A Dead Rose by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
O Rose! who dares to name thee? No longer roseate now, nor soft, nor sweet; But pale, and hard, and dry, as stubble-wheat,--- Kept seven years in a drawer---thy titles shame thee. The breeze that used to blow thee Between the hedgerow thorns, and take away An odour up the lane to last all day,--- If breathing now,---unsweetened would forego thee. The sun that used to smite thee, And mix his glory in thy gorgeous urn, Till beam appeared to bloom, and flower to burn,--- If shining now,---with not a hue would light thee. The dew that used to wet thee, And, white first, grow incarnadined, because It lay upon thee where the crimson was,--- If dropping now,---would darken where it met thee. The fly that lit upon thee, To stretch the tendrils of its tiny feet, Along thy leaf's pure edges, after heat,--- If lighting now,---would coldly overrun thee. The bee that once did suck thee, And build thy perfumed ambers up his hive, And swoon in thee for joy, till scarce alive,--- If passing now,---would blindly overlook thee. The heart doth recognise thee, Alone, alone! The heart doth smell thee sweet, Doth view thee fair, doth judge thee most complete,--- Though seeing now those changes that disguise thee. Yes, and the heart doth owe thee More love, dead rose! than to such roses bold As Julia wears at dances, smiling cold!--- Lie still upon this heart---which breaks below thee! |
The rose has lost its beauty and died. The rose will be ignored now that it has lost its sweetness and beauty. The rose cannot be illuminated with light, as it is now ugly and not appealing to anyone. The ugly, withered rose makes other things gloomy and unhappy. The fly, and other beings, want to avoid the rose since it no longer appeals to them. Nobody can gain anything from the rose, it has nothing more to give. A good heart recognizes the rose, though it has drastically changed and lost its appeal. The heart does not judge the rose for its looks or changes. The rose was neglected, and deserves to be admired and loved. |
TPCASTT:
Title- The title makes me think that the poem is about something lost, and has a very sorrowful mood. The rose is symbolism for something lost.
Paraphrase- Above
Connotations and Literary Devices- There are many metaphors. These are clearly placed to represent what has been lost, and what has been forgotten. The rose represents something lost, and the speaker is speaking to the rose.
Attitude- The speaker is sorrowful and pities the poor rose. He/she sees the rose for its true beauty and wish others would also look past its flaws and dramatic changes.
Shifts- In the second to last stanza the metaphors stop and the poem talks about the heart seeing the rose for what it truly is.
Title Again- I was right about the sorrow over something lost. However, I did not predict that the speaker would be recognizing the rose and still thinking it to be the same good rose, not judging it because of its changes.
Theme- Though someone may look different or less appealing, they still have the same, good heart. Do not judge a person just because they have flaws and have lost their beauty.