Christina Rossetti
"A Prodigal Son" and "I Will Arise"
Study Guide by Lee Magness
Read the Rossetti poem, "A Prodigal Son," carefully and repeatedly. You might even try reading it aloud. Then answer the questions that follow the poem.
A Prodigal Son
by Christina Rossetti
Does that lamp still burn in my Father's house,
Which he kindled the night I went away?
I turned once beneath the cedar boughs,
And marked it gleam with a golden ray;
Did he think to light me home some day?
Hungry here with the crunching swine,
Hungry harvest have I to reap;
In a dream I count my Father's kine,
I hear the tinkling bells of his sheep,
I watch his lambs that browse and leap.
There is plenty of bread at home,
His servants have bread enough and to spare;
The purple wine-fat froths with foam,
Oil and spices make sweet the air,
While I perish hungry and bare.
Rich and blessed those servants, rather
Than I who see not my Father's face!
I will arise and go to my Father:--
"Fallen from sonship, beggared of grace,
Grant me, Father, a servant's place."
by Christina Rossetti
Does that lamp still burn in my Father's house,
Which he kindled the night I went away?
I turned once beneath the cedar boughs,
And marked it gleam with a golden ray;
Did he think to light me home some day?
Hungry here with the crunching swine,
Hungry harvest have I to reap;
In a dream I count my Father's kine,
I hear the tinkling bells of his sheep,
I watch his lambs that browse and leap.
There is plenty of bread at home,
His servants have bread enough and to spare;
The purple wine-fat froths with foam,
Oil and spices make sweet the air,
While I perish hungry and bare.
Rich and blessed those servants, rather
Than I who see not my Father's face!
I will arise and go to my Father:--
"Fallen from sonship, beggared of grace,
Grant me, Father, a servant's place."
Answer the following questions:
1) From whose perspective is the story in the poem told?
2) At what point in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son is this action of this poem?
3) What is the dominant image in stanza 1? Stanza 2? Stanza 3?
4) What is the effect of the interrogative mood of stanza 1?
5) What senses are appealed to in stanzas 2 and 3?
6 Ultimately, what is it that the narrator really misses?
7) Why are the last two lines in quotation marks?
8) How would you explain the phrase "beggared of grace"?
9) Does this poem express any part of the meaning of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son? If so, what?
After considering your answers to these questions and before moving on the the next Rossetti poem, you may want to read the instructor's interpretations and insights by clicking this link.
1) From whose perspective is the story in the poem told?
2) At what point in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son is this action of this poem?
3) What is the dominant image in stanza 1? Stanza 2? Stanza 3?
4) What is the effect of the interrogative mood of stanza 1?
5) What senses are appealed to in stanzas 2 and 3?
6 Ultimately, what is it that the narrator really misses?
7) Why are the last two lines in quotation marks?
8) How would you explain the phrase "beggared of grace"?
9) Does this poem express any part of the meaning of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son? If so, what?
After considering your answers to these questions and before moving on the the next Rossetti poem, you may want to read the instructor's interpretations and insights by clicking this link.
Next read the Rossetti poem, "I WIll Arise," carefully and repeatedly. You might even try reading it aloud. Then answer the questions that follow the poem.
I Will Arise
by Christina Rossetti
Weary and weak,--accept my weariness;
Weary and weak and downcast in my soul,
With hope growing less and less,
And with the goal
Distant and dim,--accept my sore distress.
I thought to reach the goal so long ago,
At outset of the race I dreamed of rest,
Not knowing what now I know
Of breathless haste,
Of long-drawn straining effort across the waste.
One only thing I knew, Thy love of me;
One only thing I know, Thy sacred same
Love of me full and free,
A craving flame
Of selfless love of me which burns in Thee.
How can I think of thee, and yet grow chill;
Of Thee, and yet grow cold and nigh to death?
Re-energize my will,
Rebuild my faith;
I will arise and run, Thou giving me breath.
I will arise, repenting and in pain;
I will arise, and smite upon my breast
And turn to Thee again;
Thou choosest best,
Lead me along the road Thou makest plain.
Lead me a little way, and carry me
A little way, and listen to my sighs,
And store my tears with Thee,
And deign replies
To feeble prayers;--O Lord, I will arise.
by Christina Rossetti
Weary and weak,--accept my weariness;
Weary and weak and downcast in my soul,
With hope growing less and less,
And with the goal
Distant and dim,--accept my sore distress.
I thought to reach the goal so long ago,
At outset of the race I dreamed of rest,
Not knowing what now I know
Of breathless haste,
Of long-drawn straining effort across the waste.
One only thing I knew, Thy love of me;
One only thing I know, Thy sacred same
Love of me full and free,
A craving flame
Of selfless love of me which burns in Thee.
How can I think of thee, and yet grow chill;
Of Thee, and yet grow cold and nigh to death?
Re-energize my will,
Rebuild my faith;
I will arise and run, Thou giving me breath.
I will arise, repenting and in pain;
I will arise, and smite upon my breast
And turn to Thee again;
Thou choosest best,
Lead me along the road Thou makest plain.
Lead me a little way, and carry me
A little way, and listen to my sighs,
And store my tears with Thee,
And deign replies
To feeble prayers;--O Lord, I will arise.
Answer the following questions:
1) From whose perspective is the story in the poem told--the prodigal son, the father, the older son?
2) At what point in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son is this action of this poem?
3) Identify an example or two of Rossetti's powerful poetic devices--repetition and alliteration.
4) What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?
5) Notice the poem's use of imperatives. Who commands whom to do what?
6 In contrast with all the other experiences the narrator has had, what is the one thing he/she "knows"?
7) What is the meaning of the title and the last line?
8) What action does the narrator of the poem perform that the father actually does in the parable?
9) Does this poem express any part of the meaning of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son? If so, what?
After considering your answers to these questions and before moving on the the next Rossetti poem, you may want to read the instructor's interpretations and insights by clicking this link.
1) From whose perspective is the story in the poem told--the prodigal son, the father, the older son?
2) At what point in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son is this action of this poem?
3) Identify an example or two of Rossetti's powerful poetic devices--repetition and alliteration.
4) What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?
5) Notice the poem's use of imperatives. Who commands whom to do what?
6 In contrast with all the other experiences the narrator has had, what is the one thing he/she "knows"?
7) What is the meaning of the title and the last line?
8) What action does the narrator of the poem perform that the father actually does in the parable?
9) Does this poem express any part of the meaning of Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son? If so, what?
After considering your answers to these questions and before moving on the the next Rossetti poem, you may want to read the instructor's interpretations and insights by clicking this link.