Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti LO: To understand the poem’s narrative Starter Task Read through the poem carefully and note down any words you don’t understand

Cousin Kate by Christina Rossetti LO: To make detailed notes on themes, language and form & structure Starter Task Name 3 things you think this poem is about – its main themes

Inequality & Injustice Themes Inequality & Injustice Strong sense of injustice in the poem: The lord seduced the speaker, yet she is made an "outcast thing” (not even a person!). 2 potential reasons for this: she is a woman, while he is a man. she is a poor & powerless, while he is a "great lord" with land and gold. She also describes herself as his "plaything“ - implies an unequal relationship between man and woman. This is emphasised by the speaker’s lack of power. Bitterness The speaker has been passed over in favour of another and is bitter about it. This is not a traditional love poem - this is the story of what happens afterwards. Even the married woman is not happy and secure – there is the "fret" or worry of not having an heir for the lord. The idea that women can be bought – Kate has been, according to the speaker, with the lord’s "land" and "ring". The speaker implies that she went with him for love, not money, but she still was "lured" and mentions his "palace home".

Form & Structure The poem is a monologue It is directly addressed to "Cousin Kate", who is called "you" throughout, although she is clearly not present. “Cousin Kate” “you” Stanza 6 “Yet I've a gift you have not got, And seem not like to get: For all your clothes and wedding-ring. I've little doubt you fret. My fair-haired son, my shame, my pride, Cling closer, closer yet: Your sire would give lands for one To wear his coronet.” Written in a traditional ballad form. This means that it alternates 8 and 6 syllable lines with a regular rhyme scheme In this case, every other line in a stanza rhymes. There are six stanzas, each of eight lines. Iambic meter is used - contrasts with the dark themes in the poem Ballads are often narrative poems (that tell a story), like this one. Cousin Kate’s structure follows this narrative, telling the story of the relationship the speaker had with the lord, then the betrayal, and finally, in the last few lines, the twist ending, of the speaker’s son.

Language & Imagery Pastoral language (relates to the countryside) throughout the poem Describing her hair as the colour of a plant Shows that she is an innocent and simple country girl “flaxen” Stanza 2 “like a glove” “might have been a dove” Imagery to emphasise the speaker’s passivity and the way she has been used is used in this stanza Simile suggests how easily she was cast aside. emphasises how little power she has beside him. Shows he treats her like an object/possession Metaphor dove = a traditional symbol of innocence. What she could have been contrasts with what she now is

Language & Imagery Metaphor: Bird imagery from stanza 2 repeated “stronger wing” “bound you with his ring” “you sit in gold and sing” Stanza 6 “gift” “shame and pride” Metaphor: Bird imagery from stanza 2 repeated Kate is able to fly higher – ie., marry the lord. But is a bird a good thing to be? The speaker undermines Kate’s freedom stanza 4: Suggests he has captured her, like a caged bird Emphasises this idea - Kate seems to be like another possession - a living one, but captured in some way. Metaphor A child is a gift, given to the worthy. Unlike the possessions that "bought" Kate, this is something she cannot have. Oxymoron – this contradiction reflects the contrasts and tensions in the poem Shame/pride = speaker/Kate; good/bad; man/woman; rich/poor; etc.

Language & Imagery Assonance “Woe” “moan” “O” “howl” “Cling closer, closer yet” Assonance strong use of ‘o’ sounds emphasise the speaker’s sense of sorrow. Alliteration Emphasises the love she has for him and the potential fear that he may be taken away.