A Red, Red Rose , – By Robert Burns

A Red, Red Rose

            -By Robert Burns

O my Luve is like a red, red rose

That’s newly sprung in June;

O my Luve is like the melody

That’s sweetly played in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;

I will love thee still, my dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!

And fare thee weel awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Though it were ten thousand mile.

 

Bengali Translation:

আমার ভালোবাসা লাল লাল গোলাপের মতো

যেটি জুন মাসে নতুনভাবে ফুটেছে;

হে আমার ভালোবাসা সুরের মতো

যে মধুর সুরে বাজে

তুমি যেমন সুন্দর, আমার বনি মেয়ে,

এত গভীর প্রেমে আমি;

এবং আমি তোমাকে এখনও ভালবাসব, আমার প্রিয়,

যতক্ষণ না সমুদ্রের দল শুকিয়ে যায়;

যতক্ষণ না সমুদ্রের দল শুকিয়ে যায়, আমার প্রিয়,

এবং শিলা সূর্যের সাথে গলে যায়;

এবং আমি তোমাকে এখনও ভালবাসব, আমার প্রিয়,

যখন জীবনের বালি ছুটবে।

এবং তোমাকে ভালো রাখো, আমার একমাত্র ভালোবাসা

আর কিছুক্ষণ ভালো থাকো!

এবং আমি আবার আসব, আমার ভালবাসা,

যদিও এটা ছিল দশ হাজার মাইল।

a) Answer the following questions.  2×5=10

What is the significance of the “red, red rose’ in the poem?

How does the poet explore the theme of love in this poem?

iii. What role does the nature play in conveying the poem’s theme?

How does the poem reflect poet’s personal experiences?

How does the repetition play an important role in the poem?

b) Read the poem again, and identify 3 imageries and 2 similes used in the poem. Then explain the purpose of their uses. 10

c) Read the poem again and express your feelings. Or, Write the theme of the poem. 10

Answer:

i) The colour red is deep and rose is a beautiful flower with many petals and sweet scent. The expression ‘red, red rose’ indicates speaker’s deepest love and emotion which is beautiful and fresh like a rose.

ii) The poet explores the theme of love comparing it with all the beautiful things of the nature. Through vivid imagery, the poet declares his personal commitment repeating the vows over and over again. He promised to hold his commitment forever making the poem center around the theme of love.

iii) Nature plays a crucial role in conveying the poem’s themes of love, beauty and permanence. Rose is the central symbol in the poem which includes poet’s deepest emotion of love. Other natural elements like seas, sands, the sun make the poem full of imagery and convey the themes towards the readers.

iv) The poem is totally based on the poet’s personal commitment to his beloved person. His declaration indicates his yearning for connection which will last forever.

v) The repetition of word like ‘red’, ‘my Luve’, “I will luve thee,” etc. reinforces poet’s deep affection and commitment. It also makes his commitment stable and assures his beloved person about his eternal love for her. Moreover, it creates rhythms making it a musical piece of art.

b)

Literary Figures	Line of the poem	Purpose of Uses
Imagery	O my Luve is like a red, red rose	To create the picture of a rose which is red in colour to the reader’s mind
	That’s sweetly played in tune	To provide an auditory imagery to the readers how the melody is played
	And the rocks melt wi’ the sun	The visual imagery create the picture of rocks melting by te scorching heat of the sun to show the strength of its heat.
Simile	O my Luve is like a red, red rose	The speaker is comparing his love as a beautiful, fresh rose
	O my Luve is like the melody	To show the sweetness of his love like a melody

c) “A Red, Red Rose” is a beautiful poem by Robert Burns where he is determined to express his eternal love for his beloved person. Major themes in “A Red, Red Rose”: Love and separation are the major themes given in the poem. The poet has layered them with using metaphors of natural objects. The poem is primarily concerned with the speaker’s love for his significant other. He adores her beauty and expresses his immeasurable love for her.