1. An Apple Gathering
Aspects of Narrative

2. What is the Story? Literal
A young woman “plucked” the blossoms from the apple tree in the spring to adorn herself and when she comes to pick the apples in the autumn, there is no fruit there. A story of disappointment, based on naivety – she didn’t know the blossoms reaped the fruit. Or - a story about vanity – she was living for the moment – wanted the blossom there and then and didn’t think about the future. Immediate gratification without considering the consequences.

3. Implied Story through allegory
Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. An Apple Gathering as an allegory using apples/apple gathering metaphorically throughout. A story of sexual morals. A young woman lost her virginity before marriage and is now ostracised from society, treated as an outcast, possibly has turned to prostitution as a result.

4. Structure/Voices
Ist stanzas = opens with a retrospective narrative, when the first person omniscient narrator recalls the time when she “plucked pink blossoms”. Quickly time shifts to near past “in due season” when she found “no apples there”.
Poem continues by representing different voices and reactions to what the speaker has done: the “neighbours” who “mocked”; the “sweet-voiced” sisters, Lilian and Lilias who “teazed” “like a jeer”

5. Structure/Voices 2
The voice expresses attitude towards of “Plump Gertrude” (pregnant?) who talked with someone whose voice was “More sweet to me than song” suggesting to the reader that this voice was familiar to the speaker.
Revelation in 5th stanza that speaker has had relationship, perhaps sexual, with Willie
Climax – key moment - confirmation that Willie and speaker were once an item but that it’s all over now “We shall not walk again”
Resolution – image of loneliness and isolation for the speaker with undertones of something sinister/unsavoury with a time shift as “the night grew chill” and she is left loitering perhaps suggesting that she is now a prostitute.

6. Voice of speaker
Ist person immediately established “I plucked” – she is responsible for her actions Ist stanza = innocent then disappointed 3rd stanza – resentful of L & L = “Their mother’s home was near” 4th stanza – envious – “stronger hand” and “more sweet” – what she wants – a lover, Willie, a man? 5th stanza – key moment – voice changes – almost a direct address to Willie - a plea? Desperate tone/ bitter “ I counted rosiest apples of ...” 6th stanza – resentful/ – upset – Shocked? The exclamation mark – “We shall not walk again!” 7th stanza – tone of acceptance – she has sinned and this is her situation now – an outcast/prostitution?

7. Point of View
The speakers – strong and clear – to what extent is it reliable – is her isolation just the way she sees it?
Different characters – represent attitudes/themes: L & L = conventional, obedient daughters, sisterhood; “plump Gertrude” with her “stronger hand” – a husband – images of fertility represents the conventional wife/mother figure – you must have a man/be married to be fulfilled
Rossetti’s – commentary on Victorian double standards re sex before marriage and attitudes towards “fallen” women – Willie now married to Gertrude while speaker is alone, isolated, possibly a prostitute

8. Language/Symbolism
Symbolism – blossom (virginity), the empty basket “empty-handed back”, apples (fertility), names of Lilian and Lilias (lily – white purity, innocence = contrast with speaker), apples as symbol of sin (Adam and Eve), apples as symbol for men – she picked a rotten apple and it lead to her downfall, apples in title – “An Apple-Gathering” – her job as a prostitute is to “gather” men so links to end of poem
Verb – “loitered” – connotations of seediness – prostitution – waiting for the darkness

9. Destination
A simple story of disappointment – rite of passage from innocence to knowledge
A story of sexual morals – the fate of the “fallen” (like the apples from the tree – spring to autumn) Victorian woman. Now an outcast – not fit for any man yet Willie is happily with Gertrude ( married? Pregnant). A comment on double standards – hypocrisy?
Simple moral – one reaps what one sows (metaphor of poem). Instant gratification - the wearing of the blossom in her hair, a sexual encounter can lead to disappointment/degradation
A religious allegory – Adam and Eve – sin and temptation – loss of innocence – cast out into the wilderness from the safety of the Garden of Eden. Speaker cast out from comfort of her own community

10. Time and Sequence
A specific day (afternoon/evening/night) introduced with a connection to a few months earlier “that evening” when she wore blossoms in her hair
Chronological
Reference to a significant moment in the past - relationship with Willie -”So once it was with me..”
The significance of spring to autumn (hope to
The significance of day time “the sunset sky” to “the night” which grew “chill”

11. Setting Rural - non-specific – typical Rossetti
“Tracks” , “lanes” – of the countryside but also her actions have set her life on a set track of isolation, loneliness, ostracism
Time of day – significance of “night” at the end – “lady of the night”
Season – harvest time = destination - you reap what you sow

12. Context Victorian England
Religious society = sex before marriage was a sin
Culturally = women who had sex before marriage were treated as outcasts and no man would ever marry them. It wasn’t the same for men