Write a summary of the poem Uphill

The poem Uphill is written by Christina Rossetti who is best known for her
ballads and her mystic religious lyrics. Born on 5 th December, 1830, Rossetti
started writing from a very early age and she is regarded as one of the major
poets of the Victorian period. The poem is in question-answer form, and the
protagonist, the traveler is confused and nervous about the journey so, he/ she
asks a series of questions from the guide and the guide answers him / her
patiently.

In the first stanza, the traveler who metaphorically represents man is

questioning to the guide (God) that whether the road (the path of life) is winding
up-hill all the way, which means it is filled with difficulties all the way till we
reach the end of the journey –death. There is another sense of doubt that whether
the journey would take the whole day from morning till night.

In the second stanza, the traveler asks about accommodations along her
journey. She asks if there is a place to rest for the night and is assured by the
guide that she will find shelter from the darkness. She again asks whether the
darkness will obscure the said resting place from her view which implies that
she has the fear of missing her destination. The guide assures that the resting
place now referred to as an “inn” is impossible to miss. By the phrase “impossible
to miss”, it seems certain that the inn would be so brilliant and aglow with lights
that the traveler can’t possibly miss it.

In the third stanza, the traveler asks her fifth question that
whether she will meet other travelers would also be taking shelter at that inn at
night. She again asks whether she has to knock or call once she is near the inn.
This indicates her underlying fear that whether the door will be locked for her.
The guide gave a very calm and clear answer that the door will open immediately
allowing her to enter and she will not have to keep standing at the door.

In the last stanza, the traveler asks if she would find comfort and a bed to
rest in the inn as she would be weary and weak from the journey. the guide
assured her that there will be many to ease her burdens and share her labors
and there will definitely be rest for the weary traveler. The final question that she
asks that whether there will be a bed for her and for all those who seek shelter
at the inn which implies that she is asking whether all the weary travelers attain
salvation after undertaking the difficult journey. The guide assures that there
will be beds for all whose journey ends at the inn. This indicates that after death,
when the journey is completed and an individual finds a final resting place, there
he will find many hands to relieve his burdens and there he will get plenty of
time to rest.