with the help of this

particular stanza

now let us go to the next stanza stanza

number two but it is therefore the NIDA

resting place a roof or when the slowed

our cars begin may not the darkness side

it from my face you cannot miss that in

now two important things are mentioned

here one is what whether there is a

resting place or not and second one is

what what does it mean in these two

concepts you can say are very important

here now let us talk about these are two

concepts here the speaker questions if

there are many places along the road

where one can rest it means what that

particular speaker the particular person

who is prowling is a little bit you can

say what tired and in that case that

person needs what some kind of rest and

what is the answer for that or roof or

when the slowed our cars begin and what

is that slow or dark ours it may have

some kind of negative meaning or maybe

positive the answers say that only one

place exists and what is that vein the

slow dark as begins the answer our

eschews that darkness will not mass the

in every one can find it means that

particular place what is refers to is

the end of life and the one place where

all will go really we need to think

about that limitations of life are there

but here it doesn't mean that you should

stop going up or going ahead so you have

to proceed and be positive all the time

so that in is nothing but what resting

place what is that resting place it may

be the graveyard it may be something

else let us talk about stanza number

three and what is the stanza

shall I meet other wave

at night those who have gone before then

must I knock

or call vain just in sight and they will

not keep you standing at that door

two questions two answers and what is

the first one here the speaker questions

if the in will have a resting place

whether that in will have a resting

place for me or not you please explain

that went to me and what is the answer

the answer all states that a roof will

be available and that those we have come

before the speaker the person who is

asking the questions will allow the

speaker to come into the in unopposed it

means you will be welcome there and you

have to go there nobody will stop you so

do not worry about it now stanza number

four and what is the stanza this is the

last stanza shall I find comfort travel

sore and weak of Labor you shall find

some will there be bears for me and all

who seek yah bears for all who come dear

friends the meaning of this word is very

important here that is what travel sore

exhausted tired comfort we like a to

comfort there some kind of relaxation

and weak means what it may be physically

weak it may be mentally weak of Labor

you shall find the some and this is very

important part here also that is entire

walk that is nothing but a some will

there be base for me and all who seek ya

base for all who come already I read

this particular stanza but here you need

to understand this is the concluding

stanza again the speaker asked if there

will be somewhere where rest can be

found and what is that the answer

replies that there is plenty of room for

all who have successfully made the

journey or feel appeal means what sucks

full life actually success is the

personal concept it may differ from

person to person

so here you need to understand that part

also that successful journey now what is

given there let us talk about the

analysis of this particular poem the

poem speaks to the fact that what is

that fact the most important fact is

given there and what is the fact that is

the poem speaks to the fact that life is

a constant struggle and challenge dear

friends this is very important for you

here the crux of life is given and what

is that crux what is the central idea of

the life life is a constant struggle and

challenge and you have to struggle

throughout your life and you have to

overcome the challenges those who are

able to succeed at passing the fill

journey will be rewarded by having a

place where they will be able to rest

this may be some kind of reward here you

can make so many interpretations of this

particular poem but here what I mean to

say in death is not ultimate ain't but

before that you can do so many things

and you can create the history of your

own life for some this in represents

heaven where the angels will welcome the

new leader in oh my god

this is really dangerous and you can see

what some kind of opposite ideas are

kept together where the angels will

welcome but you are newly ready oh my

god how can the date how can the day it

can be you can say what welcome let us

talk about again what is given their

analysis others may attribute the into

the metaphorically represent the ground

which opens to acts of dead bodies

pathetic

that is what drive ad and all the times

revered is what nobody likes that place

because he show

the end of life where your name is not a

turd but your entire you can say what

body is called what is called that body

and nobody is going to call your name

there yes but we have to accept it this

is the end of life if there is a bar

definitely there will be a death

essentially the poem speaks to the

questions one has regarding life and the

unknown this is important light as well

as unknown who is unknown here

let us discuss in this particular slide

the answer of the questions

it says the speaker's mind saying all

will be well after the journey has been

completed at the end of the journey

everything will be fine so don't worry

about it at its core we inside a center

the poem is about two horses one is

struggling and seeking raised and

another encouraging them and telling

them they will find it so two aspects

are there some positive some negative

but all the time what is expected dear

friends you should accept the positive

ideas and forget about the negativity of

life this is very important now let us

talk let us talk about very important

aspects what is that

the poem is written in common style of

poetry consists of four verses with four

lines each already I told this one to

you written from the perspective of two

distinct narrators one who asked

questions and one who provides answers

now again some important aspects are

given it is rhymed in and aibee aibee

style where every a asks the question

and every B is nothing but the answer

these narrators are kept easily separate

from one another by the simple rhyming

pattern of the piece that is a B

a B a is nothing but a question and B is

nothing but the answer of the question

dear friends thank you so much please

watch this subscribe like and share

definitely whatever I explain in this

particular video it will be useful for

you all to understand this particular

poem of Christian atrocities and what is

the title that is a field

thank you so much be positive and take

this poem positively and learn

literature with dr. sondik gotei thank

you so much