The islamia University of Bahawalpur

Name Nauman Shabbir

Programme BS ENG (M)

Semester 8th Spring2023

Registration no FA19A2BV035

Assignment topic Critical appreciation of poem and Louisa May Alcott

Submitted to Qamar Bashir

Due Date 13—04-2023

Critical Appreciation of poem “When I am dead, my dearest”

1 Rhyme scheme
Song is divided into two verses, each with eight lines, each of which could be
further broken down into two quatrains rhyming off an ABCB pattern. There is a
clear rhythm and beat to this work, and it is structured so as to flow in the most
natural way for the reader. The content of the poem follows an
unnamed narrator speaking to another individual identified only as “my dearest,” a
strong word choice that instills deeply-felt emotion into the first line of the poem.

2 Literary devises
The verse uses alliteration heavily to create pleasant sounds; the “dead” and
“dearest” in the first line and the “sing,” “sad,” and “songs” in the second lie, for
instance, give off a simple and calm atmosphere to the work.

3 Main Focus of this poem “When I am dead, my dearest”

The speaker is saying to someone important to them that they should not grieve
once the narrator passes away. They cite off some of the things that people do in
remembrance, such as placing flowers at a gravesite, writing sad songs, and
planting trees, and asks that these rituals are not observed. Instead, they ask their
companion to “be the green grass above me.” Grass is a plant that can be stepped
on, drowned in rain, or put through drought and continue to grow. “Being the
grass” is a likely metaphor for enduring, and continuing to move forward with life.
The last two lines use repetition to emphasize the idea that whether their
companion wishes to remember or forget the speaker, it is all the same. By
changing only one work in those lines, Rossetti creates a sense of calm and creed;
“and if thou wilt” very much embodies this idea that grief is personal and that it is
important for their companion to think about what they would like, rather than
what the dead would like.
In verse 2
The speaker discusses their own experience after passing, but there is not much for
them to say, as they are still alive. Instead, they focus on what they will not
experience, and in each example, a sense of sorrow is instilled in the poem.

There will be no “shadows;” no “rain,” and no “painful” songs from the

nightingales. Each word creates an image of dark, with the rain especially
emulating the image of tears. Once again, repetition is used to great effect,
influencing what the speaker “shall not” know of, without really understanding
what they “shall” be.

The unfathomable nature of death to the living is another strong theme echoed
throughout this poem, and just as the nature of grieving can be embodied by “if
thou wilt,” the abstract nature of death can be embodied with “I shall not.”

Therefore,

It is treated as such in the text, but that first verse that speaks of not
mourning death, but moving on with life suggests that while the speaker
is not entirely prepared to conceive of death as a good thing, it is
certainly inevitable, and so they are choosing not to think of it as a bad
thing either.

Historical Context
Christina Rossettti lived between December 5th, 1830, and December 29th, 1894.
Her poem Song was first published in her 1862 volume, Goblin Market and Other
Poems, largely considered her most successful work, especially at the time of its
publication.

What inspired this particular poem is likely the fact that Rossetti dealt with a
variety of issues with her mental and physical health throughout her life, leaving
her with a great many potential times to reflect upon the nature of her own
mortality.

As early as when she was fourteen years old, she suffered a nervous breakdown
that saw her withdraw from her school.
ASSIGNMENT TOPIC 2

 Louisa May Alcott was an American novelist who lived from 1832 to 1888. She
is best known for her novel "Little Women," which was published in 1868 and
 Has since become a classic of American literature.
 Alcott began her writing career as a young woman, publishing her first book,
"Flower Fables," in 1854.

 She went on to write many other novels and short stories, including "Moods"
(1864), "Work: A Story of Experience" (1873), and "A Modern Mephistopheles"
(1877).

 However, it was "Little Women" that brought Alcott widespread fame and
recognition. The novel tells the story of the four March sisters and their coming
of age in 19th century New England. The book was an immediate success and
has since been adapted into numerous films, TV shows, and stage productions.

Alcott's writing was notable for its strong, independent female characters and its themes
of family, love, and personal growth. She was also known for her progressive views on
social issues, such as women's rights and abolitionism.

Despite her success as a writer, Alcott faced many challenges in her personal life,
including poverty, illness, and the premature deaths of several family members.
She continued to write and publish throughout her life.