“Sister Maude”

1. “Sister Maude” By Christina Rossetti.

2. Christina Rossetti was born in December 1830 into a very artistic and literary family. She had a happy childhood, although she suffered a serious illness when she was 15. She could speak Italian and English, and she was able to read and write poems in Italian too. She was encouraged from an early age to develop her artistic talents. Her grandfather published her first book of poems (dedicated to her beloved mother) when she was 16. The themes of love and death are dominant in her writing, and her poetry often has a religious aspect to it. Rossetti and her sister shared her mother’s keen faith, and she wrote some very well-known hymns and Christmas carols. Rossetti’s relationships never ended in marriage – she was engaged twice. Both times the engagement broke down because she didn’t want to compromise on her faith, and both men fell short of her standards. Rossetti was plagued by ill health and in 1871 was diagnosed with Graves’ disease – which progressively destroyed her health and her good looks. She died of cancer in 1894, but by the end of her life had known great success, having published work in both Britain and America.

3. ‘Sister Maude’ picks up many of the themes of Rossetti’s life but it isn’t autobiographical. The poem’s story comes from a traditional ballad called ‘The Cruel Sister’. It tells the story of a jealous older sister who kills her prettier younger sister by pushing her into the river and drowning her. Alfred Tennyson, another Victorian poet, wrote a poem based on the same source. It is called ‘The Sisters’ Shame’ and in his version the older sister not only kills her sister, but also murders the man they are both in love with. The poem shows clearly that the older sister is mad! If you put Tennyson’s and Rossetti’s poems next to each other you may be able to spot clues that they read each other’s work – they seem to have influenced each other in their choice of words. ‘Sister Maude’ is quite mysterious, and it is not at all clear what has happened – you may find that reading the traditional sources and looking at Tennyson’s poem will help you guess at the hidden ‘back-story’.

4. The Sisters' Shame We were two daughters of one race; She was the fairest in the face. The wind is blowing in turret and tree. They were together, and she fell; Therefore revenge became me well. O, the earl was fair to see! She died; she went to burning flame; She mix’d her ancient blood with shame. The wind is howling in turret and tree. Whole weeks and months, and early and late, To win his love I lay in wait. O, the earl was fair to see! I made a feast; I bade him come; I won his love, I brought him home, The wind is roaring in turret and tree. And after supper on a bed, Upon my lap he laid his head. O, the earl was fair to see! I kiss’d his eyelids into rest, His ruddy cheeks upon my breast. The wind is raging in turret and tree. I hated him with the hate of hell, But I loved his beauty passing well. O, the earl was fair to see! I rose up in the silent night; I made my dagger sharp and bright. The wind is raving in turret and tree. As half-asleep his breath he drew, Three time I stabb’d him thro’ and thro’. O, the earl was fair to see! I curl’d and comb’d his comely head, He looked so grand when he was dead. The wind is blowing in turret and tree. I wrapt his body in the sheet, And laid him at his mother’s feet. O, the earl was fair to see! Alfred Lord Tennyson

5. Sister Maude is an old fashioned story of love and betrayal. The poem is written through the eyes of a character who was having a love affair. The narrator kept the affair secret from her parents, but her sister told them about it. The writer becomes harsh and abusive to her sister for this and for the death of her lover. The narrator implies that Maude’s motive was jealousy for her lover. She aims to hurt her sister by saying the lover would never have desired Maude. She repeatedly talks about her belief, or maybe even hope, that Maude will suffer for all eternity.

6. Death: “To His Coy Mistress”, “Sonnet 43” . Relationships: “Brothers”, “Praise Song for my Mother”. Negative emotions: “Nettles”, “Quickdraw”. http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/poetryrelationships/sistermaudeact.shtml

7. Who told my mother of my shame, Who told my father of my dear? Oh who but Maude, my sister Maude, Who lurked to spy and peer. Cold he lies, as cold as stone, With his clotted curls about his face: The comeliest corpse in all the world And worthy of a queen’s embrace. rhetorical question drawing the reader in – making us wait for an answer. does not seem ashamed of the relationship – perhaps how her parents view it. repetition – she wants the reader to be completely certain where the blame lies emotive, negative language turns reader against Maude and sympathetic with narrator alliteration of hard “C” sounds emphasizes strong rhythm – sounds make angry not clear how her lover died - mysterious

8. You might have spared his soul, sister, Have spared my soul, your own soul too: Though I had not been born at all, He’d never have looked at you. My father may sleep in Paradise, My mother at Heaven-gate: But sister Maude shall get no sleep Either early or late. all linked - all doomed – narrator blames Maude for this spiteful comment which establishes Maude did what she did out of jealousy narrator’s parents may get to heaven – they are religious and not sinners repetition of sister emphasizes close relationship and so seriousness of betrayal Maude won’t escape her feelings of guilt in life or death – she won’t Rest In Peace.

9. My father may wear a golden gown, My mother a crown may win; If my dear and I knocked at Heaven-gate Perhaps they’d let us in: But sister Maude, oh sister Maude, Bide you with death and sin. above sin – they will be welcomed in to heaven narrator thinks that her and her lover’s sins might be forgivable – but that her sister’s aren’t alliteration helps link sister Maude with sin last stanza repeats the ideas of the one before – this increases the sense that the narrator Is cursing her sister

10. Form This is a dramatic monologue in the form of a ballad. This is a very old traditional form used for telling stories. The poem begins ambiguously, with details of what has occurred slowly introduced. Ideas are repeated, building an impression of the narrator’s anger. There seems to be a link between the discovery of the affair and her lover’s death. The reader is given very few details about what has actually happened. This makes the poem mysterious. The repetition of the s sound makes it sound like the narrator is spitting out the words. There are religious ideas in the poem – questions of guilt and redemption are addressed. This introduces the idea that some sins are forgivable and others are not.

11. Comprehension • Summarise the poem in your own words. • Why do you think the poet has called this “Sister Maude”? • Why do you think the narrator is keeping her relationship a secret from her parents? • Why do you think the poet left details out of the poem? • Why do you think the poet chose to make the main characters sisters? What is she saying about sibling relationships? • Do you believe the narrator’s version of events? Why / Why not?