When was cousin Kate poem written?
1862Christina Rossetti published “Cousin Kate” in 1862, during Britain's Victorian era—a period in which when gender biases created starkly different social expectations for men and women.
What is the poem cousin Kate about?
In her poem 'Cousin Kate', Rossetti comments on the unfair societial expectations of women when it comes to sex and gender, by compariison to those men were subjected to during the Victorian Era.
What type of poem is cousin Kate?
The poem is a dramatic monologue, directly addressed to the eponymous Cousin Kate, who is called “you” throughout, although she is clearly not present.
What form is cousin Kate written in?
Cousin Kate is written in the form of 3 and 4 foot iambic trimeters and tetrameters. This allows the poem to be read at speed and enables a more pronounced rhythm to develop that would be impossible in a poem consisting of longer lines.
What is a cottage maiden?
Coursework. Cousin Kate. In the poem "Cousin Kate" Christina Rossetti describes a cottage maiden who worked on a farm and was happy with her friends and she loved her job. The lord liked the girl and thought she was pretty, so he lured her into his home and seduced her.
What is the message of half caste?
Half-Caste and other poems (2005) The collection explores multiple race issues faced by black and mixed race people living in the United Kingdom. The poem is a reflection of the feelings evoked in Agard as a result of being labelled “half-caste” upon moving to the UK.
What Were They Like context?
The poem, What Were They Like?, is about the aftereffects of war, and what happens when one culture conflicts with another culture. The poem specifically protests about the damage done by the American military to the people of Vietnam during the war between the two nations in the 1960's and 1970's.
What is the context of exposure?
Context. This poem was written during World War I. It depicts the horrific conditions of war. Owen wanted to show the reality of war in contrast to the propaganda that was being feed to the British nation at home.
Who is Catrin in the poem?
"Catrin" is a poem written by Welsh poet Gillian Clarke about her daughter, Catrin, growing up, and "the tight red rope of love", the strong bond between them that can never be broken. It describes the loving relationship between the mother and daughter and the various conflicts they may face within that relationship.
When was the poem What were they like written?
1967Denise Levertov, an English-born American poet, published "What Were They Like" as part of her 1967 collection The Sorrow Dance. The poem was written in protest of American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Who is Maude Clare?
"Maude Clare" tells the story of an aristocrat named Lord Thomas who chooses to marry the wholesome Nell, a seemingly ideal Victorian bride, over the bold Maude Clare, whose reputation has been ruined as a result of her previous romance with Lord Thomas.
What does steeled the softening of my face mean?
The woman is absorbed in her thoughts about her son. Caesura is also used, this time to show the woman's attempts to hold in her emotions in front of her son, most memorably at 'steeled the softening of my face'. The poem relates the experience of her son leaving in a chronological fashion.
Who is Catrin in the poem?
"Catrin" is a poem written by Welsh poet Gillian Clarke about her daughter, Catrin, growing up, and "the tight red rope of love", the strong bond between them that can never be broken. It describes the loving relationship between the mother and daughter and the various conflicts they may face within that relationship.
When was the poem What were they like written?
1967Denise Levertov, an English-born American poet, published "What Were They Like" as part of her 1967 collection The Sorrow Dance. The poem was written in protest of American involvement in the Vietnam War.
What does steeled the softening of my face mean?
The woman is absorbed in her thoughts about her son. Caesura is also used, this time to show the woman's attempts to hold in her emotions in front of her son, most memorably at 'steeled the softening of my face'. The poem relates the experience of her son leaving in a chronological fashion.
Who is Maude Clare?
"Maude Clare" tells the story of an aristocrat named Lord Thomas who chooses to marry the wholesome Nell, a seemingly ideal Victorian bride, over the bold Maude Clare, whose reputation has been ruined as a result of her previous romance with Lord Thomas.
Who asks Kate to marry Torquil?
One night, Aunt Minerva asks Kate to marry Torquil. Kate is shocked and refuses, but Aunt Minerva tells her to think on it. Kate's suspicions are further stirred up.
What happens when Kate does not receive Mrs Nidd's letters?
When Kate does not receive any letters from Mrs Nidd she becomes worried. She begins to think that her aunt may have something to do with this, but refuses to think of that for more than a second. Her gratitude make such thoughts terrible. Yet when Mr Nidd, Mrs Nidd's father-in-law, arrives, she finds out that none of her letters have made it and the suspicion once more comes to her mind. She quickly writes a note to Sarah via Mr Nidd, knowing that this time it will arrive.
What is Cousin Kate about?
The time period in which this poem, Cousin Kate, was written makes the message all the more meaningful. The writer, Christina Rossetti , was a woman of the Victorian era. Born in 1830, Rossetti lived during a time when women had no choice but to be chaste. Anything else was to be outcasted from society. Men, on the other hand, were known to often use prostitutes as an outlet for their sexuality until (and sometimes after) they were married. During this time period, however, women were also thought to be inferior to men in many ways including physically and intellectually. However, they were thought to be superior to men morally. Thus, a much higher moral expectation was placed on women. They were thought to have little to no sexual desire aside from for the purpose of becoming a mother. Therefore, when a woman was found out to have had sexual relations outside of marriage, it was treated as something entirely different from when men had premarital sex. For women, it was looked upon as an act of defiance against family, society, and God. For men, it was seen as a moment of weakness in which they gave in to an overwhelming sexual desire.
What is the speaker's role in Cousin Kate?
His magnificence and place in life probably made her feel intimidated. Her whole life, she was taught that a woman’s role was to obey men, especially a man in a position of authority.
Why is there a shift in the stanza of Lady Kate?
There is a shift with this stanza so that the speaker is not talking to the readers anymore, but to her cousin, Kate. It is possible that she has been talking to Kate all along. When she calls her “Lady Kate” she makes it clear that her cousin has risen in social status to become a Lady.
What does Kate say in the final stanza?
She has shown that Kate was stronger, but the speaker’s own love was more true. Here, she says to Kate, “I’ve a gift you have not got and seem not like to get.” She goes on to dismiss Kate’s clothes and her wedding ring. She tells her cousin that she knows that she must fret about what she does not have.
Why does Kate sit in the dust?
Because Kate would not allow the great lord to take her to his bed without marriage, the lord married her. Thus, she rose to the position of a lady. The speaker says to her, “the neighbors call you good and pure, call me an outcast thing”. Then she says that she sits in the dust and howls.
What is Cousin Kate's description of a young maiden?
Cousin Kate begins with the description of a beautiful young maiden who spent her days out in the sun and the air. This young maiden was content to be with her cottage mates. She had no thought for a man and no desire for anything that she did not already have.
Does Kate have a son?
It is very likely, then, that the speaker’s own boy would inherit the wealth of his father. Often if there was no legitimate son to inherit wealth, an illegitimate son would be named heir.
Who wrote the poem "Cousin Kate"?
Ask a question. “Cousin Kate” is a dramatic monologue by the British poet Christina Rossetti. Rossetti wrote “Cousin Kate” while she was a volunteer at the St. Mary Magdalene house for "fallen women," a derogatory 19th-century term for supposedly unchaste women (such as unmarried mothers and sex workers). The poem is told from the perspective of ...
How many words are in the poem "Cousin Kate"?
Unlock all 546 words of this analysis of Parallelism in “Cousin Kate,” and get the poetic device analyses for every poem we cover.
How many words are in the analysis of rhetorical question in “Cousin Kate”?
Unlock all 401 words of this analysis of Rhetorical Question in “Cousin Kate,” and get the poetic device analyses for every poem we cover.
Who wrote the 19th century article on gender and sexuality?
Gender and Sexuality in the 19th Century — A collection of articles on gender and sexuality in the Victorian era, written by a biographer of Christina Rossetti and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
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What is the meaning of the poem "Cousin Kate"?
Cousin Kate. The poem is a dramatic monologue, directly addressed to the eponymous Cousin Kate, who is called “you” throughout, although she is clearly not present. As in all good dramatic…. Read More. The Section Header button breaks up song sections. Highlight the text then click the link.
What is the rhyme scheme of Rosetti's poem?
The other stanzas, when analysed, show slight variations on this basic pattern. This sounds confusing yet when read or spoken the poem flows naturally and is an indication of Rosetti’s ability to manipulate rhyme.
Is Kate a monologue?
The poem is a dramatic monologue, directly addressed to the eponymous Cousin Kate, who is called “you” throughout, although she is clearly not present. As in all good dramatic monologues, the reader can track the gamut of emotions, contradictions and inconsistences in this unreliable narrator’s story. We are left with a fascinating picture of confused motives, injustice and self-delusion.
Is the narrator of Sister Maude similar to the narrator?
The narrator and her cousin are comparable, but one, Kate, is fortunate to be raised to the position of his wife. The narrator is less lucky and becomes shunned and ruined as his sexual plaything. As in another comparable poem by Rosetti, ‘Sister Maude’, it also tells a story of bitter family rivalry.
