Up-hill and Looking Back and Afterwards
The poems I am going to analyse and compare are 'Remember', 'Up-hill'
and 'Looking Back' by Christina Rossetti and 'Afterwards' by Thomas
Hardy. These poems reflect on the theme of loss and how it affects the
poets when they reflect on it. The poems also show the poets'
preoccupation of death. In these poems, the poets approach the theme
of death using various different techniques and linguistic devices.
Christina Rossetti is a passionate and powerful poet; the majority of
her poetry has contained the themes of either love or death, and in
many cases both. Even in the poems which she wrote for children, these
themes are prominent. Hardy too was very close to nature. In his poem
there are vivid descriptions of objects and the element of nature is
almost always present.
The titles of these poems all give a hint about what the poem is
about. 'Remember' tells us that the poet wants to be remembered for
something. Often one is remembered after her death because the pain of
loss keeps bringing back her memories. In the poem Rossetti does ask
her lover to remember her and demands that he should "Only remember
me". 'Up-hill' tells us that that the poet is probably going on a
journey. This journey is the journey of life, which Rossetti is
inquiring about in her poem. 'Looking back' shows us that the poet is
reflecting on something. Again, one always 'looks back' on life when
he is near his death to see what he has done and evaluate his life.
'Afterwards' is also a title which could refer to the theme of death.
Hardy wants to know what will happen 'afterwards' when he is dead. He
wants to be remembered not for his fame but for his closeness to
nature and for the person ...
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...ill' on the other hand shows
how heaven will be - a place of comfort after a journey which "take
the whole long day". 'Looking Back' is meant to convey that death is a
time of evaluation of one's life. One should look back "along life's
trodden way" and meditate on the mistakes and hardships of life. In
'Afterwards' Hardy says that death is a time of evaluation from others
and that you should be remembered for what you are and not because you
are famous or have achieved something. He also hopes that he will be
remembered for his familiarity with nature and how he "could do
little" for it even though he tried.
I feel that all the poems effectively convey the theme of loss. All
poems have a different approach but the basic idea is clear: death is
inevitable. However, the poets have different views on death and its
effect on them and those close to them.
of the dangerous plans that are being designed to take his life this day. Mid-morning arrives and
The ‘Wave Hill Walk Off’ proved an establishment to the liberation of Aboriginal people from the struggles for rights and freedom. The effectiveness of this movement is judged upon the influence on rights and freedom, function of the actions taken, and the outcomes of events within this movement. Through their actions, the Gurindji showed the vitality of Aboriginal desire to achieve a practice that respected their identity, traditions and rights to their traditional lands.
Both Saturday Climbing and mirror image are stories of dealing with changes in life. In Saturday Climbing an overprotective father struggles to let her daughter make decisions for herself as she grows up and in Mirror Image a teenage girl with a recent brain transplant surgery struggles with sudden change in identity. The protagonists have different kinds of attitudes about change: in The two stories have similarities and differences between how the protagonists approach these differences.
is here to see him this might be a secret message by J.B Priestly (the
In “Up the Coulee,” Hamlin Garland depicts what occurs when Howard McLane is away for an extended period of time and begins to neglect his family. Howard’s family members are offended by the negligence. Although his neglect causes his brother, Grant McLane, to resent him, Garland shows that part of having a family is being able to put aside negative feelings in order to resolve problems with relatives. Garland demonstrates how years apart can affect family relationships, causing neglect, resentment, and eventually, reconciliation.
time truly, his heart is in pain. The conciousness of his sin starts to weigh down upon him.
successful, or rich, or famous, or healthy he is; he will die. There is nothing externally that is
call Tobair Vree he asks, “do we keep piety with a man long dead, long
as he dies he says "Look for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave
I have chosen to study the poems Uphill and Remember. Uphill is based on the theme of afterlife. Rossetti was always known to have a strong belief in the afterlife, I have chosen to study the poems 'Uphill' and 'Remember'. Uphill is based on the theme of afterlife. Rossetti was always known to have a strong belief in the afterlife, and symbolises this in 'Uphill'.
going to his safe to put back the tape that the devil must have left
...ters closest to his heart and guide his family, what's left of it, and give it some direction to go in. He has slept away the past twenty years of his life, and more than likely-in a sense, slept through many years before he ever climbed the mountain. It is time to wake up and deal with the issues at hand and correct any mistakes or act upon any awakenings he may have had involving his regrets in life.
Death is clearly seen as God’s messenger, sent to bring conviction to Everyman and summon the protagonist to account for his life. He is subordinate to the will of God, and like all messengers in Scripture, seeks only to do the will of God. The indisputable presence of Death creates the first conflict for Everyman. There seems to be mixed emotions among people about whether they would want to know the precise date and time of their demise. Some might want to know how they would die. What is almost certain is that no ...
wondering if today he will die up a chimney. It has robbed him of a