The Rhodora Analysis

On Being Asked, Whence Is The Flower?

In May, when sea-winds pierced our solitudes,
I found the fresh Rhodora in the woods,
Spreading its leafless blooms in a damp nook,
To please the desert and the sluggish brook.
The purple petals, fallen in the pool,
Made the black water with their beauty gay;
Here might the red-bird come his plumes to cool,
And court the flower that cheapens his array.
Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why
This charm is wasted on the earth and sky,
Tell them, dear, that if eyes were made for seeing,
Then Beauty is its own excuse for being:
Why thou wert there, O rival of the rose!
I never thought to ask, I never knew:
But, in my simple ignorance, suppose
The self-same Power that brought me there brought you.

.: :.

There is much symbolism used within this poem, with the rhodora itself representing nature in its entirety. The rhodora is described as subtle beauty which is compared to the man-made. Other aspects of the surroundings, such as the "red-bird" or "black water" are used in comparison with the rhodora to emphasise it's beauty; it makes the water look dull and black, and even outshines the brightness of the "red-bird come his plumes to col, and court the flower that cheapens his array". The rose is also in this poem seen as something that is outwardly beautiful and universally recognised as perhaps the most beautiful and romantic flower of all. However, we can see that Emerson rivals the rhodora with the rose, showing that he indeed holds the rhodora in very high esteem and thinks that everyone else should too. Finally, in the last line, the "self-same power" means god, who serves as a connection between humans and nature.
Other features of this poem include the use of personification in aiding with the striking imagery of the flower, evoking the readings to feel some appreciation for the flower.
Rhythm - use of iambic pentameter to help with flow. there is also rhyme within this text.
Most importantly of all, the most prominent theme as communicated in this text would most definitely be that of nature and its hidden and incomparable beauty. In keeping with Emerson's belief in transcendentalism, this beauty is also described in reference to the Rhodora having a connection to god.

| Posted on 2009-11-17 | by a guest

.: :.

In the last line of the poem...
THe rhodora is derived from the same universal higher power that created him. He's connecting humans with nature, saying that every living thing has the same divine essence. Here, he is talking about God who created both human and nature.

| Posted on 2009-05-08 | by a guest

.: Transcendentalism :.

(whence always means from where)
This poem reflects Emerson's deep appreciation for nature and the beauty that he constantly found in it. He prefers the wild and natural rhodora to the pruned, indoor, and tamed rose.
There is a great emphasis on color and imagery in this poem as well.

| Posted on 2008-02-06 | by a guest

.: The Preface of The Poem :.

According to the statement that prefaces this poem, the poem attempts to explain what is special about this ordinary plant. In the heading, “whence” doesn’t necessarily mean when, but from where, or from what origin. Therefore, the heading of the poem implies that someone asked the speaker where the flower came from. This is another way of asking what is so special about this ordinary shrub.

| Posted on 2007-11-28 | by a guest