Free Essays on A Rose By Any Other Name

. This symbolic meaning shows that physical appearanc... Free Essays on A Rose By Any Other Name Free Essays on A Rose By Any Other Name A Rose By Any Other Name While symbolism is found in both of Blake and Wordsworth’s works we have been studying in class, the images’ meanings and importance vary greatly in the two poems. However, both authors are able to use regular scenes in nature to represent deeper understandings of love, solitude and life. As we have found in studying Blake’s Songs of Experience, the author loves to use symbolism to ‘mourn’ the harsh experiences of adulthood and how it can destroy what was once good and innocent. In Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose,’ a rose exists literally and as a literary symbol, most likely associated with love. On the surface, the poem seems to be speaking of a rose who has been infected by an ‘invisible worm’ that has crawled into its flower bed during a howling storm. The secret presence of the worm is destroying the sick rose, and the rose will soon die. However beyond the literal meaning lies a metaphor, as is the case with almost all of Blake’s works. Much like in ‘London’, Blake uses the image of a worm, most commonly associated with filth and post-mortem decay, to represent the sexually transmitted Venereal disease and ultimately, death. The ‘bed’, which this disease creeps into, can be seen as both the literal flower bed of the rose as well as the bed of a woman, most likely a prostitute who is unknowingly carrying the disease. The ‘crimson joy’ of the rose represents both the prostitute’s sexual pleasure as well as her shame, as red is quite commonly associated with shame in literature from this time period. The last line of the poem suggests that since prostitutes were considered the outcasts and lowlifes of English society, the ‘dark secret’ of the diseased worm will go on unnoticed and will eventually lead to the woman’s death. Wordsworth’s poem begins with metaphorical imagery as he describes himself wandering like a cloud until he encounters a field of daffodils... Free Essays on A Rose By Any Other Name Interpretation covers the ability to understand and explain according to an individual’s belief, judgment, or interest. Readers can interpret any quotation such as â€Å"†¦a rose by any other name would smell as sweet†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Understanding the quotation becomes clear by assessing two elements. This quotation has the capability of teaching readers effective lessons for living. The initial path of comprehending the quotation uses the literal interpretation, or recognizing the significance of dictionary explanations. By using this method, the quotation â€Å"†¦a rose by any other name would smell as sweet†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , a reader could construe: the smell of a rose stays the same, even if someone changes the name. The scent does not change due to the fact that the designation has no bearing on the fragrance of the rose. Using the second technique of analysis can bring a reader to a dissimilar conclusion about the quotation. Symbolic meanings suggest another idea for the quotation that cannot, in itself, surface. In other words, the symbolic meaning draws a picture for the reader. Use of this form of study can bring a reader to the conclusion: the components of an entity create the item the label does not. Having the ability to interpret can give any person the chance to decipher age-old universal truths. A universal truth presents an idea assumed true by the masses worldwide based on the interpretation of that truth. By solving two additional truths used in daily life, one can learn a little more about mankind. The first universal truth â€Å"†¦don’t judge a book by its cover†¦Ã¢â‚¬  can teach an efficient lesson in living. If interpreted literally, one can assume that the image depicted on the cover of a book does not necessarily reflect the content of that book. Using connotative interpretation takes a person down an alternative route to understanding, which shows the meaning behind the words. This symbolic meaning shows that physical appearanc...