Christina Rossetti - I Dream of You, to Wake

Hi everyone,


So there's this page that investigates the plot progression of Monna Innominata.  Also, Mr. Sir has a page on the entire work.  I Dream of You is Sonnet 3 in the sequence, and the article also mentions some of the contemporary values and responses.  Worth scanning, if nothing else.

I also found the entire sonnet sequence, which could yield some interesting notes; but remember that if you analyse this poem you need to work with the provided text.  All research should inform our observations on the text rather than being "separate from" or even "in addition to" it.

Do have a look at GradeSaver: take note of Rossetti's style, its influences, and her general themes and preoccupations.  It would also be useful to consider how all this weighs up against the literary and social values of the Victorian age.  (This link was especially in-depth, though quite dense.)

I found an extensive article detailing Rossetti's biography.  This may provide some insights on either the poem's origin or Rossetti's writings in the Victorian age, but remember there seems to be some debate as to whether the inspiration for this poem has anything at all to do with the author's personal experience in love.  If you feel you can make an observation relevant to the analysis and focused on the text, go for it.


- T. Marcus