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Christina Rossetti

Christina Georgina Rossetti was born in London on December 5th, 1830. She was the fourth child of Gabriele and Frances Rossetti, who already had two sons and a daughter. Gabriele Rossetti had been exiled from Italy for his support of revolutionary nationalism and was now a professor of Italian and a Dante scholar at King’s College in London. His wife, born Frances Polidori, was the English-Italian daughter of John William Polidori, an author and Lord Byron's physician. Although Gabriele was a...

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Christina Rossetti Essays

11th Grade

Christina Rossetti: Poems

In a traditional Victorian society which was patriarchal, it was expected that women remained subservient and complaint at all times, obediently yielding to the inclinations of both men and the community around them. The women in Christina Rosetti...

11th Grade

Christina Rossetti: Poems

“Cousin Kate” follows the story of a former “cottage maiden” who was jilted by her lover, “a great lord” for her cousin, “Kate”. The poem presents the protagonist’s feelings and thoughts throughout the poem, congruently conveying her motives, and...

11th Grade

Christina Rossetti: Poems

Rossetti famously defied Victorian ideals by ending her engagement to James Collinson in 1850 on religious grounds, as she was a devout Tractarian and he had become a Roman Catholic. Her faith coloured every day of her life, even supposedly...

College

Christina Rossetti: Poems

Christina Rossetti's 1862 narrative poem “Goblin Market” uses allegories of whimsical and fairy tale-like writing style to represent female sexuality and how fulfilling sexual desire is natural. The poem uses references to nature to encourage the...

College

Christina Rossetti: Poems

In A.E. Housman’s “The Carpenter’s Son” and Christin Rossetti’s “Good Friday”, both authors write about the Passion of the Christ. The poem is written from Jesus’ point of view in “The Carpenter’s Son” and portrays Jesus’ regret and doubt. In “...

College

Christina Rossetti: Poems

Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market” and John Keats’ “La Belle Dame sans Merci” explore the power of women. “Goblin Market” preaches that women have the power to renew the lives of other women. Keats explores the way a woman’s seduction can...

College

In an Artist's Studio

Christina Rossetti’s “In an Artist’s Studio” describes the relationship between a male artist and his female muse. The poem takes the form of a Petrarchan sonnet, traditionally used by men to write about a glorified female love interest. In the...