Remembrance
by Emily Brontë
Cold in the earth—and the deep snow piled above thee,
Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!
Have I forgotten, my only Love, to love thee,
Severed at last by Time’s all severing wave?Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover
Over the mountains, on that northern shore,
Resting their wings where heath and fern‑leaves cover
Thy noble heart forever, ever more?Cold in the earth—and fifteen wild Decembers,
From those brown hills, have melted into spring:
Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers
After such years of change and suffering!Sweet Love of youth, forgive, if I forget thee,
While the world’s tide is bearing me along;
Other desires and other hopes beset me,
Hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!No later light has lightened up my heaven,
No second morn has ever shone for me;
All my life’s bliss from thy dear life was given,
All my life’s bliss is in the grave with thee.But, when the days of golden dreams had perished,
And even Despair was powerless to destroy,
Then did I learn how existence could be cherished,
Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy.Then did I check the tears of useless passion—
Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;
Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten
Down to that tomb already more than mine.And, even yet, I dare not let it languish,
Dare not indulge in memory’s rapturous pain;
Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish,
How could I seek the empty world again?
Understanding “Remembrance”: A Deep Dive into Emily Brontë’s Poem
Emily Brontë’s “Remembrance” is a deeply moving and complex poem that explores the enduring power of love and memory in the face of loss. It’s a poem that resonates with anyone who has experienced grief, but it is also a testament to the human capacity for resilience and the ability to find meaning even in the darkest of times. This guide will unlock the beauty and meaning within this remarkable work, examining its themes, techniques, and lasting impact.
What the Poem Is About: A Summary
“Remembrance” is an elegy, a poem of mourning, written by a speaker reflecting on the death of a beloved. The poem isn’t simply about sadness, however. It charts the speaker’s journey through grief, her questioning of whether memory will fade, and her eventual acceptance of a life lived with both remembrance and the need to move forward. The central idea is the struggle to reconcile the enduring power of past love with the demands of present life. It asks if it is possible to honor a lost love without being consumed by sorrow.
Key Themes
- The Enduring Power of Memory: The poem repeatedly emphasizes how the speaker cherishes the memory of her love, even years after their death.
- Grief and Acceptance: “Remembrance” isn’t about a simple, linear progression through grief. Instead, it depicts a complex and often contradictory emotional landscape.
- The Interplay of Past and Present: The speaker grapples with the tension between the joy of past love and the demands of living a life in the present.
- Resilience and Self‑Preservation: The speaker learns to live without the joy her beloved once brought, strengthening her spirit in the face of sorrow.
In-Depth Analysis: Unpacking the Poem’s Layers
Opening Stanza: Establishing the Tone of Loss
The poem immediately plunges us into a world of coldness and separation. The repetition of “Cold in the earth” and the imagery of “deep snow piled above thee” create a stark and desolate landscape. This is not simply a physical description; it reflects the emotional chill that has settled upon the speaker’s heart. The question, “Have I forgotten, my only Love, to love thee,” is not a literal fear of forgetting, but an expression of anxiety about letting go of the most important connection in her life. The phrase “Time’s all severing wave” powerfully illustrates the relentless and irreversible nature of death.
The Second Stanza: Memory as a Flight of the Mind
The second stanza shifts from the physical realm of the grave to the inner landscape of the speaker’s mind. “Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover / Over the mountains, on that northern shore” introduces the image of the speaker’s thoughts as birds, freely soaring over the landscape that once held shared experiences. The “heath and fern‑leaves” covering “Thy noble heart” suggest a return to nature, a peaceful and enduring resting place for the beloved’s spirit. The repetition of “ever more” underscores the lasting impact of their love.
The Third Stanza: Years Pass, Memory Remains
“Cold in the earth—and fifteen wild Decembers, / From those brown hills, have melted into spring” marks the passage of time. Fifteen Decembers, representative of harshness and coldness, have passed, yet the cycle of nature continues with the arrival of spring. This signifies the speaker’s resilience; while grief lingers, life goes on. The line, “Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers / After such years of change and suffering!” is a powerful assertion of the enduring power of memory.
The Fourth Stanza: Asking for Forgiveness & Acknowledging Life’s Flow
“Sweet Love of youth, forgive, if I forget thee” is a complex and poignant moment. It isn’t a literal expectation of forgiveness, but rather a recognition of the natural pull of life and the need to adapt to a world without the beloved. The “world’s tide” represents the relentless flow of time and experience, carrying the speaker along whether she wishes it or not. Acknowledging “Other desires and other hopes” demonstrates the speaker’s capacity for growth and renewal, while admitting they “obscure” but do not diminish the memory of her lost love.
The Fifth Stanza: A Life Defined by Loss
“No later light has lightened up my heaven, / No second morn has ever shone for me” is a stark declaration of the profound impact of loss. The speaker asserts that her life’s joy was entirely dependent on the beloved, and that nothing has been able to fill the void left by their death. “All my life’s bliss is in the grave with thee” emphasizes the completeness of her love and the depth of her grief.
The Final Stanzas: Acceptance and Resilience
The final stanzas mark a turning point. The speaker learns to “cherish” existence even “without the aid of joy.” She actively suppresses her “tears of useless passion” and denies her “burning wish to hasten / Down to that tomb.” This is not a dismissal of her grief, but a deliberate act of self‑preservation. The speaker’s final reluctance to “let it languish” – to indulge in the pain of memory – suggests that while she will never forget her beloved, she must learn to live fully in the present. The concluding lines powerfully convey her need to maintain a sense of self and to find meaning in a world that will never be the same.
Literary and Poetic Devices
- Imagery: Brontë masterfully uses vivid imagery, like “deep snow” and “brown hills,” to create a palpable sense of loss and longing.
- Metaphor: The “world’s tide” is a powerful metaphor for the passage of time and the relentless forces of life.
- Repetition: The repetition of “Cold in the earth” and “ever more” emphasizes the themes of loss and enduring memory.
- Alliteration: The use of alliteration, like “sweet Love,” adds a musical quality to the poem and draws attention to key phrases.
- Rhyme Scheme: The consistent ABAB rhyme scheme creates a sense of order and harmony.
- Meter: The poem primarily uses iambic pentameter, creating a smooth and flowing rhythm.
Why This Poem Matters
“Remembrance” is a timeless exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of memory. Its honesty and vulnerability resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. It reminds us that grief is a complex and often contradictory emotion, and that it is possible to find strength and resilience even in the face of profound loss. It is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to adapt, to remember, and to continue living, even when a part of our hearts remains forever in the past.
A Line to Remember
“Faithful, indeed, is the spirit that remembers / After such years of change and suffering!”
This line is a powerful tribute to the enduring power of memory and the resilience of the human spirit. It is a reminder that even after years of change and suffering, the memories of those we have loved will always remain with us.