WEEK 3

What statements can you make about the use of the rose by the female poet and the male poets?Is there any significant difference?

In Parker's "rose" the rose is seen as a symbol of the lover's feelings and love towards the persona. The "rose" is a symbol of their relationship."A single flow'r he sent me, since we met." The rose is also the lover's protection and he uses that guise to defend himself in their relationship. Claiming that he's already presented a rose to her so it should be enough. "Love long has taken for his amulet."

On the other hand, Blake and Frost use the "rose" to symbolise women. Blake's "rose" is naive, innocent and vulnerable. "O Rose, thou art sick!" He's annoyed and angry at the woman for feeling so helpless in the relationship."And his dark secret love Does thy life destroy?" Frost's "rose" shows us that his lover is not only beautiful but engaging and special. "You, of course, are a rose But were always a rose." He states there is many types of beauty, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, " The dear only knows What will next prove a rose."

Arththi Sathananthar25/7/09