Rossetti - Context - Her Own life

Question	Answer
What were her family an extraction of, and what was her father's position before immigrating to England in 1828?	Her family were of Italian extraction and her father was an Italian poet and political exile who immigrated to England in 1828.
Who did her father marry and how many children did they have?	He married Frances Polidori and together they had four children - Christina R, Maria R, William R and Dante Gabriel R.
What did they encourage their children to pursue? What were the professions of William and Dante Gabriel Rossetti?	The parents fostered a love of intellectual pursuits amongst the children. William went on to become an established poet and writer of the period, and both William and Dante would help in the founding of the 1848 Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood movement.
What faith did the Rossetti's originally hold and what did they convert to and why?	Originally they were Evangelicals but converted to the Anglo-Catholic faith after the Tractarian movement spread to London.
What influence did this Tractarian movement have on Rossetti's life? A - In her work and poems B - In her personal love life	A - Many of her poems steeped in religious symbolism. Theme on the inconstancy and unpredictability of human love, consequences of sin, the superior nature of divine love over human love and the vanity of earthly pleasures. B - Turned down three of her suitors due to religious reasons.
As influenced by the Anglo-Catholic faith, what are popular religious themes in Rossetti's work and what kind of symbolism is her poetry steeped in?	Her poetry is steeped in religious symbolism and the religious themes present in her work include: The inconstancy and unpredictability of human love The superior nature of divine love over human love The vanity of earthly pleasures and pursuits The consequences of sin
How did her mother, Frances, nurture a love of religion amongst the children through books?	She favoured moralistic and religious texts for the children to read such as the Bible and St Augustine.
When was the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood founded and by whom?	It was co-founded in 1848 by Dante and William Rossetti.
What was the function of this PR brotherhood and what did favour in the arts?	To revive the practices of the Middle ages. Artistic movement steeped in Medievalism - favoured the beauty of women, sexual yearning and an emphasis on nature. Tractarian elements.
Are there elements of the PR brotherhood's influence in R's poems?	The natural imagery present Concern for the, 'fallen women.' Tractarian elements - Pre RB saw art as spiritual rather than material and so R's work is steeped in religious symbolism. Precision and detail - use of symbols to convey deeper meaning and conceit metaphors.
What influenced R's concentration of natural imagery in her poems?	The time she spent at her grandfather Polidori's cottage in Holmer Green in the countryside.
What topics was she able to reflect on while being surrounded by nature on grandfather Polidori's cottage in Holmer Green?	The topics of morality and corruptibility
Which three suitors did Rossetti turn down and why?	James Collinsion - as he reverted to Catholicism Charles Bagot Cayley and John Brett (inspiration for No, Thankyou John?)
What happened in 1843 to Rossetti's father?	He experienced a break down in physical health and his virtual blindness left him unable to teach and work properly.
What did the break-down in his health lead the rest of the family to do?	Placed a greater pressure on other members of the family to contribute financially. Frances (mother) contributed by working as a governess again, as did William and Maria contribute while Dante continued with his artistic pursuits and studies.
When did Rossetti suffer a similar collapse in health and what are three various interpretations as to why she suffered a break down in health?	1848 she suffered a breakdown in health - mentally. Some doctors diagnosed her with having a heart problem while others speculated the cause to be of a religious mania/hysteria.
What was Rossetti's biographer Marsh's suggestion as the cause of her break-down in health?	He suggested that the cause of her breakdown was due to repressed sexual trauma. That there had been paternal incest as the patriarchal protector was being cared for constantly by his pubescent daughter.
In what ways is there evidence of repressed sexual trauma?	In her poetry the motifs of a, 'clammy fin,' constantly reaching out to her and an unspeakable secret.
What did Rossetti suffer from frequently in the 1880s and what effect did this have on her both physically and mentally? How is this reflected in her work?	Graves disease - which aged her prematurely and made her an invalid in society and so a recluse. This sullen nature reflected in many of her poems.
What war broke out in 1854 and what did R volunteer herself as?	Crimean war broke out in 1854 - R offered her services to Florence Nightingale but was rejected.
Where did R volunteer to help, 'fallen women.' What was she referred to as and what did she wear there?	She volunteered to help, 'fallen women,' at the charitable institution called - St Mary Magdalene in High Gate. She was referred to as, 'Sister Christina,' and wore a black habit and veil.
What was prostitution regarded as by the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood?	A societal crime
How is Rossetti's concern for, 'fallen women,' reflected in her poetry?	Souer Louise (in regards to sin). Goblin Market - idea of being saved by a, 'sister.' - a fellow woman. Reflects her time spent at the institution.

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	Created by Carolyh McMurray about 6 years ago