Poetry Appreciation - 02 (Remember)

Appreciating Poetry

Poem-2

Read the following poem and do the activities that follow.

Remember

By Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand,

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that I once had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

________________________________________

Questions:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What is the main theme of the poem?

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to express the idea of memory and loss?

iii. What is the significance of the speaker’s request to be remembered?

iv. How does the poem reflect the concept of time in relation to memory?

v. How does the poem address the idea of forgetting and remembering?

b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

_

Answer:

a) Answer the following questions.

i. What is the main theme of the poem?

The main theme of the poem is the request for remembrance after death. The speaker is concerned about being forgotten once they are gone and wishes to be remembered in a way that reflects their feelings and the importance of their presence.

ii. How does the poet use metaphors to express the idea of memory and loss?

The poet uses metaphors such as "the silent land" to represent death and the afterlife. This metaphor conveys the idea of a final resting place where the speaker will be absent from the living world. Another metaphor is "darkness and corruption," which symbolizes the decay of life and memory over time. These metaphors help to communicate the speaker’s concerns about being forgotten and the impact of death on memory.

iii. What is the significance of the speaker’s request to be remembered?

The significance of the speaker’s request is to express their desire for their memory to remain alive in the minds of those they leave behind. The speaker wants their presence to be cherished and not lost with their passing. The request to remember is also a way to maintain a connection with loved ones, even after death.

iv. How does the poem reflect the concept of time in relation to memory?

The poem reflects the concept of time by acknowledging that memories can fade as time passes. The speaker recognizes that remembering might become difficult as time goes on, which is why they request to be remembered when they are first gone. However, they also understand that if memories fade, it is natural and preferable for their loved ones to be happy rather than sad about their passing.

v. How does the poem address the idea of forgetting and remembering?

The poem addresses forgetting and remembering by showing that both are natural parts of dealing with loss. The speaker expresses a wish to be remembered but also acknowledges that forgetting is inevitable over time. The poem suggests that it is better for loved ones to forget and be happy than to remember and be sad, highlighting the importance of finding peace and comfort after a loss.

________________________________________

b) Identify 3 metaphors and 3 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses.

Metaphors:

1. "The silent land" – This metaphor represents death or the afterlife, conveying the idea of a place where the speaker will no longer be present or able to communicate.

2. "Darkness and corruption" – This metaphor describes the decay that occurs over time, both physically and in memory, representing the inevitable fading of life and remembrance.

3. "A vestige of the thoughts that I once had" – Here, "vestige" is a metaphor for the remnants of the speaker’s thoughts and memories that might remain after their death.

Similes:

1. "Like a dying ember" – Though not explicitly in the poem, this simile can be inferred as a comparison for how memories might fade slowly over time.

2. "Like a candle in the wind" – This simile, though not directly used in the poem, could describe how fragile and easily extinguished memories can be as time passes.

3. "As far away as the moon" – This simile could represent the distance between the speaker’s past presence and their current absence.

Purpose of their uses:

The metaphors and similes in the poem help to convey the themes of memory and loss in a vivid and emotional way. Metaphors like "the silent land" and "darkness and corruption" provide a deeper understanding of death and the fading of memories. Similes, while not explicitly used in this poem, help to illustrate how memories can be delicate and subject to change over time. These figures of speech make the poem’s exploration of remembrance and forgetting more relatable and impactful.

________________________________________

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings.

Reading this poem made me think deeply about the nature of memory and the process of grieving. The speaker’s request to be remembered after their passing brought up feelings of both sadness and reflection. It made me consider how important it is to keep the memories of loved ones alive and how we cope with loss over time.

The idea that it might be better for loved ones to forget and smile rather than remember and be sad resonated with me. It highlighted the delicate balance between holding onto memories and allowing ourselves to move forward. The poem left me feeling contemplative about how we handle the memory of those who have passed and how we find peace and comfort in their absence.

Overall, the poem evoked a sense of understanding and acceptance regarding the impermanence of memory and the process of letting go. It made me appreciate the importance of cherishing memories while also recognizing that moving on and finding happiness is a natural part of life.

Theme of the Poem:

In Christina Rossetti's poem "Remember," the speaker is asking a loved one to remember her after she has passed away and is no longer present to hold hands or talk about the future. She gently reminds them that when she's gone, it will be too late for advice or prayer.However, the speaker expresses a compassionate thought: if her loved one forgets her for a while but later remembers, they shouldn't feel sad. Instead, she believes it’s better for them to forget her and be happy than to remember and feel sorrow. The poem highlights love, memory, and the desire for a loved one’s peace over grief.

Full Explanation and Vocabulary

Original Text	Easy Analysis	Bangla Meaning
Remember me when I am gone away,	Remember me when I am no longer here.	আমাকে মনে রেখো যখন আমি চলে যাব।
Gone far away into the silent land;	When I have gone to a place of peace or death.	নীরব ভূমিতে অনেক দূরে চলে যাব।
When you can no more hold me by the hand,	When you can no longer hold my hand or be with me physically.	যখন তুমি আর আমার হাত ধরে থাকতে পারবে না।
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.	And I won’t be able to stay with you anymore.	আমি যেতেও পারবো না, থাকতেও পারবো না।
Remember me when no more day by day	Remember me when we no longer live our daily lives together.	আমাকে মনে রেখো যখন আমরা আর প্রতিদিনের জীবন একসাথে কাটাবো না।
You tell me of our future that you planned:	When you no longer tell me about the future we had planned.	তুমি যখন আর আমাদের ভবিষ্যৎ পরিকল্পনার কথা বলবে না।
Only remember me; you understand	Just remember me; you’ll understand why.	শুধু আমাকে মনে রেখো; তুমি বুঝবে।
It will be late to counsel then or pray.	It will be too late for advice or prayers then.	তখন উপদেশ বা প্রার্থনার জন্য অনেক দেরি হয়ে যাবে।
Yet if you should forget me for a while	But if you forget me for some time, it's okay.	যদি তুমি কিছু সময়ের জন্য আমাকে ভুলে যাও, তবে সমস্যা নেই।
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:	And later remember, don’t be sad about it.	এবং পরে মনে পড়লে, দুঃখিত হইও না।
For if the darkness and corruption leave	If sadness and decay leave a part of me behind.	যদি অন্ধকার ও পচন আমার কিছু রেখে যায়।
A vestige of the thoughts that I once had,	Even if a little of my thoughts stay with you.	যদি আমার চিন্তাধারার একটু তোমার সাথে থেকে যায়।
Better by far you should forget and smile	It’s better for you to forget and be happy.	তোমার জন্য অনেক ভালো হবে যদি তুমি আমাকে ভুলে যাও এবং হাসো।
Than that you should remember and be sad.	Rather than remembering me and feeling sad.	আমাকে মনে করে দুঃখ পাওয়ার চেয়ে।

Vocabulary

:

Word/Expression	Meaning (Simple English)	Bangla Meaning
Counsel	Advice or guidance.	পরামর্শ: উপদেশ বা নির্দেশনা।
Corruption	Decay, destruction, or dishonesty.	পচন বা অবক্ষয়: ধ্বংস বা অসততা।
Darkness	Lack of light, symbolizing death or sadness.	অন্ধকার: আলোর অভাব, মৃত্যুর বা দুঃখের প্রতীক।
Far away	A long distance, both physically and emotionally.	অনেক দূরে: শারীরিক এবং মানসিকভাবে অনেক দূরে।
Future	What is going to happen.	ভবিষ্যৎ: যা ঘটতে যাচ্ছে।
Gone away	Left or passed away.	চলে যাওয়া: চলে যাওয়া বা মারা যাওয়া।
Grieve	To feel deep sadness or sorrow.	শোক করা: গভীর দুঃখ অনুভব করা।
Hand	A physical connection, here symbolizing closeness.	হাত: শারীরিক সংযোগ, যা ঘনিষ্ঠতার প্রতীক।
Hold me	To keep close or stay connected.	আমাকে ধরে রাখা: কাছাকাছি থাকা বা সংযুক্ত থাকা।
Late	Too late, after the right time.	দেরি হয়ে যাওয়া: সঠিক সময়ের পরে।
Remember	To keep someone in your thoughts.	মনে রাখা: কাউকে মনে রাখা বা চিন্তা করা।
Silent land	The afterlife or death, a quiet place.	নীরব ভূমি: পরলোক বা মৃত্যু, একটি শান্ত স্থান।
Smile	To show happiness or contentment.	হাসি: সুখ বা সন্তুষ্টি প্রকাশ করা।
Stay	To remain, not to leave.	থাকা: থেকে যাওয়া বা না ছেড়ে যাওয়া।
Thoughts	Ideas or memories.	চিন্তা: ভাবনা বা স্মৃতি।
Vestige	A small remaining part of something.	অবশেষ: কিছু বাকি থাকা অংশ।
Day by day	Daily or regularly.	দিন দিন: প্রতিদিন বা নিয়মিত।
Half turn	Almost turning to leave but staying.	আধা মোড় নেওয়া: চলে যাওয়ার জন্য প্রায় ঘোরা, কিন্তু থেকে যাওয়া।
Do not grieve	Do not be sad.	শোক করো না: দুঃখিত হও না।
Silent	Quiet, without sound.	নীরব: শব্দহীন, শান্ত।
Counsel	To give advice or suggestions.	পরামর্শ: উপদেশ দেওয়া বা প্রস্তাবনা।
Forget	To fail to remember.	ভুলে যাওয়া: মনে না রাখা।
Remember and be sad	Thinking of the past and feeling sorrowful.	মনে করে দুঃখ পাওয়া: অতীতের কথা ভেবে কষ্ট পাওয়া।
Hold by the hand	Physically holding someone's hand, symbolizing care and affection.	হাত ধরে রাখা: শারীরিকভাবে হাত ধরে রাখা, যা যত্ন ও ভালোবাসার প্রতীক।
Do not grieve	Don't be upset or sorrowful.	দুঃখিত হয়ো না: কষ্ট পেয়ো না।
Future that you planned	The future that you envisioned together.	যে ভবিষ্যৎ তোমরা পরিকল্পনা করেছিলে: একসাথে ভাবা ভবিষ্যৎ।
Gone far away	To have left for a distant place, possibly death.	অনেক দূরে চলে যাওয়া: সম্ভবত মৃত্যুর জন্য অনেক দূরে চলে যাওয়া।
Silent land	A place of peace or death, with no sound.	নীরব ভূমি: শান্তি বা মৃত্যুর একটি স্থান, যেখানে কোনো শব্দ নেই।
Corruption	Moral decay or physical decay.	পচন: নৈতিক বা শারীরিক অবক্ষয়।