| Famous Poetry | Anime Roleplay | Free Video Tutorials | Online Poetry Club | Free Education | Best of Youtube | Ear Training
The Sick Rose Analysis
Author: Poetry of William Blake Type: Poetry Views: 6294
 |
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.
Sponsor
Free Online Education from Top Universities
Yes! It's true. Online College Education is now free!
Streaming Anime Online
Watch full streaming anime episodes free.
||| Analysis | Critique | Overview Below |||
.: :.
I believe that the rose represents Britain and the ways in which the country is corrupt. It is very common for Blake to question society and the 'dark secret love' is referring to prostitutes. thank you very much
| Posted on 2009-11-18 | by a guest
I believe that the rose represents Britain and the ways in which the country is corrupt. It is very common for Blake to question society and the 'dark secret love' is referring to prostitutes. thank you very much
| Posted on 2009-11-18 | by a guest
.: :.
THE MESSAGE "Posted on 2008-06-30 | by a guest" is favored.
| Posted on 2009-11-17 | by a guest
THE MESSAGE "Posted on 2008-06-30 | by a guest" is favored.
| Posted on 2009-11-17 | by a guest
.: :.
funny poem huh!! i think it's a very babyish and meaningless poem cause i don't understand no literature at all.
| Posted on 2009-11-15 | by a guest
funny poem huh!! i think it's a very babyish and meaningless poem cause i don't understand no literature at all.
| Posted on 2009-11-15 | by a guest
.: :.
this poem can be explained as that blake personifies the rose as children who are innocent, and the worm is an evil creature that signifies death and is enjoying to destroy the life of the rose, as mentioned (crimson joy)i.e,red signifies danger, and can be said as ''dangerous joy''.i am just a 12 year old child who has given a great explanation.look at you old people!
| Posted on 2009-11-14 | by a guest
this poem can be explained as that blake personifies the rose as children who are innocent, and the worm is an evil creature that signifies death and is enjoying to destroy the life of the rose, as mentioned (crimson joy)i.e,red signifies danger, and can be said as ''dangerous joy''.i am just a 12 year old child who has given a great explanation.look at you old people!
| Posted on 2009-11-14 | by a guest
.: :.
You guys are nuts!
it clearly states that a flower (rose) is being corrupted.
Here is the poem translated into it's true meaning:
THE UNHEALTHY FLOWER
o flower, you are dying!
the undetectable parasite
That is part bat
in the yelling hurricane
has discovered your sleeping place
of deep-red happiness
and the parasites unknown African passion
your living self eliminates
so, it clearly states that the parasite was extremely perverted, and liked playing bongo drums.
DUH!!! you guys are crazy. I'm related to him. (not directly though)
| Posted on 2009-11-10 | by a guest
You guys are nuts!
it clearly states that a flower (rose) is being corrupted.
Here is the poem translated into it's true meaning:
THE UNHEALTHY FLOWER
o flower, you are dying!
the undetectable parasite
That is part bat
in the yelling hurricane
has discovered your sleeping place
of deep-red happiness
and the parasites unknown African passion
your living self eliminates
so, it clearly states that the parasite was extremely perverted, and liked playing bongo drums.
DUH!!! you guys are crazy. I'm related to him. (not directly though)
| Posted on 2009-11-10 | by a guest
.: :.
The "rose" is a beautiful maiden who has recently lost her virginity (hence "crimson" joy). The "sick"ness which she suffers from is nothing more than "morning sickness", the usual side-effect of pregnancy. The "invisible worm" is the sperm-like homunculus that was then imagined to swim out of the man's testes into the woman's womb in the heat of sexual intercourse ("howling storm").
We know that it was a clandestine relationship ("dark secret love") and that she therefore stands little hope of marrying her lover. And giving birth or even losing virginity out of wedlock would at that time inevitably destroy her prospects in life.
It's a beautiful poem, one of my favorites. I have read it to all my children in turn. They normally interpret it literally, as some kind of viral blight of roses whose spores are carried on the wind at night. It's a sad poem, no matter how it is interpreted, but electrifying in its intensity.
| Posted on 2009-11-04 | by a guest
The "rose" is a beautiful maiden who has recently lost her virginity (hence "crimson" joy). The "sick"ness which she suffers from is nothing more than "morning sickness", the usual side-effect of pregnancy. The "invisible worm" is the sperm-like homunculus that was then imagined to swim out of the man's testes into the woman's womb in the heat of sexual intercourse ("howling storm").
We know that it was a clandestine relationship ("dark secret love") and that she therefore stands little hope of marrying her lover. And giving birth or even losing virginity out of wedlock would at that time inevitably destroy her prospects in life.
It's a beautiful poem, one of my favorites. I have read it to all my children in turn. They normally interpret it literally, as some kind of viral blight of roses whose spores are carried on the wind at night. It's a sad poem, no matter how it is interpreted, but electrifying in its intensity.
| Posted on 2009-11-04 | by a guest
.: :.
No, im pretty sure the rose is a representation of love and an actual rose at the same time. The rose is sick, so it shows that the love is tainted and they cannot see it because the cause is the "invisible worm". The bed can represent both the flowerbed of the rose, and the bed of the narrators lover. The invisible worm is a representation of rotting/decaying, so in return the sickness is rotting the rose, and the love they share. he “crimson joy” of the rose connotes both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy- the rose's happy attitude towards life is in return tainted by the presence of shame and secrecy that our society reflects towards love.
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
No, im pretty sure the rose is a representation of love and an actual rose at the same time. The rose is sick, so it shows that the love is tainted and they cannot see it because the cause is the "invisible worm". The bed can represent both the flowerbed of the rose, and the bed of the narrators lover. The invisible worm is a representation of rotting/decaying, so in return the sickness is rotting the rose, and the love they share. he “crimson joy” of the rose connotes both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy- the rose's happy attitude towards life is in return tainted by the presence of shame and secrecy that our society reflects towards love.
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
.: :.
i thnk in ths poem poet is discribing te beauty of world.n he is telling us that uman is distroying his world by his own hand!!!e is sprding dirt...poluion etc n by ts or hs beatifulk world which is ful of trees...etc...they r cuting n finishing the beauty of the world.n one day ths beauy wil b finishd by human
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
i thnk in ths poem poet is discribing te beauty of world.n he is telling us that uman is distroying his world by his own hand!!!e is sprding dirt...poluion etc n by ts or hs beatifulk world which is ful of trees...etc...they r cuting n finishing the beauty of the world.n one day ths beauy wil b finishd by human
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
.: :.
i thnk in ths poem poet is discribing te beauty of world.n he is telling us that uman is distroying his world by his own hand!!!e is sprding dirt...poluion etc n by ts or hs beatifulk world which is ful of trees...etc...they r cuting n finishing the beauty of the world.n one day ths beauy wil b finishd by human
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
i thnk in ths poem poet is discribing te beauty of world.n he is telling us that uman is distroying his world by his own hand!!!e is sprding dirt...poluion etc n by ts or hs beatifulk world which is ful of trees...etc...they r cuting n finishing the beauty of the world.n one day ths beauy wil b finishd by human
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
.: :.
i think the sick rose is a girl who has got a illness and has got it from a dirty man who likes to give it rough
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
i think the sick rose is a girl who has got a illness and has got it from a dirty man who likes to give it rough
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem is about a man wanting Sex from a diseased woman
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
This poem is about a man wanting Sex from a diseased woman
| Posted on 2009-11-03 | by a guest
.: :.
When the poem starts “O Rose, thou art sick!” the author is telling the woman that she has an illness. Then Blake talks about her lover, by saying that he is an “invisible worm” he is calling him a parasite, which infects people. Thus he is saying that her lover had an illness which he infected her with and by saying that he “flies in the night” it probably referring to his infidelities. Then we come to the union of this woman and her lover. The author talks about the pain the woman feels when her lover takes her virginity by referring her pain to the “howling storm”, on the other hand he talks about the pleasure that her lover gets from taking her virginity by saying that “Has found out thy bed, Of crimson joy”. But then he tells her the result of this union caused her to get the disease from her lover, because of “his dark secret love” or his infidelities. But as a result the author tells us that she dies by saying that “Does thy life destroy”, that her lover was the cause of her death.
| Posted on 2009-10-27 | by a guest
When the poem starts “O Rose, thou art sick!” the author is telling the woman that she has an illness. Then Blake talks about her lover, by saying that he is an “invisible worm” he is calling him a parasite, which infects people. Thus he is saying that her lover had an illness which he infected her with and by saying that he “flies in the night” it probably referring to his infidelities. Then we come to the union of this woman and her lover. The author talks about the pain the woman feels when her lover takes her virginity by referring her pain to the “howling storm”, on the other hand he talks about the pleasure that her lover gets from taking her virginity by saying that “Has found out thy bed, Of crimson joy”. But then he tells her the result of this union caused her to get the disease from her lover, because of “his dark secret love” or his infidelities. But as a result the author tells us that she dies by saying that “Does thy life destroy”, that her lover was the cause of her death.
| Posted on 2009-10-27 | by a guest
.: :.
The poem is most deffinatly about a woman, but it is about a woman who has had a miscarriage. That is the illness. Sound far-fetched? That's whay I thought until I studied it in my Readings in Poetry class in college. Most people don't know Blake was an artist as well as a poet. He illustrated most of his poems. Type in this poem in Google images and the picture will come up. Look at it very carefully. You will see the vines and flowers twisted in the shapes of doubled-over women. The invisible 'worm' is the undeveloped child. The 'howling storm' is the woman suffering from miscarriage pains. The 'crimson joy' is the blood. The 'he' mentioned is the father of the child, most likely a married man, who never wanted a 'bastard child.' Finally, the end implies that not only has the child died, but the woman has as well.
| Posted on 2009-10-02 | by a guest
The poem is most deffinatly about a woman, but it is about a woman who has had a miscarriage. That is the illness. Sound far-fetched? That's whay I thought until I studied it in my Readings in Poetry class in college. Most people don't know Blake was an artist as well as a poet. He illustrated most of his poems. Type in this poem in Google images and the picture will come up. Look at it very carefully. You will see the vines and flowers twisted in the shapes of doubled-over women. The invisible 'worm' is the undeveloped child. The 'howling storm' is the woman suffering from miscarriage pains. The 'crimson joy' is the blood. The 'he' mentioned is the father of the child, most likely a married man, who never wanted a 'bastard child.' Finally, the end implies that not only has the child died, but the woman has as well.
| Posted on 2009-10-02 | by a guest
.: :.
It is quite amazing how many different theories can come from so few lines of poetry. I am currently studying this in an A level class and we interpreted the poem to be about a woman who's life is being destroyed by a form of illness. Our guess at this illness was syphilis as it was very common in the era in which the poem was written and doomed many. We understood the sick rose to be an innocent woman suffering from an illness passed on by somebody else. We thought through that to and decided it was a lover/husband who had sex with a prostitute (also very common) and gave the disease to an innocent love. We also looked at the worm as a phallic symbol. The howling storm represents the effects of the disease and the secon stanza looks on how the disease has invaded and corrupted the "bed of crimson joy." We understand that the bed would have been a place for joy (in a sexual manner) before the onset of the disease. This is one of the many interpretations of this poem.
Sozz92 - A Level Student
| Posted on 2009-09-30 | by a guest
It is quite amazing how many different theories can come from so few lines of poetry. I am currently studying this in an A level class and we interpreted the poem to be about a woman who's life is being destroyed by a form of illness. Our guess at this illness was syphilis as it was very common in the era in which the poem was written and doomed many. We understood the sick rose to be an innocent woman suffering from an illness passed on by somebody else. We thought through that to and decided it was a lover/husband who had sex with a prostitute (also very common) and gave the disease to an innocent love. We also looked at the worm as a phallic symbol. The howling storm represents the effects of the disease and the secon stanza looks on how the disease has invaded and corrupted the "bed of crimson joy." We understand that the bed would have been a place for joy (in a sexual manner) before the onset of the disease. This is one of the many interpretations of this poem.
Sozz92 - A Level Student
| Posted on 2009-09-30 | by a guest
.: :.
I THINK THE POEM IS ABOUT HOW ONE LOVES CHICKEN TIKKA
| Posted on 2009-09-28 | by a guest
I THINK THE POEM IS ABOUT HOW ONE LOVES CHICKEN TIKKA
| Posted on 2009-09-28 | by a guest
.: :.
In William Blake’s poem, “The Sick Rose,” the narrator describes the devastating effects of addiction and obsession.
The diction of the poem’s first line, “O rose, thou art sick!” indicates that the speaker is alerting the rose of her “illness.” Had it been a casual observation, that the rose was under the weather the use of an “imperative” or exclamation point would have been unnecessary. The term “rose” as used by Blake in this context is a metaphor for a young, pure, innocent woman. The innocent rose, is unaware of the dangers that the worm, her addiction, poses to her life. The image of an invisible worm flying in the night connotes a secret and dangerous behavior which is polluting and destroying her. The insidious worm, whether it be an older married man, alcohol or heroin, manifests itself in the night while the world sleeps. Once the worm enters the young woman’s bedroom, after flying through the “howling storm,” she succumbs to its dark secret appeal. The phrase “has found thy bed, creates the impression that the temptation has infiltrated her secure sanctuary, her “bed.” The fact that it has entered her bedroom at night is support for the proposition that she is at her most vulnerable and powerless to protect herself from the dangers that the dark stranger poses to her health, virtue and sanity. The concluding phrase “Does thy life destroy” reinforces the narrator’s conviction that the addiction or corrupting influence is literally killing her despite the fact that the evil worm secretly loves her and she him. It is quite simply a tale of destructive forces drawn together by madness, addiction or fate.
Posted by a Ninth Grader- Good Luck to All! (9/10/2009
| Posted on 2009-09-08 | by a guest
In William Blake’s poem, “The Sick Rose,” the narrator describes the devastating effects of addiction and obsession.
The diction of the poem’s first line, “O rose, thou art sick!” indicates that the speaker is alerting the rose of her “illness.” Had it been a casual observation, that the rose was under the weather the use of an “imperative” or exclamation point would have been unnecessary. The term “rose” as used by Blake in this context is a metaphor for a young, pure, innocent woman. The innocent rose, is unaware of the dangers that the worm, her addiction, poses to her life. The image of an invisible worm flying in the night connotes a secret and dangerous behavior which is polluting and destroying her. The insidious worm, whether it be an older married man, alcohol or heroin, manifests itself in the night while the world sleeps. Once the worm enters the young woman’s bedroom, after flying through the “howling storm,” she succumbs to its dark secret appeal. The phrase “has found thy bed, creates the impression that the temptation has infiltrated her secure sanctuary, her “bed.” The fact that it has entered her bedroom at night is support for the proposition that she is at her most vulnerable and powerless to protect herself from the dangers that the dark stranger poses to her health, virtue and sanity. The concluding phrase “Does thy life destroy” reinforces the narrator’s conviction that the addiction or corrupting influence is literally killing her despite the fact that the evil worm secretly loves her and she him. It is quite simply a tale of destructive forces drawn together by madness, addiction or fate.
Posted by a Ninth Grader- Good Luck to All! (9/10/2009
| Posted on 2009-09-08 | by a guest
.: :.
Taylor Viggiano, 9B
Literature – Mr. Calhoun
August 17, 2009
“Sick Rose” By William Blake
In William Blake’s poem, “The Sick Rose,” the narrator describes the devastating effects of addiction and obsession.
The diction of the poem’s first line, “O rose, thou art sick!” indicates that the speaker is alerting the rose of her “illness.” Had it been a casual observation, that the rose was under the weather the use of an “imperative” or exclamation point would have been unnecessary. The term “rose” as used by Blake in this context is a metaphor for a young, pure, innocent woman. The innocent rose, is unaware of the dangers that the worm, her addiction, poses to her life. The image of an invisible worm flying in the night connotes a secret and dangerous behavior which is polluting and destroying her. The insidious worm, whether it be an older married man, alcohol or heroin, manifests itself in the night while the world sleeps. Once the worm enters the young woman’s bedroom, after flying through the “howling storm,” she succumbs to its dark secret appeal. The phrase “has found thy bed, creates the impression that the temptation has infiltrated her secure sanctuary, her “bed.” The fact that it has entered her bedroom at night is support for the proposition that she is at her most vulnerable and powerless to protect herself from the dangers that the dark stranger poses to her health, virtue and sanity. The concluding phrase “Does thy life destroy” reinforces the narrator’s conviction that the addiction or corrupting influence is literally killing her despite the fact that the evil worm secretly loves her and she him. It is quite simply a tale of destructive forces drawn together by madness, addiction or fate.
Posted by a Ninth Grader- Good Luck to All! (9/10/2009
| Posted on 2009-09-08 | by a guest
Taylor Viggiano, 9B
Literature – Mr. Calhoun
August 17, 2009
“Sick Rose” By William Blake
In William Blake’s poem, “The Sick Rose,” the narrator describes the devastating effects of addiction and obsession.
The diction of the poem’s first line, “O rose, thou art sick!” indicates that the speaker is alerting the rose of her “illness.” Had it been a casual observation, that the rose was under the weather the use of an “imperative” or exclamation point would have been unnecessary. The term “rose” as used by Blake in this context is a metaphor for a young, pure, innocent woman. The innocent rose, is unaware of the dangers that the worm, her addiction, poses to her life. The image of an invisible worm flying in the night connotes a secret and dangerous behavior which is polluting and destroying her. The insidious worm, whether it be an older married man, alcohol or heroin, manifests itself in the night while the world sleeps. Once the worm enters the young woman’s bedroom, after flying through the “howling storm,” she succumbs to its dark secret appeal. The phrase “has found thy bed, creates the impression that the temptation has infiltrated her secure sanctuary, her “bed.” The fact that it has entered her bedroom at night is support for the proposition that she is at her most vulnerable and powerless to protect herself from the dangers that the dark stranger poses to her health, virtue and sanity. The concluding phrase “Does thy life destroy” reinforces the narrator’s conviction that the addiction or corrupting influence is literally killing her despite the fact that the evil worm secretly loves her and she him. It is quite simply a tale of destructive forces drawn together by madness, addiction or fate.
Posted by a Ninth Grader- Good Luck to All! (9/10/2009
| Posted on 2009-09-08 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem was written by blake as part of his depressed reflections on the Industrial Revolution, therfore. the rose represents humanity and nature as an entity of free willed happiness.
The worm, represents both industrialism, and anything polluting of nature, it seeks out beauty and corrupts it.
This clearly expresses the romantic ideals and tenets that co-inside with Blake's writing, as not only does he place high value on the human spirit, but also on the beauty of nature and disgust at industrialism
| Posted on 2009-08-25 | by a guest
This poem was written by blake as part of his depressed reflections on the Industrial Revolution, therfore. the rose represents humanity and nature as an entity of free willed happiness.
The worm, represents both industrialism, and anything polluting of nature, it seeks out beauty and corrupts it.
This clearly expresses the romantic ideals and tenets that co-inside with Blake's writing, as not only does he place high value on the human spirit, but also on the beauty of nature and disgust at industrialism
| Posted on 2009-08-25 | by a guest
.: :.
the sick rose represents the woman who wrongly inloved to the married man,the worm which represents to be invisible because that man is hiding to his wife.On that flies at night this represents that they see the woman in the dark side which nobody can recognized them.in the howling storm which means they are caught by the legal wife in bed. which is a big no, no, no, of crimson joy which means of sexual pleasure and shame....and his dark secret love it is the extra marital relationship which is bad. Does the life destroy thy life means, this means that incase the legal wife will file a case againts to his husband and to her.this will destroy her life
BY: MLGONOS
| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest
the sick rose represents the woman who wrongly inloved to the married man,the worm which represents to be invisible because that man is hiding to his wife.On that flies at night this represents that they see the woman in the dark side which nobody can recognized them.in the howling storm which means they are caught by the legal wife in bed. which is a big no, no, no, of crimson joy which means of sexual pleasure and shame....and his dark secret love it is the extra marital relationship which is bad. Does the life destroy thy life means, this means that incase the legal wife will file a case againts to his husband and to her.this will destroy her life
BY: MLGONOS
| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest
.: :.
the sick rose represents the woman who wrongly inloved to the married man,the worm which represents to be invisible because that man is hiding to his wife.On that flies at night this represents that they see the woman in the dark side which nobody can recognized them.in the howling storm which means they are caught by the legal wife in bed. which is a big no, no, no, of crimson joy which means of sexual pleasure and shame....and his dark secret love it is the extra marital relationship which is bad. Does the life destroy thy life means, this means that incase the legal wife will file a case againts to his husband and to her.this will destroy her life
| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest
the sick rose represents the woman who wrongly inloved to the married man,the worm which represents to be invisible because that man is hiding to his wife.On that flies at night this represents that they see the woman in the dark side which nobody can recognized them.in the howling storm which means they are caught by the legal wife in bed. which is a big no, no, no, of crimson joy which means of sexual pleasure and shame....and his dark secret love it is the extra marital relationship which is bad. Does the life destroy thy life means, this means that incase the legal wife will file a case againts to his husband and to her.this will destroy her life
| Posted on 2009-06-24 | by a guest
.: :.
guys wot imaged did blake use to illustarte the sick rose? thnx
| Posted on 2009-05-10 | by a guest
guys wot imaged did blake use to illustarte the sick rose? thnx
| Posted on 2009-05-10 | by a guest
.: :.
My analisis is: this poem talks about dark, secret, passionate, sex : wonderful sex !!!! only that the woman the rose is abused by the invisible worm a man.
| Posted on 2009-05-08 | by a guest
My analisis is: this poem talks about dark, secret, passionate, sex : wonderful sex !!!! only that the woman the rose is abused by the invisible worm a man.
| Posted on 2009-05-08 | by a guest
.: :.
guys i bet u the guy just like made up a song and we extracted all this from it! lol XD
| Posted on 2009-03-16 | by a guest
guys i bet u the guy just like made up a song and we extracted all this from it! lol XD
| Posted on 2009-03-16 | by a guest
.: :.
i have no idea what does it mean in relation to secret life of bees
| Posted on 2009-02-10 | by a guest
i have no idea what does it mean in relation to secret life of bees
| Posted on 2009-02-10 | by a guest
.: :.
i have no idea what does it mean in relation to secret life of bees
| Posted on 2009-02-10 | by a guest
i have no idea what does it mean in relation to secret life of bees
| Posted on 2009-02-10 | by a guest
.: :.
First of all, i think that everyone's opinion is true in their own way.
But if you look at the history of William Blake himself, his last poems were based upon his "visions" which were of the after life, angels and heaven.
The rose represents the earth: the population.
It's sick because it's the end of the world as we know it.
the invisible worm who flies in the night is death.
he flies in a howling storm because death strikes thousands of people. it's a disaster.
death finds the people at night when everyone is happy.(crimson joy).
And "his" represents "god's" dark love for all of us
and the last line, is saying because of His love, everyone's life ends (destroy).
which would be good because everyone would be released to heaven.
**this could apply to the atheists.
| Posted on 2009-02-02 | by a guest
First of all, i think that everyone's opinion is true in their own way.
But if you look at the history of William Blake himself, his last poems were based upon his "visions" which were of the after life, angels and heaven.
The rose represents the earth: the population.
It's sick because it's the end of the world as we know it.
the invisible worm who flies in the night is death.
he flies in a howling storm because death strikes thousands of people. it's a disaster.
death finds the people at night when everyone is happy.(crimson joy).
And "his" represents "god's" dark love for all of us
and the last line, is saying because of His love, everyone's life ends (destroy).
which would be good because everyone would be released to heaven.
**this could apply to the atheists.
| Posted on 2009-02-02 | by a guest
.: :.
This poem was used in a prose called 'Educating Rita'. I think that many of the analysis comments present here ar quite remarkable, however I would like to comment on how the poem helped to shape the play. 'Rita' is a 26 year old, working-class Liverpudlian who on a journey to become 'educated' (thus the title of the play)and attends an Open University course where she is turored by a university literature lecturer named Dr Frank Bryce. The poem is used interesingly in the context of the play as Frank does not want to change Rita as he thinks that her uniquness is very special and he does not want her to lose that. Despite this, Rita does want to change evry much and this poem talks about how she has distorted herself and has become just another literate in a mass of literates. The most interesting part is the very opening line of the poem 'O Rose, thou art sick!' This represets that Rita is not well, she's not herself anymore, she's losing her former personality and style. The rest of the play may represent education itself, the term 'education' covered by the word 'love', and the fact that it can make or break you - 'Does thy life destroy'. You should read the play if you can, it's great and speaks a lot about the social order of the 1970s and 1980s.
| Posted on 2009-01-05 | by a guest
This poem was used in a prose called 'Educating Rita'. I think that many of the analysis comments present here ar quite remarkable, however I would like to comment on how the poem helped to shape the play. 'Rita' is a 26 year old, working-class Liverpudlian who on a journey to become 'educated' (thus the title of the play)and attends an Open University course where she is turored by a university literature lecturer named Dr Frank Bryce. The poem is used interesingly in the context of the play as Frank does not want to change Rita as he thinks that her uniquness is very special and he does not want her to lose that. Despite this, Rita does want to change evry much and this poem talks about how she has distorted herself and has become just another literate in a mass of literates. The most interesting part is the very opening line of the poem 'O Rose, thou art sick!' This represets that Rita is not well, she's not herself anymore, she's losing her former personality and style. The rest of the play may represent education itself, the term 'education' covered by the word 'love', and the fact that it can make or break you - 'Does thy life destroy'. You should read the play if you can, it's great and speaks a lot about the social order of the 1970s and 1980s.
| Posted on 2009-01-05 | by a guest
.: :.
This is an amazing poem, it represents so much! All of your explanations are correct, even if Blake himself did not intend his poem to cover so many areas. It is what the reader gets out of it that matters, what the writer meant it to mean is not AS important.
| Posted on 2008-11-26 | by a guest
This is an amazing poem, it represents so much! All of your explanations are correct, even if Blake himself did not intend his poem to cover so many areas. It is what the reader gets out of it that matters, what the writer meant it to mean is not AS important.
| Posted on 2008-11-26 | by a guest
.: :.
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
.: :.
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
.: :.
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
.: :.
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
All of you don't know his code of thinking,why lose the time.This is fantasy colored just of him,and we have a million options.Which is true?.Bestari59.
| Posted on 2008-10-26 | by a guest
.: :.
I believe the rose is someone who is innocent and pure (such as a young woman), and the invisible worm is a temptation or corruption. She innocently gives in to this specific temptation without any other thought and is destroyed by her decision.
| Posted on 2008-10-21 | by a guest
I believe the rose is someone who is innocent and pure (such as a young woman), and the invisible worm is a temptation or corruption. She innocently gives in to this specific temptation without any other thought and is destroyed by her decision.
| Posted on 2008-10-21 | by a guest
.: :.
Syphilis was rampant in London at the time. This is a poem about that disease - someone look at it from that angle and see what you can come up with.
.
| Posted on 2008-09-29 | by a guest
Syphilis was rampant in London at the time. This is a poem about that disease - someone look at it from that angle and see what you can come up with.
.
| Posted on 2008-09-29 | by a guest
.: :.
FOR ALL USING THIS SITE, THE VERY FIRST POST HAS BEEN COPIED AND PASTED x YOU USE EXTRACTS FROM THIS COMMENT, YOU !!!MUST!!! ADD THIS WEBSITE TO YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY, OR EVEN USE THE IDEAS IN IT, YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
| Posted on 2008-08-01 | by a guest
FOR ALL USING THIS SITE, THE VERY FIRST POST HAS BEEN COPIED AND PASTED x YOU USE EXTRACTS FROM THIS COMMENT, YOU !!!MUST!!! ADD THIS WEBSITE TO YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY, OR EVEN USE THE IDEAS IN IT, YOU MUST GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE
| Posted on 2008-08-01 | by a guest
.: :.
.While the rose exists as a beautiful natural object that has become infected by a worm, it also exists as a literary rose, the conventional symbol of love. The image of the worm resonates with the Biblical serpent and also suggests a phallus. Worms are quintessentially earthbound, and symbolize death and decay. The "bed" into which the worm creeps denotes both the natural flowerbed and also the lovers' bed. The rose is sick, and the poem implies that love is sick as well. Yet the rose is unaware of its sickness. Of course, an actual rose could not know anything about its own condition, and so the emphasis falls on the allegorical suggestion that it is love that does not recognize its own ailing state. This results partly from the insidious secrecy with which the "worm" performs its work of corruption--not only is it invisible, it enters the bed at night. This secrecy indeed constitutes part of the infection itself. The "crimson joy" of the rose connotes both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy. The rose's joyful attitude toward love is tainted by the aura of shame and secrecy that our culture attaches to love. -I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ACTUAL INTERPRETATION TO THIS POEM-
| Posted on 2008-06-30 | by a guest
.While the rose exists as a beautiful natural object that has become infected by a worm, it also exists as a literary rose, the conventional symbol of love. The image of the worm resonates with the Biblical serpent and also suggests a phallus. Worms are quintessentially earthbound, and symbolize death and decay. The "bed" into which the worm creeps denotes both the natural flowerbed and also the lovers' bed. The rose is sick, and the poem implies that love is sick as well. Yet the rose is unaware of its sickness. Of course, an actual rose could not know anything about its own condition, and so the emphasis falls on the allegorical suggestion that it is love that does not recognize its own ailing state. This results partly from the insidious secrecy with which the "worm" performs its work of corruption--not only is it invisible, it enters the bed at night. This secrecy indeed constitutes part of the infection itself. The "crimson joy" of the rose connotes both sexual pleasure and shame, thus joining the two concepts in a way that Blake thought was perverted and unhealthy. The rose's joyful attitude toward love is tainted by the aura of shame and secrecy that our culture attaches to love. -I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS THE ACTUAL INTERPRETATION TO THIS POEM-
| Posted on 2008-06-30 | by a guest
.: Sick people! :.
This was Blake's view on the changes within England at the time, parallel to the french revolution. The Rose is the symbol of England.
| Posted on 2008-05-22 | by a guest
This was Blake's view on the changes within England at the time, parallel to the french revolution. The Rose is the symbol of England.
| Posted on 2008-05-22 | by a guest
.: hello :.
the poem tries to deal with the dicripancy found between satisfying the desires and eradicating the restrictions of soceity .the speaking voice in this poem may be the mother of the girl , she blames her for what she has done .generally speaking , the romanticist go that a human should act spontaneously without any restrictions , but at the same time in a harmony .
| Posted on 2008-05-20 | by a guest
the poem tries to deal with the dicripancy found between satisfying the desires and eradicating the restrictions of soceity .the speaking voice in this poem may be the mother of the girl , she blames her for what she has done .generally speaking , the romanticist go that a human should act spontaneously without any restrictions , but at the same time in a harmony .
| Posted on 2008-05-20 | by a guest
.: The Sick Rose :.
This poem is actually pretty good. It kinda seems to illustrate the way that love and life are nowadays. It seems as if Blake is describing a forbidden love and the loss of a young girls innocence, which winds up ruining her life.
| Posted on 2008-04-17 | by a guest
This poem is actually pretty good. It kinda seems to illustrate the way that love and life are nowadays. It seems as if Blake is describing a forbidden love and the loss of a young girls innocence, which winds up ruining her life.
| Posted on 2008-04-17 | by a guest
.: The Sick Rose :.
It speaks clearly to me of Child abuse. The harm done to the child is terrific. It destroys her life and the unfortunate mate's as well. Having this experience and witnessing the life-long harm everything fit fit for me. Had I not read earlier posts I would not have been able to envision another interpretation. I don't think Blake would write about STD. The STD was a scourge, but a pedestrian scourge. It be like say war is bad.
| Posted on 2008-03-07 | by a guest
It speaks clearly to me of Child abuse. The harm done to the child is terrific. It destroys her life and the unfortunate mate's as well. Having this experience and witnessing the life-long harm everything fit fit for me. Had I not read earlier posts I would not have been able to envision another interpretation. I don't think Blake would write about STD. The STD was a scourge, but a pedestrian scourge. It be like say war is bad.
| Posted on 2008-03-07 | by a guest
Post your Analysis
122 Free Video Tutorials
I make free video tutorials on youtube such as Basic HTML and CSS,
and Learn PHP..
Free Online Education from Top Universities
Yes! It's true. College Education is now free!
Most common keywords
The Sick Rose Analysis William Blake critical analysis of poem, review school overview. Analysis of the poem. literary terms. Definition terms. Why did he use? short summary describing. The Sick Rose Analysis William Blake Characters archetypes. Sparknotes bookrags the meaning summary overview critique of explanation pinkmonkey. Quick fast explanatory summary. pinkmonkey free cliffnotes cliffnotes ebook pdf doc file essay summary literary terms analysis professional definition summary synopsis sinopsis interpretation critique The Sick Rose Analysis William Blake itunes audio book mp4 mp3 mit ocw Online Education homework forum help
Poetry 14
Poetry 92
Poetry 34
Poetry 127
Poetry 60
Poetry 27
Poetry 36
Poetry 85
Poetry 37
Poetry 89
Poetry 215
Poetry 153
Poetry 78
Poetry 217
Poetry 206
Poetry 214
Poetry 204
Poetry 16
Poetry 195
Poetry 40