“When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

“When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti was first published in 1862 in her collection Goblin Market and Other Poems. The poem is notable for its simplicity of language and form, using common meter and ABCB rhyme scheme. It addresses themes of mortality, remembrance, and the acceptance of death with a calm and stoic tone. The speaker requests no mourning or elaborate memorials, instead desiring a natural burial and the freedom for the living to remember or forget as they wish. The poem’s emotional power lies in its understated approach and the poignant message of love that transcends death.

Text: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Annotations: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Line Number	Annotation
1	The speaker acknowledges their mortality and addresses their beloved.
2	Requests the beloved not to mourn their passing with sad songs.
3	Asks not to have traditional symbols of mourning, like roses or cypress.
4	Suggests the presence of natural elements instead of man-made symbols.
5	Desires to be surrounded by simple, natural beauty, represented by green grass.
6	Describes the grass being moistened by rain, symbolizing life’s continuation.
7	Offers the option for the beloved to remember or forget the speaker.
8	Reiterates the previous line, emphasizing the freedom of choice.
9	Expresses the speaker’s detachment from worldly sensations after death.
10	Emphasizes the speaker’s separation from earthly experiences.
11	Highlights the speaker’s inability to perceive nature’s sounds after death.
12	References the nightingale’s song, often associated with melancholy.
13	Conveys the speaker’s state of being detached from earthly suffering.
14	Implies a sense of detachment from time and its passing.
15	Reflects on the possibility of retaining memories after death.
16	Suggests the possibility of forgetting, even in the afterlife.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Device	Example	Explanation
Alliteration	“Sing no sad songs”	Repetition of initial consonant sounds for musical effect
Anaphora	“And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget”	Repetition of a phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Apostrophe	“When I am dead, my dearest”	Addressing a person or entity not present
Assonance	“Be the green grass above me”	Repetition of vowel sounds for musical effect
Enjambment	“I shall not see the shadows, / I shall not feel the rain”	Carrying a sentence or phrase over to the next line without punctuation
Hyperbole	“Sing no sad songs for me”	Exaggeration for emphasis
Imagery	“Plant thou no roses at my head, / Nor shady cypress tree”	Vivid description to create mental images
Irony	“Sing no sad songs for me”	Saying the opposite of what is meant
Metaphor	“The green grass above me”	Comparing two things without “like” or “as”
Meter	Entire poem	Pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables for musical effect
Personification	“The nightingale / Sing on, as if in pain”	Attributing human qualities to non-human entities
Repetition	“And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget”	Repeating words or phrases for emphasis
Rhyme	“me” and “tree”	Identical sounds in words at the end of lines
Simile	“Sing on, as if in pain”	Comparing two things using “like” or “as”
Symbolism	“Roses”, “Cypress tree”	Using objects to represent abstract ideas
Synecdoche	“The green grass above me”	Using a part to represent the whole
Tone	Entire poem	Author’s attitude or feeling conveyed through language
Understatement	“Sing no sad songs for me”	Saying less than what is meant
Personification	“Dreaming through the twilight”	Attributing human qualities to non-human entities
Imagery	“With showers and dewdrops wet”	Vivid description to create mental images

Themes: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

1. Acceptance of Mortality and Transience: The poem reflects on the inevitability of death and the transient nature of life. The speaker acknowledges their own mortality and expresses acceptance of the natural cycle of life and death. Lines such as “When I am dead, my dearest” and “I shall not see the shadows” illustrate the speaker’s awareness of their impending death and their understanding that they will no longer experience the world as they do now. This theme highlights the fleetingness of life and the need to come to terms with the reality of mortality.
2. Freedom of Choice and Memory: Another theme present in the poem is the freedom to remember or forget. The speaker empowers their beloved with the choice of whether to remember or forget them after death, as seen in the lines “And if thou wilt, remember, And if thou wilt, forget.” This theme explores the idea that memory can be both a source of comfort and pain, and emphasizes the importance of autonomy in how individuals choose to remember or let go of the past.
3. Connection to Nature and the Eternal: Throughout the poem, there is a strong connection to nature as a symbol of continuity and eternity. The speaker expresses a desire to be surrounded by natural elements such as grass, rain, and twilight, even after death. This connection to nature suggests a belief in the eternal cycle of life, where the speaker becomes part of the natural world. For instance, the lines “Be the green grass above me” and “dreaming through the twilight” evoke imagery of the speaker merging with the elements of nature, emphasizing a sense of continuity beyond death.
4. Detachment from Earthly Suffering: The poem also explores the theme of detachment from earthly sensations and suffering after death. The speaker describes a state of being where they will no longer feel pain or sorrow, symbolized by their inability to perceive sounds like the nightingale’s song or feel the rain. This theme suggests a sense of peace and liberation from the hardships of life, as seen in lines such as “I shall not feel the rain” and “Haply I may remember, And haply may forget.” It reflects a desire for transcendence beyond earthly suffering and a yearning for a tranquil existence in the afterlife.

Literary Theories and “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Literary Theory	Reference from the Poem	Critique
Feminist Criticism	“Haply I may remember, / And haply may forget.”	This line can be interpreted as a subtle critique of societal expectations placed on women to mourn and remember. The speaker asserts her agency to choose how she will be remembered, challenging the idea that her memory is solely for others to uphold.
New Criticism	“Plant thou no roses at my head, / Nor shady cypress tree:”	The poem’s focus on simplicity and rejection of traditional mourning symbols emphasizes the speaker’s desire for a natural, unadorned remembrance. This aligns with New Criticism’s emphasis on close reading and the text’s inherent meaning, rather than relying on external biographical or historical context.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	“I shall not see the shadows, / I shall not feel the rain;”	This could be interpreted as a representation of the speaker’s unconscious desire for a release from the burdens of life and sensory experiences. The poem’s focus on death can be seen as a manifestation of the death drive, a concept in psychoanalytic theory that suggests an inherent human desire for a return to a state of rest.

Critical Questions about “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

• Question 1: What is the speaker’s attitude towards death, and how is it conveyed through language and imagery?
• The speaker’s attitude towards death is one of acceptance and resignation, conveyed through the use of gentle and soothing language. The lines “When I am dead, my dearest, / Sing no sad songs for me” (1-2) set the tone for a calm and peaceful farewell. The imagery of “green grass above me / With showers and dewdrops wet” (5-6) creates a serene and natural atmosphere, suggesting a return to the earth without fuss or mourning. The speaker’s acceptance of death is further emphasized by the repetition of “And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget” (7-8), implying a willingness to let go of earthly attachments.
• Question 2: How does the speaker’s use of nature imagery reflect their emotional state and relationship with the beloved?
• The speaker’s use of nature imagery reflects a sense of tranquility and detachment, while also conveying a deep connection with the beloved. The “roses” and “shady cypress tree” (3-4) symbolize love and mourning, but the speaker asks that they not be planted, suggesting a desire to move beyond earthly attachments. The “green grass” and “showers and dewdrops” (5-6) create a sense of natural cycles and renewal, mirroring the speaker’s acceptance of death. The “nightingale” that “Sing[s] on, as if in pain” (11-12) may represent the beloved’s grief, but the speaker’s detachment from this pain suggests a sense of emotional distance.
• Question 3: What role does memory play in the speaker’s conception of death and the afterlife?
• Memory plays a complex role in the speaker’s conception of death and the afterlife. The speaker seems to prioritize forgetting over remembering, repeating “And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget” (7-8). This ambivalence towards memory may suggest a desire to release the beloved from grief and attachment. The lines “Haply I may remember, / And haply may forget” (15-16) further emphasize the speaker’s uncertainty and acceptance of the unknown. The speaker’s focus on the present moment and the natural world, rather than memories of the past, reinforces this acceptance.
• Question 4: How does the poem’s structure and use of repetition contribute to its themes and emotional impact?
• The poem’s structure and use of repetition contribute to its themes of acceptance, detachment, and the cyclical nature of life and death. The four-stanza structure, with each stanza consisting of four lines, creates a sense of balance and stability. The repetition of “And if thou wilt, remember, / And if thou wilt, forget” (7-8) and “Haply I may remember, / And haply may forget” (15-16) emphasizes the speaker’s ambivalence towards memory and attachment. The repetition also creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, mirroring the natural cycles and renewal imagery throughout the poem. This repetition and structure reinforce the speaker’s acceptance of death and the unknown, creating a sense of calm and resolution.

Topics, Questions and Thesis Statement about “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Topic	Questions	Thesis Statement
Mortality and Transience	1. How does the poem explore the theme of mortality? 2. What imagery does Rossetti use to convey the transient nature of life?	“When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti reflects on the inevitability of death and the fleetingness of life through imagery and themes of transience.
Nature and Eternity	1. How does the speaker’s connection to nature influence the poem? 2. What symbols of nature are present in the poem and what do they represent?	The poem emphasizes a strong connection to nature as a symbol of continuity and eternity, highlighting the speaker’s desire for a natural, eternal remembrance.
Memory and Legacy	1. What role does memory play in the poem? 2. How does the speaker address their legacy after death?	Through the exploration of memory and legacy, Rossetti’s poem explores the speaker’s agency in choosing how they will be remembered, challenging societal expectations and emphasizing personal autonomy.
Detachment and Peace	1. How does the speaker express detachment from earthly sensations? 2. What does the poem suggest about finding peace after death?	“When I am Dead, My Dearest” portrays a sense of detachment from earthly suffering and a yearning for peace and tranquility in the afterlife, reflecting on the speaker’s acceptance of mortality and longing for release.

Literary Works Similar to “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

1. “Song” by John Donne: This poem also contemplates death and the afterlife, expressing a desire for the speaker to be forgotten and for the world to move on without them.
2. “Remember” by Christina Rossetti: Another poem by Rossetti that explores the themes of memory and remembrance, albeit with a different perspective than “When I am Dead, My Dearest.”
3. “Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye: This contemporary poem offers a comforting perspective on death, suggesting that the deceased are not gone but rather part of the natural world.
4. “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson: This poem personifies Death as a gentle coachman, offering a unique and contemplative view of the journey towards death.
5. “Dirge” by William Shakespeare: A lament for the dead, this poem explores themes of grief and loss, but also acceptance of the natural cycle of life and death.

Suggested Readings: “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

• Books
• Crump, R.W., ed. The Complete Poems of Christina Rossetti: A Variorum Edition. 3 vols. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1979-1990.
• Harrison, Antony H. Christina Rossetti in Context. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1988.
• Articles:
• McGann, Jerome J. “Christina Rossetti’s Poems: A New Edition and a Revaluation.” Victorian Studies 23.2 (1980): 237-254.
• Web Links:
• Poetry Foundation: Christina Rossetti: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/christina-rossetti
• The Victorian Web: Christina Rossetti: https://victorianweb.org/authors/crossetti/

Representative Quotations from “When I am Dead, My Dearest” by Christina Rossetti

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“When I am dead, my dearest, / Sing no sad songs for me;”	The speaker instructs the beloved on how to behave after her death	Acceptance and Resignation: The speaker accepts death and does not want any sentimental fuss over her passing
“Plant thou no roses at my head, / Nor shady cypress tree;”	The speaker does not want any symbols of mourning or remembrance at her grave	Detachment: The speaker wants to be forgotten and does not want any reminders of her existence
“I shall not see the shadows, / I shall not feel the rain;”	The speaker believes that death will cut her off from all worldly experiences	Disbelief in the Afterlife: The speaker does not believe in an afterlife and sees death as the end of all experiences
“Haply I may remember, / And haply may forget;”	The speaker is unsure if she will remember her beloved in the afterlife	Uncertainty and Ambivalence: The speaker is unsure about the afterlife and her feelings towards her beloved
“Be the green grass above me / With showers and dewdrops wet;”	The speaker wants a natural and peaceful burial	Nature Imagery: The speaker uses nature imagery to convey a sense of peace and tranquility