Requiescat by Matthew Arnold (1867)
The poem reflects on themes of death, peace, and the contrast between the vibrancy of life and the stillness of the afterlife. It begins with a request to adorn the grave of a deceased woman with roses, symbolizing beauty and love, while deliberately avoiding yew, which is often associated with mourning. The speaker expresses a longing for the same peace that the woman now experiences, highlighting her previous role in bringing joy to others despite her own inner turmoil. The woman's life is depicted as filled with noise and chaos, suggesting a struggle against the demands of the world. Her heart, weary from the burdens of existence, ultimately finds solace in death. The imagery of her spirit transitioning from a confined state to one of liberation in death emphasizes the release from life's pressures. The poem concludes with the notion that her spirit now inhabits a vast, serene space, contrasting the limitations of her earthly life with the boundless nature of her existence beyond death. Overall, the work encapsulates a meditation on mortality, the search for tranquility, and the bittersweet nature of remembrance.
By Matthew Arnold · First published 1867 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism · 136 words
First lines
Strew on her roses, roses, And never a spray of yew.
In quiet she reposes: Ah! would that I did too.
Her mirth the world required: She bath'd it in smiles of glee.
But her heart was tired, tired, And now they let her be.
What this Textopian page supports
Requiescat is listed on Textopian as a poem by Matthew Arnold, dated 1867 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Matthew Arnold
- Date: 1867 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism, Symbolism, Victorian Poetry
- Length: 136 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Elegy — The themes of mourning and remembrance indicate that it serves as an elegy for a deceased individual.
- Romanticism — The focus on individual emotion and nature aligns with Romantic literary themes.
- Symbolism — The use of roses and yew as symbols reflects deeper meanings related to life and death.
Tags
Poetry · Literary · Symbolic · Philosophical · Existential · Mortality · Loss · Grief · Melancholy · Nostalgia · Longing · Memory