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"The Sick Rose" By William Blake
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"The Sick Rose"
By: William Blake
William Blake: An English poet born in the 18th century that was unrecognised until now. Blake is now considered to be an indispensible figure during England's Romantic Age.
The narator is sympathetic towards the rose
O rose, thou art sick.
1st stanza
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
2nd Stanza
Of crimson joy,
And his dark secret love
The passion she had was secret and depraved.
Does thy life destroy.
O rose, thou art sick.
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy,
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.
Likes & Dislikes
Likes: The poem is a deep symbolic one and it took more than one read to get meaning from it.
Dislikes: I did not like that the symbols were vague, and the poem itself was short.
bed
Bed is used in a parallel in this poem symbolizing both sex and a bed of flowers on a grave where the worm corrupts what lies beneath.
Life Destroy
Ultimately, this parasite will kill her. In a literal sense with the worm eating the rose, and figuratively in the wretch stealing her grace.
Dark Secret Love
Crimson Joy
Symbolizes making love, and the bright red of a rose.
sick
The sickness that has afflicted this rose is obviously not a literal one. It sybolizes an amour gone wrong for this loved one, that has deprived her of her grace and loveliness.
Invisible worm
The invisible worm sybolizes this 'hidden' lover that has made the flower sick. the word 'worm' is often attributed to a parasitic person, to death, and decay. 'Invisible' means that this person secluded his parasitic intetions so not even the flower would know that it was being eaten.
rose
Presumably the character is a female that the narator loves dearly (a sister, cousin, or lover). The rose is also a conventional symbol meaning love.
Flies
Flight is often used when something is done with haste.
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief. Proverbs 6:18 (KJV).
Storm
Usually used as a pathetic fallacy with the rain; the storm is being used to create a sinister and terrifying enviorment.
Quiz!
1. What does the rose symbolize?
a. Death b.love c. a lover d. b and c
2. T/F. The worm symbolizes hate.
3. How many characters is the poem understood to have?
4. What is the worm to the rose?
5. Why is the rose sick?