Cold in the Earth by Emily Brontë - review

Rosina then asks a rhetorical question, "Have I forgot, my Only Love, to love thee", 'Only Love' here is emphasises her love by being capitalized.

In the second stanza Brontë compares her thoughts to a bird "my thoughts no longer hover", this metaphor shows a contrast between the freedom of flight that the bird enjoys in comparison to the containment that Rosina feels.

The third stanza starts the same way the first did, "Cold in the earth", this repetition reinforces the death and sadness that Rosina feels about her lost love. This stanza seems far more positive than the last two; Rosina describes how after the death of her lover her life continues much like the seasons, "those brown hills have melted into spring", the season spring here shows how things are getting better as she deal with Brenzaida's death.

In the fourth stanza Rosina apologises to Brenzaida's memory for forgetting him, if she has, "Sweet Love of youth, forgive if I forget thee". Rosina gives and explanation for her lapse in remembrance but there is also a tone of regret in the poets' choice of words; "hopes which obscure but cannot do thee wrong.", this statement insinuates that even though she may have other desires she never forgets Brenzaida, and the love she feels for others will never eclipse the love she felt and still feels for him.

As if to give support the previous statement the poet dedicates this stanza to the memory of Brenzaida, almost as if the previous stanza stirred his memory these four lines are filled with an emotion similar too the ones Rosina felt shortly after his death. Almost as if her regret and remorse has been refreshed by the memory of Brenzaida. The words 'Sun' and 'Star' are both capitalised as if to enforce the effect that Brenzaida played to Rosina.

As a means of reassurance Rosina follows the previous stanza with an almost rhetorical series of lines, as if trying to convince herself that her life is still worth living. "Then did I learn how existence could be cherished", this shows that although Rosina did feel great love for Brenzaida she still has the strength of character to mourn and then put her life back together. "Strengthened and fed without the aid of joy", the use of the word 'fed' in this statement gives the image of rejuvenation and rebirth, an image that contributes to Rosina's strength of character.

Following the theme of recreation, Rosina draws feelings from her memories. "Then did I check the tears of useless passion", Rosina here demonstrates the ability to pick herself up, and allow herself to heal and gain back her love for life. Rosina also remembers herself as young, showing that as the scars that were dealt by Brenzaida's death heal she herself grows more mature. In this light we see that there was some good drawn from her lovers passing, the self-healing process acted as a learning curve for Rosina and due to that learning she has gained more from life, as she now appreciates its value.

In the final stanza Rosina reflects on the pain she felt, but instead of remembering it as a horrible experience she uses words like 'rapturous' and 'divine', however this choice of words doesn't relieve the pain so much as it enriches it. It gives the image of a pain that could never be experienced through physical harm, but only through an assault on ones mind and soul.

Rosina's struggle is a very personal one and although it is one that some people may feel in there lifetimes to a certain degree, the way in which Brontë exemplifies Rosina's pain and suffering makes it feel almost unearthly, and even unbelievable to a certain degree.