By Robert Burns
About The Author
About The Poem
Summary:
In this very little love poem,
the speaker expresses his deep love for his beloved and assures her that his
love for her will last longer than human life and even the world itself. In
other words, he will love her for ever and ever.
He compares his love with a fresh
red rose and a beautifully played melody. Then he promises that he will love
her till all the seas of the world will dry and all the mountains will melt by
the heat of the sun.
Finally, he bids her farewell. He
is going on a long journey. But he assures that he will certainly return back
to her by all means, however long the journey it might be.
Understanding the Text
Answer the following the
following questions:
a. To which two things does
the speaker compare his love in the first stanza?
Ans: In the first stanza,
the speaker compares his love to two things. First, he compares her to a fresh
red rose, second, he compares her to a nicely played melody.
While the first comparison
describes her beauty, the second one tells us about her temperament. She is a
very beautiful lady with a nice temperament and a kind heart.
b. What does the speaker
promise in the second and third stanzas?
Ans: In the second and
third stanzas the speaker wants to assure his beloved about his infinite and never-ending
love for her. In the second stanza, he promises her that he will love her till
all the seas go dry, which is impossible. In the third stanza again, he
promises to love her till rock melts with the sun.
In the last line of the third stanza,
we find him telling her that he would love till the last day of his life.
c. What imagery does he use in
his promise, and why do you think he uses such language?
Ans: He uses the imagery
of seas drying, rocks melting with the sun and, finally 'the sands of life
running'.
He uses such imageries to express
his unbound and never-ending love for her. Through such images he has been
successful in expressing his eternal love for her.
d. In the last stanza, what
event is about to happen by mentioning the number of miles?
Ans: By mentioning the
number of miles the speaker indicates that he is about to take a long journey
(ten thousand miles). We the readers, come to know that the lovers are soon to
be parted.
But he assures her that
however distance he might go, he will return to her.
e. Which image in the poem do
you find the most memorable or surprising and why?
Ans: The language of this
poem is very rich. The poet has used several images in this poem. Among them
all I liked the image of 'the sands of life running'.
Here he has compared every moment
of life to sand running through hour glass. He loves her every moment of life
and will do so till all sand runs away. Thus, it gives continuity of his
love.
Reference to the context
a. What do you infer about the
speaker's devotion to his beloved from the following lines?
And I will come again, my
love,
Tho' it were ten thousand
mile!
Ans: This poem is mainly
about two things:
a. the purity and the beauty of
the girl,
b. the speaker's devotion to his
love.
In these two lines from the last
stanza, we find his devotion and faithfulness towards her. May be due to some
reasons he has to take a long journey, but he will remain faithful to
her.
He will not forget or deceive
her. It is sure that he will certainly return to her one day. Any distance or
any length of time can never overshadow his love for her. Thus, he expresses
his deep true love for her.
b. What is the theme of the
poem?
Ans: The dominant theme of
this poem is love. In almost all the lines the speaker expresses his genuine
and faithful love for his beloved. He compares her to a fresh rose and a sweet
melody. His love is deep and strong, which will stay forever. He will love her
till the last of his life. No distance or length of time will end their love.
Besides, some other themes are
aging, separation, promise etc.
c. Paraphrase the whole poem
into simple prose form.
Ans: The speaker's beloved
is very beautiful. She is beautiful as a fresh red rose and a beautifully tuned
melody. He is in deep love with her. He will continue to love her till all the
seas dry and the rocks melt. He will love her till the last day of his life.
The writer is going to take a long journey, so there will be separation of them
for some time. but the separation will not end their love. He will certainly
return to her one day.
d. 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. Analyze the poem
in terms of literary devices such as simile, symbolism, imagery, alliteration,
and assonance.
Ans: Literary devices are
tools which help the poets/writers to present their feelings and emotions
clearly. They help readers understand in a better way.
Robert Burns has also used some
such devices. to describe the beauty of the lady and the depth of his love.
Some major devices used are: simile, symbolism, imagery, alliteration and
assonance.
1. Simile: Simile is
used to compare an object/person with something else to make meanings clear.
The comparing word 'like' is used in a simile.
The poet has used two similes in
this poem.
The first simile is the first
line of the poem. "My love is like a red red rose". Here he compares
his beloved with a red rose.
Second simile is "O my love
is like the melody". Here he compares her with a sweet melody.
2. Symbolism: Symbolism
is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. Symbolism gives a
symbolic meaning different from their literal meanings. Here the use of 'red
rose' is an example of it. Red rose stands for love and romance. Here rose
symbolizes love between the speaker and his beloved.
3. Imagery: Imagery
is presentation of something that can be understood through five senses. The
poet used three (visual) imageries in this poem. They are:
a. "O my love is like a red,
red rose"
b. "And the rocks melt wi'
the sun!"
c. "While the sands o'
life shall run."
4. Alliteration: It
is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line. Here alliteration
is in the following line:
"O my love is like a red red
rose"
Here /l/ sound is repeated in
'love' and 'like' , and /r/ sound is repeated in 'red red rose'.
5. Assonance: It is
the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line. In this poem we find
assonance in:
"I will love thee still, my
dear".
Here /i/ sound is repeated in
'will' and 'still'.
e. What is hyperbole? Explain
its purpose citing examples of hyperbole used in the poem.
Ans: Hyperbole is a device
used to exaggerate something than it really is. Using hyperbole poets use
overstatement for giving emphasis on something. It gives a good effect.
Its main purpose is to give
emphasis on something or to make a point.
Here the poet has used hyperbole
in two places:
1. "Till a' seas gang
dry". This is hyperbole because seas will never dry.
2. "And the rocks melt wi'
the sun". This is a hyperbole because rocks never melt.
f. What is a refrain? Why is
it used in the poem? Explain citing an example from the poem.
Ans: Refrain is phrase,
line or group of lines repeated at intervals, generally at the end of the
stanzas.
The line "And I will love
thee still, my dear" has become a refrain because it has been repeated in
the second and the third stanzas.
Reference beyond the text
a. What kind of love is
expressed in "A Red Red Rose"?
Ans: A very romantic and
passionate love is expressed in this poem. As the title indicates the speaker
is totally in deep love with the girl.
The metaphor "My love is
like a red red rose" gives the expression of his love.
His love is undying and unending.
It will never fade away whatever happens in future. Every image in
the poem tells his deep faithful love for her.
b. Do you think that love has
power? Why do the poets compose poems addressing their beloved?
Ans: Love is a strong
feeling of affection towards someone or something special. One can do anything
to keep this love. If love teaches us to endure (tolerate) any harsh situation
in life, it also helps us take right direction in life.
Love has different types: love
for life, parental love, love for country or love for nation. Every way love is
strong. It influences every part of our lives. It is not only enough to love somebody;
it is also important to express it.
A poem is a collection spoken or
written words, including ideas and emotions powerfully in a beautiful way.
Poets express their emotions
through poems more easily. It is difficult to express such emotions through
other mediums. In order to express their love, feelings or emotions powerfully
they address their beloveds. They also immortalize their beloved in this way.
But it is not always that all the poems are addressed to beloveds.
c. Poetry is the expression of
feelings and emotions. Explain.
Ans: Poetry is a
vehicle to express one's thoughts and expressions in a beautiful way.
There is a saying in Hindi: the first poem must have been written by dipping
pen in tears. Here 'tears' certainly indicates emotions.
Poetry reflects a person's
emotional condition at one time.
Poets express different emotions.
It is not only love that they express, they also express emotions like pain,
separation, hatred, desire, happiness etc. There are poems about seasons, fear,
love for country etc. Any human emotion gets expressed through poetry in a
powerful way.
So, there is no debate that poetry is the expression of every human feeling.