To install StudyMoose App tap and then “Add to Home Screen”
Save to my list
Remove from my list
The three poems Remember written by Christina Rossetti, A Mother In A Refugee Camp by Chinua Achebe and Poem at Thirty-Nine by Alice Walker all touch on the theme of loss and separation. Remember delves into the anguish of losing loved ones, while A Mother In A Refugee Camp centers on the connection between a mother and her child in a refugee camp, and Poem at Thirty-Nine reminisces about a lost loved one. Remember employs imperatives and contrasts to express the agony of moving on, as seen in the speaker's opening words "remember me".
The quote effectively conveys a demanding tone from the persona through the use of imperative technique. It can be interpreted as either selfish or concerned. This sonnet directly addresses the lover, with the repetition of the word 'remember' implying a fear of being forgotten too quickly. The word emphasizes a sense of separation between the lovers, as seen in the title which underscores the significance of the word throughout the poem.
The speaker in the poem starts by asking her lover to remember her after she dies, but later on, she releases her own selfish wishes.
Verified writer
Proficient in: Free Essays
5 (893)
“ Thank you so much for accepting my assignment the night before it was due. I look forward to working with you moving forward ”
Throughout the poem, the word 'remember' is used repeatedly to show a sense of distance between the lovers. The theme of death is underscored by the phrase "gone far away," showing the speaker's grief. This change from a negative to a positive tone is typical in sonnets, and this sonnet follows that structure.
In both poems, the speakers repeat the word "remember" to emphasize the theme of constant love, but there is also a shift in tone with the use of the word "forget".
This change of tone shows a transition from self-centered thoughts to concern for another person. Both sonnet 116 by William Shakespeare and Remember by Christina Rossetti explore the idea of enduring love even beyond death, utilizing the sonnet form to convey themes of loss and separation through repetition and a steady tone.
In the poem Remember, the speaker chooses to prioritize selflessness by suggesting that it is better to "forget and smile" than to "Remember and be sad". This decision contrasts with the speaker's previous selfish desires. The speaker expresses a desire for her lover not to feel pain in her absence, further emphasizing their intimate relationship by mentioning "hold me by the hand". The use of alliteration, specifically with the letter h, creates a soft and gentle tone in this quote, highlighting the tenderness in their bond.
In her poem, Christina Rossetti employs short words to express her distressed and disordered thoughts, reflecting the closeness of their bond and emphasizing the importance of holding on. The organized structure of the poem highlights the deep affection the speaker holds for her significant other, demonstrating direct communication during the Victorian era.
Christina Rossetti's sonnet Remember effectively captures the speaker's emotional turmoil and deep-seated sorrow, possibly mirroring the poet's own encounter with loss. The themes of separation and grief are prevalent in both the sonnet and A Mother in a Refugee Camp, highlighting the heart-wrenching depiction of maternal loss. The title of the latter poem succinctly summarizes its poignant subject matter, showcasing the harsh reality of a mother grieving for her child and eventually accepting their tragic destiny.
Using euphemism, this quote depicts a harsh portrayal of her loss, hinting at the impending death of the child with the word 'soon.' The poem utilizes poignant imagery to elicit sympathy for the weary mother and her child, portraying her as unique in her sorrow but unprepared for what is to come. It reveals a "ghost-smile," employing an oxymoron to convey her clinging onto a fragment of her smile.
The metaphor in the text suggests that the mother may be happy to be with her child but is exhausted, leading to a faint smile, or she may be putting on a fake smile to keep her child happy. Despite her exhaustion, the mother takes pride in combing the "rust colored hair" of her delicate child, symbolizing dried blood and possibly indicating the child's poor health due to exposure to harsh weather and unhygienic conditions.
The child's death was caused by poor health, resulting in a mother losing her beloved child. In the poem "A Mother in a refugee camp," the poet depicts many children with "blown empty bellies," creating a powerful image of starvation and disease. This imagery suggests that the children are suffering from malnutrition, which eventually leads to their deaths. The mother in the poem is portrayed as different from typical mothers, as she mourns her child at a small grave instead of enjoying life's simple pleasures.
The poet effectively uses poignant imagery, juxtaposing the words 'tiny' and 'grave' to convey the youth and smallness of the child. Another poem with themes of separation and letting go is Do Not Go Gentle by Dylan Thomas. A Mother In A Refugee Camp, by poet Chinua Achebe who is a U.N. ambassador, also explores these emotions in one stanza, reflecting the mother's array of feelings possibly inspired by his visits to refugee camps.
He believes that even in a refugee camp, a mother can provide the most exceptional form of love. This poem reflects the sorrowful and painful experience of being separated from a mother and highlights the effect of loss on a mother-daughter relationship. "Poem at thirty nine" explores a daughter's recollection of moments shared with her father. The speaker's father was on the brink of death, symbolizing the imminent loss she would face. By using euphemism, the quote effectively conveys the impending separation caused by her father's passing.
In the first few stanzas, the speaker vividly describes her father, highlighting his role as a guiding force in her life. The repeated use of the word "taught" emphasizes the teaching and mentorship aspect of their relationship. This suggests a dynamic more akin to a teacher-student bond rather than a traditional father-daughter one, underscoring the influential role her father played in shaping her values and principles.
Alice Walker may have drawn inspiration from her own father's death when writing this poem. She poured her emotions and experiences into the piece, delving into the theme of loss. The free verse structure mirrors the speaker's stream of consciousness. Despite being separated from her father by death, the speaker in "Poem at Thirty-Nine" continues to adapt and carry on with life. The use of a simile to compare her father to someone carefree, as seen in the line "he cooked like a person dancing," adds depth to the poem.
The poet uses enjambment to effectively maintain a trail of memories, creating an image of her father being more spontaneous just like her. The remembrance of her father once she had lost him was further inserted using this technique. Compared to her past, she has become more light hearted, "Seasoning none of my life the same way twice". This quote has revealed the persona to be spontaneous which contrasts with her father as she is shown to be more diverse compared to her father being tedious. This extract once again refers to cooking.
The lack of structure in the stanza mirrors the unpredictable nature of the protagonist, who was raised by her father in a way that made her more independent. The act of cooking could symbolize her ability to thrive without her father. Another poem, "Piano" by D. H Lawrence, also explores themes of nostalgia and reflection on childhood. The poet uses comparisons between feelings of "grieved" and "admire" to convey the persona's beliefs about how her father would have viewed her in the past and present.
The poem shows a change in attitude, starting off negative and ending on a positive note as the speaker transitions from expecting disappointment to looking forward to admiration from her father. Loss is a key theme that runs through the poem, with the daughter grieving the absence of her father. Overall, all three poems focus on the theme of loss and separation.
Remember, a mother in refugee camp, and Poem at thirty nine all explore the theme of loss in relationships. The poets demonstrate their quality of writing by portraying the grief that comes with losing a loved one. The poems showcase different perspectives on loss, from a mother losing her child to a daughter remembering her father who has passed away. Overall, the poems emphasize the inevitability of loss and separation in all relationships.
Themes of Loss and Separation in Remember, A Mother In A Refugee Camp, and Poem at. (2016, Sep 14). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/re-poetry-4-essay
👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!
Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.
get help with your assignment
