The Rose Family by Robert Frost

First Line

The Rose Family

Rhyme Scheme

The rose is a rose,

Diction: symbolic

Tone: calming

Meaning: Beauty is beauty no matter what, the rose is beautiful for what it is, not its smell or texture or any other specific characteristics. Roses have several different colors and each color represents something, red - love, energy; white - fresh, perfection; pink - best condition/degree, compassion; yellow - smart.

The rose is a rose, A

And was always a rose. B

But the theory now goes A

That the apple's a rose, B

And the pear is, and so's A

The plum, I suppose. B

The dear only knows A

What will next prove a rose. B

You, of course, are a rose - A

But were always a rose. B

Ninth Line

The rose is a rose,

And was always a rose.

But the theory now goes

That the apple's a rose,

And the pear is, and so's

The plum, I suppose.

The dear only knows

What will next prove a rose.

You, of course, are a rose -

But were always a rose.

You, of course, are a rose -

Diction: figurative

Tone: positive, reassuring

Meaning: “You” ( the reader) are beautiful no matter what anyone tells you. You may not look like

the person next to you who gets called pretty and beautiful, but you are because you’re beautiful inside and out. This line is an example of personification.

Second Line

And was always a rose

Diction: Symbolic

Tone: Proud

Meaning: The rose was always beautiful

Seventh Line

The dear only knows

Meaning: Only you can understand your own inner beauty.

Third Line

Fifth Line

But the theory now goes

Meaning: Logic and proof cannot be used to prove beauty.

And the pear is, and so's

Meaning: Even though a pear doesn't look like a rose, it is still just as beautiful and should be seen in the same way as a rose is. A pear’s green color represents growth and individuality and yellow color represents its intelligence, which defines its inner beauty

Sixth Line

Fourth Line

The plum, I suppose

Meaning: A plum does not look like a rose but it is just as beautiful, plum’s purple quality defines its strength.

Last Line

Overall Diction

But were always a rose

Diction: Passionate

Tone: Fierce

Meaning: Everything is beautiful, no matter what it looks like; shape and size don't define something or someone. Its whats inside that truly matters.

That the apple's a rose,

Diction: figurative

Tone: confident

Meaning: even though the apple doesn't look like a rose (different shape), just as beautiful as the rose, the red quality defines it. The apple's red color represents love and energy. This line is an example of a metaphor.

Passionate and figurative

Overall Tone

Passionate and proud

Overall Meaning

Outer beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but inside we are all beautiful. Don't judge a book by its cover because it is what's inside that counts.

Eighth Line

What will next prove a rose

Diction: Passionate

Tone: Firm

Meaning: Nobody can "prove" beauty.

Overall Theme

Each color represents a quality trait (inner beauty) that women have.

Fashion may come and go, but true beauty will always be so.

The Rose Family by Robert Frost

Megan Lehrich and Carissa Leung