Thorpe Green
I sit, this evening, far away
From all I used to know, And nought reminds my soul today Of happy long ago.
Unwelcome cares, unthought-of fears, Around my room arise: I seek for suns of former years, But clouds o’ercast my skies.
Yes- Memory, wherefore does thy voice Bring old times back to view, As thou wouldst bid me not rejoice In thoughts and prospects new?
I’ll thank thee, Memory, in the hour When troubled thoughts are mine- For thou, like suns in April’s shower, On shadowy scenes wilt shine,
I’ll thank thee when approaching death Would quench life’s feeble ember, For thou wouldst even renew my breath With thy sweet word “Remember”!
Stanza 1 The use of punctuation in the first sentence makes the first few words very abrupt and emphasises the present tense which shows how isolated he feels. The first few words, “I sit” is very similar to the opening lines in “Alone I sat” written by Emily Jane Bronte. This shows that the siblings all missed there home in the Yorkshire Dales and all found it hard adjusting to life away from it.
Stanza 2 The repetition of “Un” in words in the second stanza show Branwells negative views of Thorpe Green, and the alliteration of the “r” sound makes the sentence flow easily and flows like a children’s rhyme, which could have been done deliberately to shows how Branwell misses his childhood and is trying to recreate it through his work.
Stanza 3 In this stanza memory is personified and questioned, having memory personified and written as if its directed to it is very effective in showing Branwell emotions of frustration and anger that he can’t be home and be young again. The question, “bid me not rejoice in thoughts and prospects new?” represents Branwells feelings that he can’t see any future prospects, and having a question directed at Memory shows this frustration and that he has no one else to turn to.
Stanza 4 The change of tense in the first line, “ I’ll thank thee, Memory”, shows that Branwell may not be talking to the personified memory but good be addressing god as it sounds quite biblical. The harsh sound of “s” has been repeated throughout the stanza to show his anger. Branwell has also used the noun “scene” this could represent that he thinks his life is already being played out for him and that he has no choice in it.
Stanza 5 The noun “ember” is used in the second line to describe life, it has warmth and light but can easily go out. The word “Remember”! has been put in speech marks to emphasise that he’s saying it and the exclamation mark shows his passion when saying it. Branwell wants to remember what it was like when he was younger and wants to be back home.
Techniques Alliteration ABAB rhyming pattern throughout
Themes Death Nature Home
Motifs Suns Memories
Biographical Context Thorpe Green was a manor at which Anne and Branwell lived. Branwell was a governor there and was found to have an affair with the lady of the house, Mrs Robinson, who was thirteen years older than him, the affair went on for three years until it was discovered by the husband, Branwell was then dismissed as a governor, and soon after his departure from Thorpe Green, his health declined due to alcohol and drug abuse.
Literary Context Alone I sat From Retrospection Home
Critical Appreciation I believe this poem is Branwell letting out his frustrations whilst at Thorpe Green about missing his old life as a child, when he had no worries, I think he felt secluded and out of place at Thorpe Green as it was very different from where he grew up. The poem has a constant ABAB rhyming pattern and this with the use of flowing alliteration gives the poem a children’s nursery rhyme feel to it. Which may be deliberate, to show his confused and frustrated state of mind, that he wants to be a child again at home.