There are many differences between the two sonnets; the first difference

There are many differences between the two sonnets; the first difference

is when they were written Christina Rossetti wrote Remember.

For my essay I shall be comparing 2 sonnets, one written before 1914

and the other which was written after 1914. A sonnet is a poem but is

sorted into two sections, the octave and the sestet. The octave

contains eight lines and the sestet contains six lines, so altogether

there are fourteen lines in a sonnet. In the octave and the sestet

there is always a change of meaning.

The first sonnet I am going to look at is "Remember" which is written

by Christina Rossetti before 1914. This sonnet talks about death and

love. In the octave Christina Rossetti is saying remember me but in

the sestet she is saying forget about me, this is what is meant by

change of meaning in the octave and sestet. The second sonnet I shall

be looking is called "Sonnet" which is written after 1914. This sonnet

is written by Edna St. Vincent Millay. "Sonnet" is about past love and

not having anyone too love. In the octave she talks about the past but

in the sestet she talks about the present. This is another

demonstration of how the meaning has changed in the octave and sestet.

The language used in "Remember" is very forceful as she repeatedly

insists her partner remember her. She also covers the word death by

using different phrases and metaphors like "I am gone away" and

"silent land" this shows that she is scared of dying but has learnt to

except it. "When you can no more hold me by the hand". This quote

shows that the person Christina Rossetti is writing to is very close,

considering that she is a Victorian lady she can not talk more

intimately. Christina Rossetti uses phrases to make it no sound as bad

"Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay". This is letting her partner

know that once she has gone she can't return. Another way Christina

Rossetti covers up the word death is by saying "Remember me when no

more". This quote is also being forceful as she is again insisting for

her partner to remember her. In the sestet there is a change of

meaning. "Yet", This shows that the writer Christina Rossetti has

realised what the consequence could be if her partner decides to

comply with her wishes in the octave, so she decides to change her

mind and tell her partner that I'd rather you forget me and be happy

than remember me and be sad, "Better by far you should forget and