There are several elements that make up a fairy tale. Some of these elements are specific details that so picky that a story’s interpretation can be reversed into a completely different meaning. One of the most famous elements within fairy tale literature is the rose. The rose has been a long time symbol of romance and love. However there are many types of different roses and some species are only native to certain areas. Then besides the fact of species and location, one must also take into account color symbolism as well, which also varies by culture.
These definitions of this age old symbol, the rose, evolved over time as cultures came into contact with what has now called the Language of the Flowers. This “language” first appeared in the East and was used as a form of silent communication between illiterate women in harems. During the Victorian era this form of communication began to move towards Western Europe. The first compilation of this language was written in French and then was later translated into English. (Seaton, ).The Victorians used this new method of communication to express love, sorrow and much more through the flowers that they cultivated and bought. This language of flowers or rather the use of flowers to symbolize different messages can certainly influence a story if one has knowledge of this method and chooses to interpret it in this manner.
Three fairy tales that contain the element of the rose(s) are The Rose-Elf by Hans Christian Anderson, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Beauty and the Beast by Mme Le Prince de Beaumont. The interpretation of the details within a fairy tale can change the meaning or purpose of a tale. The understanding of the meaning of a rose in a story can give a bett...
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...true meaning of the rose can be found in its condition, color and type. The meaning or the definition of the rose or roses can be found in the language of the flowers (aka floriography) and can change a major ideal in the life of a character and an author.
Works Cited
Seaton, Beverly. The Language of Flowers: A History: Victorian Literature and Culture Series. Charlottesville and London: University Press of London, 1995. Print.
Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. New York: Dover Publications, 1992. Print.
Connolly, Shane. The Secret Language of Flowers. New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2004. Print.
Anderson, Hans. Wonderful Stories for Children. London: Chapman and Hall 186 Strand, 1846. 64-75. eBook.
Griffith, John, and Charles Frey. Classics of Children's Literature. 6th ed. New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. 21-29, 322-374. Print.
Lehner, Ernst, and Johanna Lehner. Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees. New York: Tudor. 1960
Throughout the life of Emily Grierson, she remains locked up, never experiencing love from anyone but her father. She lives a life of loneliness, left only to dream of the love missing from her life. The rose from the title symbolizes this absent love. It symbolizes the roses and flowers that Emily never received, the lovers that overlooked her.
Next, consider the text trying to express her frustration with life: “She wants to live for once. But doesn’t quite know what that means. Wonders if she has ever done it. If she ever will.” (1130) You can sense her need and wanting to be independent of everything and everyone, to be truly a woman on her own free of any shackles of burden that this life has thrown upon her. Also, there is an impression that her family does not really care that she is leaving from her sisters to her disinterested father. “Roselily”, the name is quite perplexing considering a rose stands for passion, love, life; while the lily has associations with death, and purity. Still at the same time the name aptly applies to her because the reader knows she is ultimately doomed to wilt away in a loveless marriage in Chicago. Even though she is convincing herself that she loves things about him it is all just a ploy to trick herself into believing that this marriage could be the answer to all her problems. Now on to the men of Roselily’s past most of which are dead- beat dads that could not care about what happens to their children, or where they go.
In “The Flowers,” by Alice Walker, the flowers are used throughout the story to symbolize the beauty and naivety of childhood. In the beginning of the story the author shows the main character Myop walking down a path along the fence of her farm. Myop sees “an armful of strange blue flowers with velvety ridges…” The flowers are bright and colorful, reminding the reader of an innocent type of beauty often associated with them. This suggests the flowers were inserted in the story by Walker to reveal how young and innocent Myop appears to be. Later in the story, after Myop had discovered the dead body of a man who seemed to have been hung “Myop laid down her flowers,”. As Myop put down the flowers she was also putting down the last of her innocence.
In the story “A Rose for Emily” the elderly Emily Grierson is the subject of mystery throughout her town. She is described as a reclusive individual only having the company of her faithful butler for company. The House she lived in is depicted as a “big, squash, frame house that had once been white and decorated with cupolas and spires”( Kirszner, Mandell 220). The house symbolize the once elegance and grandeur of Miss Emily appearance that has now morphed into a “bloated body” with a “pallid hue” that resembles the big, squarish frame of her one time grand home (Klippel 175). In my opinion Faulkner's message was to show that despite the brilliance of Miss Emily's status and countenances her beauty eventually faded in the annual of time. The title of the story inflects and undertone of mystery to the story. Why would Falkner choose the word “Rose” in his title. “The “Rose” is interpreted as secrecy: the confidential relationship between the author and his character”(Melczarek 240). On a personal anecdote I see the rose as fading beauty. A rose is seen for its deep crimson petals which symbolizes the splendour and vitality of Miss Emily's youth; however, as rose pet...
Tatar, Maria. Off with Their Heads!: Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 1992. Print.
It doesn’t take hours of research to find the typical symbolism behind the most basic colors, white, and red among them. Brides wear white to symbolize purity or virtue. People give white roses as a token of the purity of the heart or the purity of their feelings. Red is associated with passion or love. Men buy the woman he loves, or wants to woe for the evening, red roses to...
Whalley, J. (2009) ‘Texts and Pictures: A History’ in Montgomery H and Watson N (eds), Children’s Literature Classic Texts and Contemporary Trends, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan in association with Open University, pp.299-310
A rose can indicate romance, it’s the flower of love, beauty, courage, and respect. Sula created a relationship with Nel that was full of love. Nel saw this love given to her in the rose shaped pigmentation on her friend’s face. However; the stem covered in thorns represents hurt and pain. When Sula returned to the Bottom 10 years after Nel’s wedding, “the rose mark over Sula’s eye gave [Nel] a glance of startled pleasure. It was darker then Nel remembered” (96). Over their years apart Sula’s birthmark has grown darker, indicating a change in her character. The darkened birthmark implies that over their time apart Nel has started to view Sula’s character in a darker way. In 1937 after Sula slept with Nel’s husband, Jude, Nel broke off their friendship. The year was 1940 when the two childhood friends would cross paths once again. Sula has become sick and Nel decided it was time to visit and check on her. This was “the first time in three years she would be looking at the stemmed rose that hung over the eye of her enemy,” Sula has now become an enemy to her once inseparable friend (139). Nel “would be facing the
At first glance, what makes a fairy tale a fairy tale may seem obvious—some kind of magic, hidden symbols, repetition, and of course it’s evident it’s fiction—but fables are more than that. As Arthur Schelesinger puts it, it’s about “[expanding] imagination” and gaining understanding of mysterious places (618). While doing this, it also helps children to escape this world, yet teach a lesson that the reader may not be conscious of. A wonderful story that achieves all of this is Cinderella, but not the traditional tale many American’s have heard. Oochigeaskw, or The Rough-Faced Girl, and Ashputtle would be fitting for a seven-year-old because they get the gears of the mind turning, allowing for an escape on the surface, with an underlying enlightenment for children of the ways of the world.
The rose is initiated earlier as a symbol for Monica, when she plucks one and shows it to David, and at the end he picks one as a reminder of her. Teddy senses the importance of the roses for the mother and the child as he tries to bond with them. Monica’s husband, Henry, is the character that represents a clearer picture of the story.
The title itself is the first hint of symbolism that is shown throughout this short story. A rose is most often used as a symbol for love in which case during this story Homer is the "rose" for Emily, or also known as the love for Emily. Emily's father was a man who never allowed or agreed to any many being good enough for his daughter. Because of this, Emily was never able to experience love until the day she met Homer. A rose is also able to symbolize silence. This can be interpreted throughout the story that Homer was still Emily's rose, but then known as her "secret." Emily cherished and loved Homer and kept him to herself after his body was corrupted throughout time. Many women dry out roses in order to keep them forever. Emily was known to have a distorted and out of the ordinary mind, and with this said, she wanted to keep Homer forever by "drying out her rose." The room where she placed Homer Barron was described as having "rose-shaded lights" (330) which also can connect to the symbol of...
romance and love, it?s a very feminine image but then it is. said to be sick, so we instantly sense something is wrong. The rose could be damaged or hurt. I think the rose is playing the part of the woman and the worm is personified.
The rose is very fragile and needs constant care. Love is not a matter of choice; it is a matter of consequence; indeed, it is a matter of survival. Men must learn to love one another or expire. Love is what gives life meaning. The little prince's love for his rose is so important to him that his love gives the author's life purpose and direction.
"Children's Literature - Early History, Fairy and Folk Tales, Victorian Childrens Literature, Contemporary Childrens Literature - Encyclopedia of Children and Childhood in History and Society." Internet FAQ Archives - Online Education - Faqs.org. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. .