Christina Rossetti. Victorian Times

2. - She was born in 1830, in London
- She began to write at the age of 7. Her more important works are: «Goblin
Market», the poem «Remember» and her Christmas carol «In the Bleak
Midwinter»
- She belonged to the Pre-Raphaelite movement, which was founded by her
brother Dante.
- She had a deep interest in the Catholic Church , so religious devotion took a
major role in her life.
- She dies at the age of 64, in 1894.

3. In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God incarnate,
Jesus Christ.
Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day
A breast full of milk
And a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
which adore.
Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But his mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss

4. What can I give him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him —
Give my heart.

5. The Lyric speaker is clearly a member of the Catholic Church, who is presenting the
story of Jesus’ birth
«What can I give him, poor as I am»
This poem is aimed to cultured members of the Catholic Church, able to
understand the real significance of the poem rather than just the story of how
Jesus was born.
The most important themes that are present on the poem are: mother’s love, the
greatness of God, and the miracle of a newborn baby.

6. In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.
Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day
A breast full of milk
And a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
which adore.
A
B
C
B
D
E
F
E
A
B
C
B
D
E
F
E
- The poem consists of 5 stanzas, with 8 verses each
- The rhymes present can be both, assonant or consonant

7. In the bleak midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter,
Long ago.
Aural imagery
Simile
Simile, oxymoron
Repetition,
alliteration
Tone: hopeless

8. Our God, heaven cannot hold him,
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign;
In the bleak midwinter
A stable place sufficed
The Lord God incarnate,
Jesus Christ.
Tone: a greatness tone with a sudden change to a calm tone
Hyperbole
Personification
Symbolism

9. Enough for him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day
A breast full of milk
And a manger full of hay.
Enough for him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
which adore.
Tone: a tone of admiration and calmness
Symbolism
Personification

10. Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But his mother only,
In her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss
Tone: continues a tone of love and admiration towards the newborn baby
Internal rhyme
Metonymy
Internal rhyme

11. What can I give him, Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him —
Give my heart.
Tone: a tone of admiration towards Jesus, but this time coming from the lyric speaker.
Symbolism