A birthday Christina Rossetti

L/O To learn how analyse religious imagery in a poem and relate it to the poem, the poet and the reader.

Glossary: Boughs – main branches of a tree Halcyon – adjective- a period of time that was happy and peaceful Noun – a mythical bird that bred on a nest floating on the sea and calmed the waters Dais - a low platform for a lectern or throne Vair – fur from the red squirrel used for lining garments in 13th and 14th centuries

Read the poem silently and annotate any references to: Active reading: Read the poem silently and annotate any references to: Spring Music Love Religion

Publication Christina Rossetti – English 1820-1894 Rossetti composed A Birthday in 1857 (when she was 27). It was first published in the literary periodical, Macmillan’s Magazine, in 1861.  Macmillan’s Magazine was founded in 1859 and was one of the most significant literary and intellectual periodicals of the Victorian era.

1) What do you associate with the idea of a birthday? 2)Do you see these associations shared by the speaker in the poem?

Rossetti refers to the act of singing and musical expression. A birthday: Rossetti refers to the act of singing and musical expression. How does this affect the mood the poem creates? Write down references to the act of singing.

The structure of the poem The poem is written with an iambic rhythm (Lines composed of stressed and unstressed syllable – da- dum-da-dum-da-dum-da-dum...) The reflects the beating of a heart. What else do you notice about the structure? Make your own further notes

Investigating A Birthday 3) What comes to mind when you think about spring? Do you see these associations shared by the speaker of the poem? 4) List the phrases which indicate that the speaker depends on another for happiness. To discuss... To what extent do you think people are defined by the relationships they are in (somebody’s child, somebody’s sibling, somebody’s pupil/employee etc)? Do you think an individual can understand him/herself in isolation from such relationships? What evidence of this can you find in the poem

Who or what do you think is the love of Rossetti’s life? Plenary: Who or what do you think is the love of Rossetti’s life? What makes you think this? What quotes would back this up?