Educational Notes

a. To which two things does the speaker compare his love in the first stanza?

Ans: In the first stanza, the speaker compares his love to a red, red rose that is newly sprung in June and to a sweet melody that is played in tune.

b. What does the speaker promise in the second and third stanzas?

Ans: The speaker promises to love his beloved deeply until the seas go dry and the rocks melt with the sun, meaning he will love her forever. He also promises to return to her even if he must travel ten thousand miles.

c. What imagery does he use in his promise, and why do you think he uses such language?

Ans: The speaker uses vivid imagery such as seas going dry, rocks melting, and traveling thousands of miles to show the depth and endurance of his love. This exaggerated language emphasizes the strength and eternal nature of his affection.

d. In the last stanza, what event is about to happen by mentioning the number of miles?

Ans: The speaker is about to leave his beloved, possibly on a long journey. By mentioning “ten thousand miles,” he shows the distance he must travel but reassures her that he will return.

e. Which image in the poem do you find the most memorable or surprising and why?

Ans: The most memorable image is “Till a’ the seas gang dry.” It powerfully conveys the idea that the speaker’s love is eternal and will never fade, not even with the impossible drying up of all the seas.

a. What can you infer about the speaker’s devotion to his beloved from the following lines?
“And I will come again, my love, Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!”

Ans: These lines show the speaker's unwavering commitment to his beloved. Even if he must travel a long distance, he promises to return, reflecting the depth and constancy of his love.

b. What is the theme of the poem?

Ans: The theme of the poem is deep and eternal love. It expresses how true love remains constant and passionate despite physical distance or the passage of time.

c. Paraphrase the whole poem into simple prose form.

Ans: The speaker compares his love to a beautiful red rose and a sweet melody. He expresses his deep affection and promises to love his beloved forever, even if impossible things happen. Though he must leave, he promises to return, no matter how far he must travel.

d. Analyze the poem in terms of the literary devices such as simile, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, and assonance.

Ans: The poem uses:
Simile: "My love is like a red, red rose" – compares love to a rose.
Symbolism: The rose symbolizes beauty and romance.
Imagery: Vivid descriptions of seas, sun, and distance create strong mental pictures.
Alliteration: “Red, red rose” – repetition of the ‘r’ sound.
Assonance: Repeated vowel sounds like “seas gang dry” – creates musical quality.

e. What is hyperbole? Explain its purpose citing examples of hyperbole used in the poem.

Ans: Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis. In the poem, examples include “Till a’ the seas gang dry” and “Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.” These exaggerations emphasize the intensity and eternity of the speaker’s love.

f. What is refrain? Why is it used in the poem? Explain citing an example from the poem.

Ans: A refrain is the repetition of a line or phrase in a poem. It adds emphasis and musical rhythm. In this poem, the line “And I will come again, my love” is repeated to stress the speaker’s devotion and promise to return.

a. What kind of love is expressed in "A Red, Red Rose"?

Ans: The poem expresses romantic and passionate love that is sincere, eternal, and unchanging. It portrays deep emotional attachment and the speaker's willingness to overcome any challenge for love.

b. Do you think that love has power? Why do the poets compose poems addressing their beloved?

Ans: Yes, love has great emotional and motivational power. Poets often address their beloved to express feelings, preserve memories, and communicate emotions that are hard to express otherwise. Poetry allows them to celebrate love in a beautiful and lasting form.

c. Poetry is the expression of feeling and emotions. Explain.

Ans: Poetry uses words creatively to express emotions like love, sorrow, joy, or hope. Through poetic devices, rhythm, and imagery, it captures feelings in ways that touch the reader's heart and create a strong emotional connection.