«In the Bleak Midwinter»

By Christina Rossetti

José Ignacio Leiva ValdésEnglish A2 HL

Teacher: Carla Chávez Saavedra

Christina Rossetti- 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.

«In the Bleak Midwinter»In the bleak midwinterFrosty 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 awayWhen he comes to reign;In the bleak midwinterA stable place sufficedThe Lord God incarnate,Jesus Christ.

Enough for him, whom CherubimWorship night and dayA breast full of milkAnd a manger full of hay.Enough for him, whom angelsFall down before,The ox and ass and camelwhich adore.

Angels and archangelsMay have gathered there,Cherubim and seraphimThronged the air;But his mother only,In her maiden bliss,Worshipped the BelovedWith a kiss

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

Lyric SpeakerThe 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»

AudienceThis 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.

ThemesThe most important themes that are present on the poem are: mother’s love, the greatness of God, and the miracle of a newborn baby.

Structure and rhyme

In the bleak midwinterFrosty 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 CherubimWorship night and dayA breast full of milkAnd a manger full of hay.Enough for him, whom angelsFall down before,The ox and ass and camelwhich adore.

ABCBDEFE

ABCBDEFE

- The poem consists of 5 stanzas, with 8 verses each

- The rhymes present can be both, assonant or consonant

In the bleak midwinterFrosty 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 imagerySimile

Simile, oxymoron

Repetition, alliteration

Tone: hopeless

Analysis per stanza

Our God, heaven cannot hold him,Nor earth sustain;Heaven and earth shall flee awayWhen he comes to reign;In the bleak midwinterA stable place sufficedThe Lord God incarnate,Jesus Christ.

Tone: a greatness tone with a sudden change to a calm tone

Hyperbole

Personification

Symbolism

Enough for him, whom CherubimWorship night and dayA breast full of milkAnd a manger full of hay.Enough for him, whom angelsFall down before,The ox and ass and camelwhich adore.

Tone: a tone of admiration and calmness

Symbolism

Personification

Angels and archangelsMay have gathered there,Cherubim and seraphimThronged the air;But his mother only,In her maiden bliss,Worshipped the BelovedWith a kiss

Tone: continues a tone of love and admiration towards the newborn baby

Internal rhyme

Metonymy

Internal rhyme

What can I give him, Poor as I am?If I were a shepherdI would bring a lamb,If I were a wise manI 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

Conclusion