The sonnet distinctly recalls âThe Hill Summitâ and, to a lesser extent, âThe Landmarkâ, both of which were written in the early/mid 50s. All three treat the theme of a journey shadowed by a sense of loss and ominous possibilities.
If the date of 1855 is correct, and if we may take lines 12-13 to have a basis in reality, the poem may have been written in late June 1855 when DGR travelled to Clevedon, on the Somerset coast, to be with Elizabeth.
This collection contains 3 texts and images, including:
1911
Scholarly Commentary
IntroductionÂ
The sonnet distinctly recalls âThe Hill Summitâ and, to a lesser extent, âThe Landmarkâ, both of which were written in the early/mid 50s. All three treat the theme of a journey shadowed by a sense of loss and ominous possibilities.
Textual History: CompositionÂ
No manuscript of the poem has appeared. WMR, who first published it, dated the sonnet 1855 but gave no reason for assigning that date.
Printing HistoryÂ
First published by WMR in his 1886 edition (I. 303), and collected thereafter.
AutobiographicalÂ
If the date of 1855 is correct, and if we may take lines 12-13 to have a basis in reality, the poem may have been written in late June 1855 when DGR travelled to Clevedon, on the Somerset coast, to be with Elizabeth.