A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns - Poem Analysis PDF

Robert Burns  To analyze the poem intrinsically.  To describe the figurative languages used in Burns‟ „A Red, Red Rose‟.  To discuss about the real meaning in „A Red, Red Rose‟.  To discuss metaphor as one figurative languages used in A Red, Red Rose.  TO discuss simile as one figurative...

Robert Burns  To analyze the poem intrinsically.  To describe the figurative languages used in Burns‟ „A Red, Red Rose‟.  To discuss about the real meaning in „A Red, Red Rose‟.  To discuss metaphor as one figurative languages used in A Red, Red Rose.  TO discuss simile as one figurative languages used in A Red, Red Rose  TO discuss symbol as one figurative languages used in A Red, Red Rose  Burns grew up poor but well-read.  He taught himself to read French.  And began writing poetry in Scottish dialect.  As an adult, he was unsuccessful in making a living at farming 4  Based on a folk song Burns heard on his travels, Robert Burns wrote his poem “A Red Red Rose“ to be sung not read.  Burnscompleted the poem in 1794 in an English dialect called Scots 5  Read it again, and feel it more deeply. We will see the very romantic words with a very romantic meaning O my Luve is like a red, red rose That‟s newly sprung in June;  The poem opens with one of the most famous similes of all time. The speaker is saying his love is like a really red rose that is "newly sprung in June."  In other words, the speaker's love is like a flower that has just emerged from the ground.  O my Luve is like the melody That‟s sweetly played in tune  The speaker's got another simile here. The speaker next compares his love to a melody that is "sweetly play'd in tune.“  The speaker's "luve," then, is like a song that is sung or "play'd" just right, so right in fact that it's kind of sweet. So far, we know that the speaker's love is like a red rose, and like an awesome melody.   So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in luve am I;  The speaker says he is as "deep in luve" as the "bonnie lass" is fair.  Bonnie, by the way, is a word that means beautiful or pretty (just like "fair") ; as is lass, which just refers to a girl or sweetheart.  Imagine a really hot girl or guy, and now imagine that you love that person as much as he or she is hot.   And I will luve thee still, my dear, Till a‟ the seas gang dry  The speaker says he will "luve" his "bonnie lass" until all the seas dry up.  The word “a” is a shortened form of the word "all";  Gang" doesn't refer to a group of people; it is an old word that means "go" or "walk.“  The seas will probably never "gang dry," so the speaker seems to be saying that he will love his "lass" forever.   Till a‟ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi‟ the sun;  As the speaker tells us that he will love his "bonnie lass" until the seas "gang dry"; he also tells us he will love her until the "rocks melt wi' the sun."  In the line 10, "Till" is just a shortened form of the word until, and "wi'" is a shortened form of the word with.  Like the sea going dry, it is unlikely that rocks are going to "melt", so the speaker is again emphasizing the fact that he will love her forever or at least until long after their lives are over.   I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o‟ life shall run.  Yet again, the speaker pledges that he will love his lass as he lives. That's where that "sands o' life shall run" which means, "while I'm still alive.“  The phrase "I will luve thee still" makes us think the speaker wants to say "I will love thee still, even after the sands o' life shall run out.“  So the metaphor here is of an hourglass, or some other device that measures time with sand.   And fare thee weel, my only luve! And fare thee weel awhile!  Suddenly, it's time to say goodbye. The phrase "fare thee weel a while" means something like "farewell, for now" or "farewell for the time being."  But it could also mean "take care of yourself for now" or "may you be well." The word "fare" can be a verb that means do or go.  For whatever reason, these two lovebirds are splitting. But we think they're going to be just fine at the whole long-distance thing.   And I will come again, my luve, Though it were ten thousand mile  The speaker says his final farewell; he tells his Luve that he will come again, even if he has to walk ten thousand miles Here's hoping these two crazy lovers can make it work.  The poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns is clearly a love poem that has its hyperbole yet romantic way to show how deep the poet‟s love is to a lady.  Burns‟ poem also represents all men when they love someone, how they will show how much they love by words, by illustrating the lady and his love to another beautiful image.  To emphasize the love felt in this poem, Burns uses some of figurative languages which are metaphor, simile, and symbol so the readers can also feel the image of the love.   Thelove that is told in this poem is a beautiful eternal love. A love that is beautiful is imaged by a red rose that symbolizes a romantic and passionate love, and a love that is eternal is imaged by the measuring of the time of life, until the world ends up. In “A Red, Red Rose” the speaker first compares her love with the red rose and then with the melody. The poem represents the idea of love. Later, the reader can understand the deepness of the speaker‟s affection with the claim that his love will last until the deep sea dry off and the rocks melt. In the end, the speaker and his lover split off, but he promises her love that he will be back soon even if he has to walk ten thousand miles. Literary devices are tools that enable the writers to present their ideas, emotions, and feelings and also help the readers understand those more profound meanings. Robert Burns has also used some literary elements in this poem to show the beauty of the beloved and the intensity of his love. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem has been listed below.  Simile Remember is a device used to compare an object or a person with something else to make the meanings clear to the readers. There are two similes used in this poem:  The first is used in the first line, “O my Luve is like a red, red rose” Here, the poet compares his beloved with a red rose.  The second is used in the third line, “O my Luve is like the melody”, and the poet compares his love with sweet melody.  The speaker says he is as "deep in love" as his "bonnie lass" is "fair." Since the word "as" occurs in this comparison, this is also a simile  Remember A metaphor compares two things without using the words “like” or “as.”  Lines 7-8: the speaker says he will love his "bonnie lass" until the seas dry up; the evaporation of the "seas" is a metaphor for the end of the world—you know, something that can never happen.  Lines 9-10: The speaker mentions the seas going dry again, and adds that he will also love his "bonnie lass" until the "rocks melt w' the sun." Melting rocks are also a metaphor for the end of the world, or for something that isn't likely to happen.  Lines 11-12: The speaker will be all about his lady love, at least while the "sands o' life shall run." "Sands of life" is a metaphor ; one's time on earth is compared to something like an hourglass that has sand in it to measure time.  Remember  Symbolism means to use symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from their literal meanings.  Robert has used “rose” as a symbol of love.   Remember  Hyperbole is a device used to exaggerate a statement for the sake of emphasis.  The poet has used hyperbole in the last line of the second stanza, “Till a‟ the seas gang dry.” He says that his love will flow even when the seas dry up. The second is used in the third stanza, “And the rocks melt wi‟ the sun.” in the last line when he sys “Though it were ten thousand mile” so, he tells his Luve that he will come again, even if he has to walk ten thousand miles.  Remember  Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line  the sounds of /l/ and /r/ in “O my Luve is like a red, red rose”.  Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line  The sound of /i/ in “I will love thee still, my dear”.  Remember  Imagery is a distinct representation of something that can be experienced or understood through five senses.  Robert has used visual imagery in the poem such as, “O my Luve is like a red, red rose”,” And the rocks melt wi‟ the sun” and “While the sands o‟ life shall run”.  Structure of “A Red, Red Rose”  The poem has the form of a ballad.  Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some line. There are four stanzas in this poem; each consists of four lines.  Quatrain: A quatrain is a four-lined stanza. Here, each stanza is quatrain as the first one and the second one.  Repetition: There is the repetition of the line, “I will love thee still, my dear” which has created musical quality in the poem. Rhyme Scheme : The poem follows the ABCB rhyme sch eme and this pattern continues throughout the poem. Listen to the poem sung, then answer the following questions… 39 Q) After reading the poem, what do you think the theme is? Q) Do you think that beauty is part of the theme? 40 Q) After reading the poem, what do you think the theme is? Q) Do you think that beauty is part of the theme? 41 What is the Tone of A Red, Red Rose? And can we find the tone? Then what is the Mood of the poem? How can we find it? 42 Q) What is the Tone of “A Red, Red Rose”? Q) What is the Mood of the poem? 43