“Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

“Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti first appeared in her 1874 collection titled Sing-Song: A Nursery Rhyme Book, a volume that became known for its lyrical charm and gentle exploration of nature and human emotion. This collection, primarily directed towards children, showcases Rossetti’s lyrical craftsmanship, with “Windflowers” standing out for its simplicity and vivid imagery. The poem’s main ideas revolve around themes of innocence, fleeting beauty, and the natural world, all evoked through Rossetti’s delicate wordplay and vivid descriptions of windflowers. The popularity of “Windflowers” and Rossetti’s other nursery rhymes lies in her ability to weave profound reflections on life and transience into verses accessible and enchanting to both young readers and adults, making her work beloved across generations.

Text: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

Annotations: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

Line	Annotation
“Twist me a crown of wind-flowers;”	The speaker requests a crown made of windflowers, symbolizing a desire for beauty, freedom, and connection to nature.
“That I may fly away”	The phrase “fly away” suggests a longing for escape, perhaps from earthly constraints or a desire for spiritual or emotional release.
“To hear the singers at their song,”	Implies a yearning to experience joy and harmony, possibly referring to the freedom and bliss in nature or otherworldly beings.
“And players at their play.”	The “players” might symbolize innocence or carefree life, further reinforcing the desire for a world free from burdens and sorrows.
“Put on your crown of wind-flowers:”	The directive to “put on” the crown may indicate an invitation to embrace nature’s simplicity and beauty, yet hints at fantasy.
“But whither would you go?”	This rhetorical question brings a pause, challenging the speaker’s desire for escapism and questioning its destination or purpose.
“Beyond the surging of the sea”	Represents the obstacles or barriers (the vast sea) separating the speaker from their idealized place or state of being.
“And the storms that blow.”	“Storms” signify life’s trials and unpredictable challenges, suggesting the difficulty of achieving the desired escape.
“Alas! your crown of wind-flowers”	The word “Alas!” introduces a tone of regret, acknowledging the limitations of the crown (a symbol of dreams and aspirations).
“Can never make you fly:”	A realization of the futility of escapism; despite beauty or dreams, they cannot defy reality or provide literal escape.
“I twist them in a crown to-day,”	The speaker acknowledges the ephemeral beauty of the windflowers, crafted into a crown but only temporary, symbolizing fleeting joys.
“And to-night they die.”	Emphasizes the transitory nature of beauty and life, reinforcing themes of mortality and the limitations of idealized fantasies.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

Literary Device	Example from “Windflowers”	Explanation
Allusion	“To hear the singers at their song”	This line may allude to celestial beings or otherworldly singers, suggesting an idealized, peaceful world beyond the mundane.
Ambiguity	“But whither would you go?”	The question “whither” implies ambiguity about the desired destination, leaving it open to interpretation as a place of escape, fantasy, or afterlife.
Anaphora	“And players at their play”	The repetition of “And” at the start of lines provides a rhythmic buildup, emphasizing different aspects of the imagined escape.
Antithesis	“to-day” / “to-night”	This contrast between “to-day” and “to-night” emphasizes the fleeting nature of life and beauty, reflecting the poem’s theme of impermanence.
Apostrophe	“Twist me a crown of wind-flowers”	The speaker addresses an imagined figure or listener, making a personal plea to fulfill their desire for a crown of windflowers.
Assonance	“fly away”	The repetition of the vowel sound “a” creates a sense of longing and smooth flow, enhancing the desire for escape.
Consonance	“storms that blow”	Repetition of the consonant sounds “s” and “t” mirrors the roughness of a storm, reinforcing the idea of life’s challenges.
Contrast	“to-day” / “to-night”; “fly” / “die”	Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas (life and death, day and night) highlights the themes of transience and the limits of fantasy.
Enjambment	“And players at their play. / Put on your crown”	The line break without punctuation allows for a continuous flow, reflecting the dreamlike, uninterrupted nature of the speaker’s longing.
Imagery	“crown of wind-flowers,” “surging of the sea”	Vivid sensory descriptions help paint a picture of nature, symbolizing beauty, freedom, and the wild forces of life.
Irony	“Alas! your crown of wind-flowers / Can never make you fly”	There’s an ironic tone as the beauty and delicacy of the crown cannot grant the escape the speaker desires, underscoring life’s limitations.
Metaphor	“crown of wind-flowers”	The crown symbolizes the beauty and impermanence of dreams and life itself, worn as a representation of desire and fantasy.
Personification	“the storms that blow”	Storms are given human-like characteristics as they “blow,” embodying the uncontrollable forces that challenge the speaker’s desire for escape.
Repetition	“wind-flowers”	Repetition of “wind-flowers” reinforces the theme of nature’s beauty and transience, underscoring the fleeting nature of both.
Rhetorical Question	“But whither would you go?”	The rhetorical question prompts reflection on the feasibility and purpose of escape, revealing the futility of the speaker’s desire.
Rhyme	“fly / die”	The end rhyme in the final lines emphasizes the contrast between aspirations (to fly) and reality (to die), reinforcing the theme of mortality.
Symbolism	“crown of wind-flowers”	The crown symbolizes ephemeral beauty and the fragile nature of dreams, representing the poet’s awareness of life’s impermanence.
Tone	“Alas!”	The exclamation “Alas!” establishes a tone of regret and wistfulness, capturing the speaker’s awareness of life’s and beauty’s limitations.
Understatement	“And to-night they die.”	The simple phrasing of this line downplays the end of beauty, subtly reinforcing the poem’s theme of life’s transience and the inevitable decay of dreams.

Themes: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

1. Desire for Escape and Transcendence: One of the central themes in “Windflowers” is the longing for escape from the mundane or restrictive aspects of life. The speaker expresses this desire by asking for a “crown of wind-flowers” to “fly away,” seeking a release to a more idealized world. This desire is intensified by the mention of “the singers at their song” and “players at their play,” evoking an image of harmony, joy, and freedom that contrasts with the limitations of earthly existence. The reference to flight, often symbolizing freedom or spiritual transcendence, indicates a yearning to break free from life’s constraints and experience something beyond the ordinary.
2. Beauty and Impermanence: Rossetti uses the windflowers as a symbol of nature’s transient beauty, emphasizing that even the loveliest aspects of life are short-lived. The crown of flowers, twisted and formed, represents an ephemeral beauty that, while captivating, is destined to fade. This theme culminates poignantly in the line, “And to-night they die,” highlighting the inevitability of decay and loss. Rossetti’s choice of windflowers, delicate and easily affected by the wind, reinforces the poem’s meditation on how beauty, like life itself, is precious yet fleeting.
3. Reality vs. Fantasy: The poem explores the tension between fantasy and reality, particularly the limits of escapism. The speaker imagines that the crown of windflowers might allow them to transcend their current existence, symbolizing the desire for fantasy as an escape. However, this hope is quickly challenged when it’s noted that the crown “can never make you fly.” This acknowledgment of reality intruding upon the speaker’s imagination underscores a sense of limitation, showing that while dreams and fantasies offer temporary solace, they cannot alter one’s tangible circumstances.
4. Mortality and Acceptance: A tone of acceptance of mortality and the inevitable end pervades the poem, particularly in the closing lines. The speaker twists the crown of windflowers “to-day” only to witness its demise “to-night,” a stark reminder of life’s brevity. This awareness reflects a sober acknowledgment of the natural cycle of life and death, as well as an acceptance that even the most beautiful creations cannot escape mortality. By accepting that “to-night they die,” the speaker acknowledges the transient nature of all things, embracing the inevitability of death and the ephemerality of beauty.

Literary Theories and “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

Literary Theory	Application to “Windflowers”	References from the Poem
Romanticism	Emphasizing the beauty of nature, individual longing, and introspective thought, Romanticism celebrates the natural world and emotional depth. In “Windflowers,” Rossetti explores the desire for escape, beauty, and harmony with nature. The crown of “wind-flowers” represents a connection to the natural world, highlighting nature’s fragile and transient beauty, typical of Romantic ideals.	“Twist me a crown of wind-flowers” and “Beyond the surging of the sea” convey the longing to merge with nature’s beauty and escape life’s limitations.
Existentialism	Existentialism explores the search for meaning in an indifferent world, and in “Windflowers,” the speaker’s confrontation with mortality and limitations reflects an existential realization. The poem’s acceptance of the transient nature of life and beauty, especially in the line “And to-night they die,” reflects a conscious acknowledgment of life’s brevity, questioning the search for escape and the constraints of human existence.	The lines “your crown of wind-flowers / Can never make you fly” and “And to-night they die” embody the existential struggle with freedom and mortality.
Feminist Theory	Examining gendered limitations, Feminist Theory can apply to Rossetti’s work, often focusing on constrained roles or yearnings for freedom. In “Windflowers,” the speaker’s desire for escape and the unattainable freedom of flight can reflect the poet’s exploration of limitations imposed on women. The longing for transcendence may signify a struggle against societal constraints and a search for personal autonomy.	“That I may fly away” and “Put on your crown of wind-flowers” may symbolize a yearning for freedom from restrictive roles or societal expectations.

Critical Questions about “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

• How does Rossetti use imagery to convey the theme of impermanence in “Windflowers”?
• Rossetti utilizes vivid and delicate imagery to convey impermanence, most notably through the “crown of wind-flowers.” The crown, made of fragile flowers susceptible to the slightest breeze, symbolizes the fleeting beauty of life. In the lines “I twist them in a crown to-day, / And to-night they die,” Rossetti underscores the rapid transition from life to death, portraying how beauty and existence are transient. By crafting this visual of flowers that bloom momentarily before they wither, Rossetti effectively uses imagery to reflect the inevitability of life’s end, encouraging readers to ponder the delicate, passing nature of both beauty and life.
• What role does the desire for escapism play in the poem, and how does it reflect the speaker’s inner conflict?
• The desire for escapism is central to the speaker’s inner conflict, reflecting a yearning to transcend the limitations of reality. The plea to “twist me a crown of wind-flowers; / That I may fly away” illustrates a wish to break free from earthly constraints and enter a world of harmony and peace. However, the speaker’s longing is met with a stark reminder of reality: “your crown of wind-flowers / Can never make you fly.” This conflict between fantasy and reality reveals the speaker’s struggle with the limitations of escapism, as their dreams are ultimately confronted by the inescapable truth of mortality and the impossibility of true freedom from life’s trials.
• How does the poem address the theme of mortality, and what is its significance within the poem?
• Mortality is a significant theme in “Windflowers,” permeating the poem with a somber acceptance of life’s transience. The final lines, “And to-night they die,” serve as a stark reminder that everything beautiful, like the windflowers, must eventually fade. Rossetti’s depiction of the fleeting lifespan of the flowers serves as a metaphor for human life, drawing attention to the inevitability of death. The acceptance of mortality in the poem resonates with a tone of quiet resignation, as the speaker acknowledges the limits of both life and beauty, underscoring the inevitability that all things, no matter how precious, must come to an end.
• What is the significance of the rhetorical question, “But whither would you go?” in the poem?
• The rhetorical question, “But whither would you go?” acts as a pivotal moment that challenges the speaker’s desire for escape, prompting reflection on the feasibility and purpose of such longing. This question introduces an introspective pause in the narrative, suggesting that the speaker must confront the practicality and meaning of their desire. By asking where one would go if escape were possible, Rossetti invites readers to consider whether any destination or fantasy can truly satisfy the speaker’s yearning. This question not only underscores the limits of escapism but also suggests that the speaker’s idealized visions may be unattainable, hinting at a sense of disillusionment with dreams that cannot fulfill life’s deeper existential needs.

Literary Works Similar to “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

1. “To Daffodils” by Robert Herrick
   Like “Windflowers,” this poem reflects on the fleeting nature of beauty and life, using flowers as a metaphor for mortality.
2. “Ode to the West Wind” by Percy Bysshe Shelley
   Shelley’s poem shares a longing for escape and transcendence, as well as the use of natural imagery to explore themes of freedom and limitation.
3. “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost
   Frost’s work resonates with Rossetti’s theme of impermanence, illustrating how beautiful moments are temporary and inevitably give way to change.
4. “The Garden” by Andrew Marvell
   This poem explores the allure and ephemeral beauty of nature, similar to Rossetti’s reflections on the natural world’s transience and spiritual connection.
5. “Song” by John Keats (also known as “In a Drear-Nighted December”)
   Keats’s poem examines how beauty and youth fade, mirroring Rossetti’s contemplation of life’s brevity and the desire to preserve fleeting moments.

Representative Quotations of “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Twist me a crown of wind-flowers;”	The speaker requests a crown made of delicate flowers, symbolizing beauty and a desire for escape.	Romanticism: Emphasis on nature and beauty as an escape.
“That I may fly away”	Expresses a wish to transcend earthly bounds, reflecting a longing for freedom.	Existentialism: Desire to break free from limitations and find meaning.
“To hear the singers at their song”	The speaker yearns to experience harmony and joy beyond daily life.	Transcendentalism: Seeking spiritual elevation through nature.
“And players at their play.”	Suggests an idealized vision of carefree existence, contrasting with reality.	Escapism: The longing for an idyllic, liberated world.
“Put on your crown of wind-flowers”	Reinforces the symbolism of nature and its fragile beauty as something to be adorned yet transitory.	Symbolism: The crown as a symbol of ephemeral beauty.
“But whither would you go?”	A rhetorical question that challenges the speaker’s desire to escape, highlighting introspection.	Psychoanalysis: Examines internal conflicts and self-reflection.
“Beyond the surging of the sea”	Describes a place beyond life’s barriers, representing an idealized escape from trials.	Romanticism: Emphasis on nature as a place of solace and freedom.
“And the storms that blow.”	Suggests life’s inevitable struggles that cannot be avoided, grounding the speaker’s fantasy in reality.	Realism: Acknowledgment of life’s challenges, tempering idealism.
“Alas! your crown of wind-flowers”	“Alas!” conveys regret, as the speaker realizes the limitations of their desires.	Existentialism: Acknowledging the constraints of reality on personal dreams.
“And to-night they die.”	Concludes with a poignant reminder of mortality and the transience of beauty.	Mortality and Impermanence: Acceptance of life’s natural cycle.

Suggested Readings: “Windflowers” by Christina Rossetti

1. Choi, Sara. “Christina Rossetti’s Dialogical Devotion.” Christianity and Literature, vol. 53, no. 4, 2004, pp. 481–94. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/44313349. Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.
2. Wiesenthal, Christine. “Regarding Christina Rossetti’s “Reflection.”Victorian Poetry, vol. 39, no. 3, 2001, pp. 389–406. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40002252Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.
3. C. The Musical Times, vol. 65, no. 974, 1924, pp. 343–44. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/912474. Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.
4. “New Music.” The Musical Times, vol. 65, no. 974, 1924, pp. 335–43. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/912472. Accessed 26 Oct. 2024.