Essay Type Questions
Write the critical appreciation of the poem “On Receipt of My Mother’s Picture”.
Introduction
On Receipt of My Mother’s Picture is a deeply emotional poem by William Cowper, where the poet reflects on his mother’s death after receiving her portrait. The poem expresses the grief and longing he feels upon seeing her image, and the intense emotions it brings back. Cowper beautifully captures the sorrow of losing a loved one, the memories of a mother’s love, and the comfort and pain that come with it.
Central Idea
The main idea of the poem is about the speaker’s grief after receiving a picture of his deceased mother. The portrait brings back memories of her love, care, and kindness, which deeply affect the speaker. While the picture makes him sad because it reminds him of her death, it also brings comfort by keeping her memory alive. The poem is a reflection on how love and loss are intertwined, and how memory of a loved one can help heal the pain of their absence.
Structure & Rhyme Scheme
The poem is written in heroic couplets, a form consisting of pairs of rhyming lines in iambic pentameter (ten syllables per line with an unstressed-stressed pattern). The typical AABB rhyme scheme enhances the flow and rhythm of the poem, providing a sense of regularity and order amidst the emotional turmoil described. However, the poem’s emotional highs and lows are mirrored in the occasional irregularity of the stanza lengths, which prevents the poem from feeling overly constrained by its form.
In terms of rhyme scheme, the AABB pattern is followed for most of the poem, though one stanza feature more lines or slight deviations to reflect a shift in mood or thought. For example, in the third stanza, the line “Ah that maternal smile! it answers—Yes” stands out, offering a more intimate and personal reflection than the other lines.
Theme
The poem explores several important themes:
Grief and Loss: The speaker is deeply saddened by his mother’s death. The portrait brings back memories of her, and the pain of losing her is still fresh.
Memory and Nostalgia: The speaker holds on to the memory of his mother’s love and care. Her memory comforts him, even though her physical presence is gone.
Mother’s Love: The poem reflects the enduring power of a mother’s love, which continues to provide comfort and strength even after death.
Death and Afterlife: The speaker hopes that his mother is now at peace in the afterlife and imagines a joyful reunion with her in the future.
Time and Change: The poem reflects on how time changes things, but the memory of his mother remains unaltered, providing comfort amidst the passage of time.
Style
Cowper’s style in this poem is simple and direct, yet deeply emotional. He expresses his sorrow in a heartfelt way, making it easy for the reader to feel his pain. The language is not overly complicated, but it conveys the depth of his grief and the warmth of his memories. This simplicity helps the reader connect with the poet’s emotions and feel the universality of loss and love.
Poetic Devices
Cowper uses several poetic devices to enhance the emotional impact of the poem:
Imagery: The poet uses vivid descriptions to evoke images of his mother, like “the violet, the pink, and jessamine,” which symbolize his childhood memories.
Metaphor: Cowper compares the mother to a “gallant bark” (a ship), suggesting that her spirit has safely sailed to a peaceful afterlife, free from the struggles of life.
Personification: Time is personified as a “tyrannic claim,” suggesting that it is an unstoppable force that erases the past.
Rhetorical Questions: The speaker asks questions like “Say, wast thou conscious of the tears I shed?” to express his uncertainty and emotional pain.
Contrast: Cowper contrasts his own suffering with the peaceful afterlife of his mother. This is seen in the metaphor of the “gallant bark” which highlights the difference between the peace his mother has found and the troubled life the speaker leads.
Critical Commentary
Other poets and critics have praised Cowper’s ability to express deep personal emotions in a way that resonates universally. Samuel Johnson, for example, admired Cowper’s simple, clear expression of grief, which made the poem more powerful. Modern critics have also noted that Cowper’s poems, like this one, explore personal suffering in a way that allows readers to connect with the poet’s emotions. His honesty and sincerity in dealing with grief make the poem touching and relatable.
Message
The poem’s message is about the enduring power of memory and love. Even though death separates us from our loved ones, their love and memory stay with us forever. The poem also suggests that, through reflection and remembrance, we can find peace and comfort in the face of loss.
Conclusion
In conclusion, On Receipt of My Mother’s Picture is a moving and heartfelt poem that explores the grief of losing a mother, the comfort found in memories, and the eternal bond between a mother and child. Through simple yet powerful language, Cowper expresses universal themes of loss, love, and hope, making this poem a timeless reflection on the human experience of mourning and remembrance.
Long note on themes of the poem “On Receipt of My Mother’s Picture”.
The poem “On Receipt of My Mother’s Picture” by William Cowper explores several deep and emotional themes.
Grief and Loss
The central theme of the poem is the speaker’s profound grief over the loss of his mother. The portrait of his mother, which he receives, acts as a powerful reminder of her absence and brings back painful memories of her death. The poem poignantly explores how grief can be triggered by the smallest reminders of a lost loved one, in this case, her image.
Memory and Nostalgia
The poem emphasizes the role of memory in keeping a loved one alive in the heart and mind. The speaker reminisces about the love and care his mother provided during his childhood. These memories provide him both comfort and sorrow, as he longs to relive those moments but knows they are gone forever. The memories, however, live on in the speaker’s heart.
Motherly Love
Motherly love is another important theme in the poem. Cowper reflects on the unchanging and unconditional nature of his mother’s love. He recalls how his mother’s love and affection helped soothe him as a child and how her spirit continues to offer him comfort even after her death. This love transcends time and death, leaving an indelible mark on the speaker’s heart.
Death and the Afterlife
The theme of death and the afterlife is explored through the speaker’s reflection on his mother’s passing. The speaker imagines his mother’s spirit finding peace in the afterlife, free from the pain and struggles of the mortal world. He contrasts this with his own struggles, expressing hope that one day he will be reunited with her in a place where there are no farewells.
Hope and Longing for Reunion
The poem conveys a deep sense of longing for the reunion with the mother in the afterlife. The speaker imagines a peaceful existence after death where there will be no more separation, reflecting a desire for eternal connection with the loved ones lost. His longing for his mother remains strong, and he expresses the hope that one day they will meet again.
Time and Transience
Time and its effects on life are also explored in the poem. The speaker reflects on the fleeting nature of life, especially in terms of the short-lived moments he had with his mother. He acknowledges that time has stolen his mother away from him, but her memory remains, offering comfort even as time moves forward. The passage of time is both a source of sorrow and a means of preserving memories.
Resignation and Acceptance
Towards the end of the poem, the speaker shows signs of resignation and acceptance. He no longer hopes for his mother’s return in life but finds solace in the belief that she is at peace. This acceptance, however, does not diminish the love he feels for her. Instead, it deepens his reverence for her memory, acknowledging that though she is gone, her influence on him remains.
