'XCVII A Superscription' by Dante Gabriel Rossetti
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Look in my face; my name is Might-have-been;
I am also call'd No-more, Too-late, Farewell;
Unto thine ear I hold the dead-sea shell
Cast up thy Life's foam-fretted feet between;
Unto thine eyes the glass where that is seen
Which had Life's form and Love's, but by my spell
Is now a shaken shadow intolerable,
Of ultimate things unutter'd the frail screen.
Mark me, how still I am! But should there dart
One moment through thy soul the soft surprise
Of that wing'd Peace which lulls the breath of sighs,--
Then shalt thou see me smile, and turn apart
Thy visage to mine ambush at thy heart
Sleepless with cold commemorative eyes.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s "XCVII A Superscription"
Dante Gabriel Rossetti was an influential poet and painter in the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. His work is a perfect reflection of the ideals of the Brotherhood; their belief in the purity of art and the importance of honesty and clarity in artistic expression. "XCVII A Superscription" is a powerful poem that reflects these ideals and the perfect expression of his poetic style.
Background and Summary
"XCVII A Superscription" is a poem that was published posthumously in 1881. The poem is a simple and short one, consisting of only three stanzas. Rossetti's poem is a self-introduction of sorts, a preface to a collection of his poetry. The poem is addressed to the reader, with Rossetti explaining his reason for writing and his desire for his art to be judged solely on its own merits.
The poem begins with Rossetti describing himself as an artist, and then goes on to describe the difficulties he has faced in his career. He talks about the criticism and rejection he has faced, and how he has been forced to work in isolation. Despite these difficulties, he remains dedicated to his art, and he hopes that his work will be judged on its own merits.
The second stanza of the poem describes the importance of honesty in art. Rossetti believes that art should be honest and truthful, and that it should not be used as a tool for propaganda or manipulation. He believes that an artist should be completely honest in his work, and that his art should reflect his own personal experience and beliefs.
The final stanza of the poem is a plea to the reader, asking them to judge his work solely on its own merits. Rossetti believes that his art should be judged on its own terms, without any preconceived notions or prejudices. He hopes that his work will be able to speak for itself, and that it will be recognized for its own unique qualities.
Interpretation
The poem "XCVII A Superscription" is a reflection of Rossetti's own artistic ideals and the beliefs of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. The poem is a powerful statement about the importance of honesty and purity in art, and the need for artists to be judged solely on their own merits.
The first stanza of the poem is a reflection of the difficulties that Rossetti faced in his career. He was often criticized and rejected by the artistic community, and he was forced to work in isolation. Despite these difficulties, Rossetti remained dedicated to his art, and he continued to create works of great beauty and power.
The second stanza of the poem is a reflection of Rossetti's belief in the importance of honesty in art. He believed that art should be a reflection of the artist's own personal experience and beliefs. It should be honest and truthful, and it should not be used as a tool for propaganda or manipulation.
The final stanza of the poem is a plea to the reader to judge his work solely on its own merits. Rossetti believed that his art should be judged on its own terms, without any preconceived notions or prejudices. He hoped that his work would be recognized for its own unique qualities, and that it would be appreciated for its honesty and purity.
Overall, "XCVII A Superscription" is a powerful poem that reflects Rossetti's own artistic ideals and the beliefs of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. It is a powerful statement about the importance of honesty, purity, and clarity in artistic expression, and a plea for artists to be judged solely on their own merits.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s “Poetry XCVII A Superscription” is a poem that has captured the hearts of many readers since its publication in 1870. The poem is a beautiful and complex piece of literature that explores the themes of love, loss, and the power of art. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem’s meaning, structure, and language to understand why it has become a classic in the world of poetry.
Firstly, let us examine the structure of the poem. “Poetry XCVII A Superscription” is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a strict rhyme scheme and meter. The poem is divided into two quatrains (four-line stanzas) and two tercets (three-line stanzas). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which means that the first and third lines of each quatrain rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. The tercets follow a different rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines rhyming and the second line rhyming with the final line of the poem. The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables, with the stress falling on every other syllable.
The strict structure of the sonnet form gives the poem a sense of order and control, which is in contrast to the emotional intensity of the content. The poem’s title, “A Superscription,” suggests that the poem is an introduction or a preface to something else. This could be interpreted as Rossetti’s way of introducing his own work, or it could be seen as a way of introducing the themes that the poem will explore.
The first quatrain of the poem sets the scene and introduces the speaker’s feelings. The speaker is addressing his lover, who is not present. He describes the setting as a “place of many a broken vow,” which suggests that this is a place where lovers have come before and have left disappointed. The speaker is aware of the pain that love can bring, but he is still willing to take the risk. He says that he has “come to seek for [his] soul,” which suggests that he sees love as a way of finding meaning and purpose in life.
The second quatrain explores the power of art and how it can capture the essence of love. The speaker describes how he has seen his lover’s face in a painting and how it has moved him deeply. He says that the painting has “caught the deep pulsations of [his] soul,” which suggests that art has the power to connect people on a deep emotional level. The speaker also acknowledges that the painting is not a substitute for his lover, but it is a way of keeping her memory alive.
The first tercet continues the theme of the power of art and how it can transcend time and space. The speaker says that the painting is a “shadowy recollection” of his lover, which suggests that it is not a perfect representation of her. However, he also says that the painting is a “living word,” which suggests that it has a life of its own and can speak to people across time and space.
The final tercet brings the poem to a close and reveals the speaker’s true feelings. He says that he has “set [his] heart upon a cast,” which suggests that he has taken a risk and put his heart on the line. He also says that he is “content to win or lose,” which suggests that he is willing to accept the outcome, whatever it may be. The final line of the poem, “I only know I love thee to the level of every day’s / Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light,” is one of the most famous lines in all of poetry. It is a beautiful expression of love that suggests that the speaker’s love is not based on grand gestures or dramatic displays, but on the everyday moments of life.
The language of the poem is rich and evocative, with many images and metaphors that add to the emotional intensity of the content. The use of the word “superscription” in the title suggests that the poem is a preface or an introduction to something else. This could be interpreted as Rossetti’s way of introducing his own work, or it could be seen as a way of introducing the themes that the poem will explore.
The use of the word “broken” in the first line of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It suggests that the speaker is aware of the pain that love can bring, but he is still willing to take the risk. The use of the word “pulsations” in the second quatrain is a powerful image that suggests that the painting has captured the essence of the speaker’s soul. The use of the word “shadowy” in the first tercet is a beautiful image that suggests that the painting is not a perfect representation of the speaker’s lover, but it is a way of keeping her memory alive.
The final line of the poem is a beautiful expression of love that is both simple and profound. The use of the phrase “every day’s / Most quiet need” suggests that the speaker’s love is based on the everyday moments of life, rather than grand gestures or dramatic displays. The use of the words “sun and candle-light” is a beautiful image that suggests that the speaker’s love is constant, whether it is day or night.
In conclusion, “Poetry XCVII A Superscription” is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the power of art. The strict structure of the sonnet form gives the poem a sense of order and control, which is in contrast to the emotional intensity of the content. The language of the poem is rich and evocative, with many images and metaphors that add to the emotional intensity of the content. The final line of the poem is one of the most famous lines in all of poetry and is a beautiful expression of love that is both simple and profound. Overall, “Poetry XCVII A Superscription” is a classic in the world of poetry and is a testament to Rossetti’s skill as a poet.
Editor Recommended Sites
Prompt Composing: AutoGPT style composition of LLMs for attention focus on different parts of the problem, auto suggest and continueCloud Monitoring - GCP Cloud Monitoring Solutions & Templates and terraform for Cloud Monitoring: Monitor your cloud infrastructure with our helpful guides, tutorials, training and videos
Play Songs by Ear: Learn to play songs by ear with trainear.com ear trainer and music theory software
Crypto Jobs - Remote crypto jobs board: Remote crypto jobs board
Babysitting App - Local babysitting app & Best baby sitting online app: Find local babysitters at affordable prices.
Recommended Similar Analysis
Going For Water by Robert Frost analysisFour Beasts In One- The Homo-Cameleopard by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
Neutral Tones by Thomas Hardy analysis
The Sick Rose by William Blake analysis
Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis
Wild Nights-Wild Nights! by Emily Dickinson analysis
In A Dark Time by Theodore Roethke analysis
Ava Maria Plena Gratia by Oscar Wilde analysis
I went to heaven,-- by Emily Dickinson analysis
The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams analysis