Christina Rossetti (1830–1894) was an English poet, writer, and a key figure in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, a group of artists and writers in the mid-19th century who aimed to revive the spirit and techniques of early Italian Renaissance art. She is best known for her romantic and devotional poetry. Here are some key points about Christina Rossetti:
1. Early Life: Christina Georgina Rossetti was born on December 5, 1830, in London, England. She was the youngest of four siblings. Her father, Gabriele Rossetti, was an Italian poet and political exile, and her mother, Frances Polidori, was of Italian and English descent.
2. Literary Family: Christina came from a highly artistic and literary family. Her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti was a poet and painter, and her other brother, William Michael Rossetti, was a critic and editor. The family was deeply involved in the artistic and literary circles of Victorian England.
3. Early Writing: Christina began writing poetry in her teenage years. Her first poems were published when she was just 17 in "The Germ," a periodical associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
4. Religious Themes: Much of Rossetti's poetry is characterized by its religious themes, reflecting her devout Anglican faith. Her work often explores themes of salvation, love, and death.
5. Goblin Market: One of Rossetti's most famous works is the narrative poem "Goblin Market" (1862), which tells the story of two sisters tempted by goblin merchants selling enchanted fruit. The poem is often analyzed for its complex symbolism and themes of temptation and redemption.
6. Devotional Poetry: Rossetti's devotional poetry, including works like "In the Bleak Midwinter" and "Uphill," reflects her deep spiritual convictions. These poems are known for their simplicity, yet profound exploration of faith.
7. Illness and Death: Rossetti's health began to decline in the 1870s, likely due to Graves' disease. She lived a reclusive life in her later years and died on December 29, 1894, in London.
8. Legacy: Christina Rossetti's poetry gained renewed interest in the 20th century, and she is now recognized as one of the leading Victorian poets. Her work has influenced subsequent generations of poets and writers.
Christina Rossetti's poetry is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, rich symbolism, and exploration of spiritual and emotional themes. She remains an important figure in the history of Victorian literature and the Pre-Raphaelite movement.
1. "Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."
2. "Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land."
3. "Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign."
4. "When I am dead, my dearest, sing no sad songs for me."
5. "Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun."
6. "There is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands."
7. "What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow. What are brief? Today and tomorrow. What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth. What are deep? The ocean and truth."
8. "Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."
9. "A sonnet is a moment's monument."
10. "To-day’s most fain would shrink to morrow's dawn."
11. "Better a miserable excuse for a man than no excuse at all."
12. "Love, which is quickly kindled in the gentle heart, seized this man for the fair form that was taken from me, the lovely limbs, the smiling mouth."
13. "Good-night; ensured release, imperishable peace, have these for yours."
14. "The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank."
15. "When love and shall are one, changeful is true love never."
16. "Give me the lowest place: not that I dare ask for that lowest place, but, oh, the lowest place is sure to be most like the heavenly grace."
17. "Silence is more musical than any song."
18. "The heart was made to be broken."
19. "For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather."
20. "Obedience is the fruit of faith."
21. "How many desolate creatures on the earth have learnt the simple dues of fellowship and social comfort, in a hospital."
22. "Can death be sleep, when life is but a dream, and scenes of bliss pass as a phantom by?"
23. "For life, with all it yields of joy and woe, And hope and fear (believe the aged friend), Is just our chance o' the prize of learning love."
24. "The grave itself is but a covered bridge, Leading from light to light, through a brief darkness!"
25. "But he who dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose."
26. "Men and boys, and even women, for the most part, are not capable of taking in the idea of a world outside of theirs."
27. "The heart was made for love, and that is why it is so fragile."
28. "I wish that when you come the time were now."
29. "Make me a child again just for tonight."
30. "The blessed damozel leaned out from the gold bar of Heaven; her eyes knew more of rest and shade than waters still with sleep."
31. "For one man is my world of all the men This wide world holds."
32. "Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."
33. "None other Lamb, none other Name, None other hope in Heav'n or Earth or Sea, None other hiding place from guilt and shame, None beside Thee."
34. "In heaven we shall appear, not in armour, but in robes of glory. But here these are to be worn night and day; we must walk, work, and sleep in them, or else we are not true soldiers of Christ."
35. "Underneath the vermeil may he see the missed Madonna of the eyes."
36. "The key of heaven is not in my hand."
37. "Who can say how hard it is to grow? The young sapling standing stiffly upright in the ground."
38. "God is always wise, and in a thousand ways He can make up for our losses."
39. "We must keep on doing our little best in fear and trembling."
40. "But for today, well may we taste our pleasure and make the most of one good hour."
41. "All that the world will tell me is a dream."
42. "The most sad and tender of your nights."
43. "Now the day is over, Night is drawing nigh, Shadows of the evening Steal across the sky."
44. "I have but one thing to say to you: be not afraid of life."
45. "I would above all things wish you to have health, without which I account all else to be as nothing."
46. "Her hair that lay along her back Was yellow like ripe corn."
47. "I dream of you; I dream of a world of sunlight."
48. "It is no task to live, it is a joy; it is no task to die, it is a joy. Life in itself is no bliss, neither is death; both are made blissful by the love of God."
49. "Yet surely to almighty mercy's plan, though wisdom fail us, love can reach."
50. "The object of our life is change."
Christina Rossetti's poetry often explores themes of love, both romantic and divine. Here are some love-related quotes from her works:
1. "Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign."
2. "Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land."
3. "Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."
4. "When I am dead, my dearest, sing no sad songs for me."
5. "The heart was made for love."
6. "Love, which is quickly kindled in the gentle heart, seized this man for the fair form that was taken from me, the lovely limbs, the smiling mouth."
7. "Love shall fill the world as the waters fill the sea."
8. "The key of heaven is not in my hand."
9. "True love, well tried, is a pearl pure and untarnished."
10. "One face looks out from all his canvases, One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans; We found her hidden just behind those screens, That mirror gave back all her loveliness."
11. "Make me a child again just for tonight."
12. "In heaven we shall appear, not in armor, but in robes of glory."
13. "But he who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose."
14. "Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun."
15. "For life, with all it yields of joy and woe, And hope and fear (believe the aged friend), Is just our chance o' the prize of learning love."
These quotes reflect the various facets of love as depicted in Christina Rossetti's poetry, encompassing romantic love, divine love, and the enduring nature of true love.
While Christina Rossetti was a well-regarded poet, criticism of her work has been diverse, covering a range of perspectives and interpretations. Critics have explored themes, stylistic elements, and Rossetti's contribution to Victorian literature. Here are a few quotes from critics discussing Christina Rossetti and her poetry:
1. "Christina Rossetti's poetry, with its quiet lyricism, its controlled fervor, and its rendering of spiritual experience in terms of the physical, is one of the most lasting achievements of nineteenth-century literature." - Angela Leighton
2. "Christina Rossetti’s work is both deeply Romantic and proto-modernist; its engagement with faith, melancholy, and eroticism is complex and unresolved." - Sarah Parker
3. "Rossetti’s poetry has the power to touch the human soul with its emotional depth, spiritual insight, and rich symbolism." - Jerome McGann
4. "Rossetti’s work is characterized by her deep religious convictions, her intense emotionalism, and her ability to transform everyday experiences into profound, symbolic expressions." - Dinah Roe
5. "Her poetry navigates the interplay between spiritual and earthly love, exploring themes of salvation, temptation, and the transient nature of life." - Frances Thomas
6. "Rossetti’s unique voice and style have left an indelible mark on Victorian poetry, showcasing a blend of beauty, melancholy, and profound introspection." - Virginia Woolf
7. "Her verses often possess a simplicity that belies their profound spiritual and emotional impact, making them accessible yet richly nuanced." - Simon Avery
8. "Christina Rossetti's poetry reflects the tension between the secular and the divine, combining sensuousness with a deep spiritual awareness." - Jerome Beaty
9. "Rossetti's contribution to the poetic tradition lies in her ability to convey the spiritual and the material with equal intensity, blurring the boundaries between them." - Susan Coolidge
10. "Her exploration of themes such as death, love, and religious devotion showcases a keen understanding of the human condition and a mastery of poetic craft." - Isobel Armstrong
These quotes provide a glimpse into how critics have evaluated Christina Rossetti's work, recognizing her unique blend of Romantic and spiritual elements, her emotional depth, and the lasting impact of her poetry on Victorian literature.
Christina Rossetti's poetry is known for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and spiritual themes. Here are some quotes from her poems:
1. "I wish that when you come the time were now."
2. "Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land."
3. "Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign."
4. "Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."
5. "When I am dead, my dearest, sing no sad songs for me."
6. "Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."
7. "Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun."
8. "What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow. What are brief? Today and tomorrow. What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth. What are deep? The ocean and truth."
9. "There is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands."
10. "A sonnet is a moment's monument."
11. "For one man is my world of all the men This wide world holds."
12. "The blessed damozel leaned out from the gold bar of Heaven; her eyes knew more of rest and shade than waters still with sleep."
13. "Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."
14. "None other Lamb, none other Name, None other hope in Heav'n or Earth or Sea, None other hiding place from guilt and shame, None beside Thee."
15. "The grave itself is but a covered bridge, Leading from light to light, through a brief darkness!"
16. "Make me a child again just for tonight."
17. "The most sad and tender of your nights."
18. "I have but one thing to say to you: be not afraid of life."
19. "The key of heaven is not in my hand."
20. "The heart was made for love."
21. "When love and shall are one, changeful is true love never."
22. "One face looks out from all his canvases, One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans; We found her hidden just behind those screens, That mirror gave back all her loveliness."
23. "But he who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose."
24. "Silence is more musical than any song."
25. "But for today, well may we taste our pleasure and make the most of one good hour."
These quotes capture the essence of Christina Rossetti's poetic themes, ranging from love and beauty to sorrow and hope, reflecting her profound exploration of the human experience.
Christina Rossetti's quotes often reflect her deep insights into life, love, and spirituality. Here are some famous quotes attributed to Christina Rossetti:
1. "Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad."
2. "Remember me when I am gone away, gone far away into the silent land."
3. "Love came down at Christmas; Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Stars and angels gave the sign."
4. "When I am dead, my dearest, sing no sad songs for me."
5. "Can anything be sadder than work left unfinished? Yes; work never begun."
6. "What are heavy? Sea-sand and sorrow. What are brief? Today and tomorrow. What are frail? Spring blossoms and youth. What are deep? The ocean and truth."
7. "There is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather; To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands."
8. "A sonnet is a moment's monument."
9. "For one man is my world of all the men This wide world holds."
10. "The blessed damozel leaned out from the gold bar of Heaven; her eyes knew more of rest and shade than waters still with sleep."
11. "Hope is like a harebell trembling from its birth."
12. "None other Lamb, none other Name, None other hope in Heav'n or Earth or Sea, None other hiding place from guilt and shame, None beside Thee."
13. "The grave itself is but a covered bridge, Leading from light to light, through a brief darkness!"
14. "Make me a child again just for tonight."
15. "The most sad and tender of your nights."
16. "I have but one thing to say to you: be not afraid of life."
17. "The key of heaven is not in my hand."
18. "The heart was made for love."
19. "When love and shall are one, changeful is true love never."
20. "One face looks out from all his canvases, One selfsame figure sits or walks or leans; We found her hidden just behind those screens, That mirror gave back all her loveliness."
These quotes showcase Christina Rossetti's ability to capture profound emotions and thoughts with eloquence, making her one of the celebrated poets of the Victorian era.
