Cousin Kate - identity

Christina Rossetti

1 May 2023

Must:Secure an understanding of the content of ‘Cousin Kate’.

Should:Explore the context and its relevance in terms of understanding.

Could:Explore and reflect on techniques and interpretations and how they create meaning.

COUSIN KATECHRISTINA ROSSETTI

Learning Objectives:

1 May 2023

LOVEWEALTH

PROPERTY

MOTHERHOODEMPLOYMENT

MARRIAGE

SOCIAL STATUS

Rank order these topics into order of importance(1 is MOST important, 7 is LEAST important)

PAIR CHALLENGEIn your pairs, you need to nominate a

runner and a scribe.

The runner will come up to the front and read the information about women,

run back and tell the scribe.

The scribe will write down the information in the books.

The roles of women

in society were very

limited. They were

viewed as sensitive

and weak.Men were expected to be the breadwinners and women to be housewives and mothers.

Women who perhaps suffered most in this period were those who did not wish to marry

On average, a

woman gave birth to

a child every two

yearsIt was mainly single women who were accused of being witches by their neighbours.

Children were seen as blessings from God, and Victorian women took great pride in being mothers

Single women were

sometimes looked

upon with suspicion.

A man was considered to be the head of a marriage, and he had the legal right to discipline his wife.

All about the poet

• Christina (1830 – 94) was a Victorian era poet who was closely associated with the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art movement through her brother, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, a very famous painter.

• These artists moved against the art form at the time and went back to Medieval forms of art – basically they wanted paintings to be realistic again.

And a little bit more

• Rossetti was raised in London, but came from a family of Italian immigrants.

• She began writing when she was young. • This poem was written during the height of

her career. • Despite the feminist feel to her poem, she did

not consider herself to be part of the feminist movement beginning at the time.

FlaxenLuredwoe’s methereof

cast me by sportryemean estate sire

coronet

pale-yellow tempted into a trap sorrow/misfortune is mineof this threw me off gamescereal croppoor background/home fathercrown

Let’s read

• What are your first thoughts? • What is the poem about? What are its main

ideas? • Is this written in Victorian London times or

refers back to an earlier time? What words tell you this?

In pairs

• Using worksheet B5.2, find the equivalent meaning in the poem.

3 groups

• Take 2 stanzas each. • Work out what you think the actions and emotions

expressed are in each stanza – what is her identity in each? What is her conflict?

• Find key quotes from the stanzas you would use to support that idea.

• Write a few sentences explaining what you have found.

• Tips: Look for comparisons, opposite words, repetition

Full rhyme

Two words rhyme in such a way that their final stressed vowel and all the following sounds are the same e.g. sight, light, might, rose and dose etc.

Rhyme

• Look at worksheet B5.1• Close your copies of the poems. • Fill in the words on what you think fits best.• Now work out the rhyming scheme for each

stanza – what do you notice about them, in particular the last one?

The write up…

• Main ideas (linking to question) • 3 PETER paras – 2 for lang and 1 for structure. • A conclusion with an overall comparison.• This will be done for BOTH poems (remember,

you MUST compare).• You only have 30 mins to do both poems in

the exam.

Example of opening para…

• ‘Cousin Kate’ successfully shows the conflict of identity in a poor working class girl who has been lured into being the lover of a Lord. She has now been replaced by her cousin, whom has married the Lord, whilst she has been made an outcast. Throughout she shows much anger and resentment at her current position.

• Then peer assess using the following levels…..

Level 1 •Identification of language, form and structure is minimal. •Little evidence of relevant subject terminology. •Level 2 •There is some comment on the language, form and structure of the text. •Limited use of relevant subject terminology to support examples given. •Level 3 •The response shows an understanding of a range of language, form and structure features and links these to their effect on the reader. •Relevant subject terminology is used to support examples given. •Level 4 •Analysis of language, form and structure features and their effect on the reader is sustained. •Relevant subject terminology is used accurately and appropriately to develop ideas. •Level 5 •The response is a cohesive evaluation of the interrelationship of language, form and structure and their effect on the reader. •Relevant subject terminology is integrated and precise.

AGREE OR DISAGREEThe cottage maiden is bitter and jealous of cousin Kate’s

wealth and riches.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This is a poem is about true love.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This poem is about false love.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

The narrator felt used and abused by the lord. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cousin Kate is the most guilty, most to blame.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10