The Nightingale and the Rose

Vocabulary:

1. holm-oak: an evergreen oak, Quercus ilex, of southern Europe, having foliage resembling that of the holly
2. wretched: very unfortunate in condition or circumstances; miserable; pitiable
3. clasped: to seize, grasp, or grip with the hand
4. Nightingale: any of several small, Old World, migratory birds of the thrush family, esp. Luscinia megarhynchos, of Europe, noted for the melodious song of the male, given chiefly at night during the breeding season
5. courtiers: a person who is often in attendance at the court of a king or other royal personage
6. mermaidens:
7. fans: Physical Geography
8. bluebells: any of numerous plants of the bellflower family, having blue, bell-shaped flowers, as a bellflower or harebell
9. frankincense: an aromatic gum resin from various Asian and African trees of the genus Boswellia, esp. B. carteri, used chiefly for burning as incense in religious or ceremonial practices, in perfumery, and in pharmaceutical and fumigating preparations
10. cynic: a person who shows or expresses a bitterly or sneeringly cynical attitude

Oscar Wilde:

• Victorian Era
• known for The Importance of Being Ernest
• he was accused for being a homosexual and went to kail for two years because of his accusation.
• Before he was sentenced, he was married and had two sons
• He dedicated his short story, The Nightingale and the Rose to his two sons

Symbolism:

Student: (NAIVETÉ / CYNICISM)In The Nightingale and the Rose, the student has a very unpredictable personality: he represents the typical human being. For example: when the princess refuses to dance with him, he immediately gives up on love even though he has been in love with the princess from the beginning.

Red Rose: (TRUE LOVE THAT BECOMES UNREQUITED LOVE) In the story, the red rose is the symbol of true love brought by sacrifice (the Nightingale's life was the sacrifice).

Oak Tree: (WISDOM) The oak tree played the role of the fatherly figure in this story. The oak tree had to let go of the Nightingale which for so long, rested up in his branches.

Princess: (MATERIALISM) In The Nightingale and the Rose, the princess represented materialism. This is shown when she chooses to reject the prince because the rose he gives her will not go with her dress. Another reason for which she chooses to reject him is because she believes that the jewels the Chamberlain's nephew gave her are worth far more than a simple red rose (when in fact, the red rose was worth much more: the life of the Nightingale who sacrificed himself for true love).

Nightingale: (GOODNESS / VIRTUE / SACRIFICE / COMPASSION) The Nightingale played a very important role in this short story: it represented sacrifice made in the honour of love. The Nightingale believes in true love and that love is more important than life.

Images:

• Personnification: The Nightingale, the oak tree, the rose trees, the butterfly, the lizard, and the flower are all able to speak. The Nightingale is also capable of feelings.
  
  
• Simile: "His hair is as dark as the hyacinth -blossom, his lips are as red as the rose of his desire; but passion has made his face like pale ivory"
  
  
• Metaphor: "Flame-coloured are his wings"
  
  
• Alliteration: "You must build it of music by moonlight" (the sound "m")
  
  
• Assonance: "Like the flush in the face of the bridgroom when he kisses the lips of the bride" ( the two different sounds of the letter "i")
  
  
• Consonance: "Crimson was the girdle of the pedals, and crimson as the ruby was the heart"
  

250 words (2 paragraphs) about the story or about Oscar Wilde:

Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, poet, and author of numerous short stories as well as one novel from the Victorian Era. He lived from October of 1854 until November of 1900. Throughout this time period, he was a very well known figure. He became one of the biggest celebrities of his day due to his biting wit but also, because he was one of the most successful playwrights. He was deeply affected by beauty and lead a very flamboyant life (just like his clothes!). Wilde did not follow the norm of the typical Victorian styles. In fact, he was frequently made fun of; many would publibly mock (or caricaturize) him. His sometimes homoerotic themes also gave the public a reason to speak of him; he was subject to controversy. Although many did not appreciate him, he definitely made his mark with his wit as well as with his style.

Oscar Wilde was a very successful author and has been an inspiration for many. He is most commonly known for his play, The Importance of Being Ernest, which is still commonly played (just like many more of his works). Many of his works have been translated to several languages, and have been adapted to our stages and screens up until this day. Because he has been such an inspiration, many other authors have written plays (Leslie and Swell Stokes' 1936, Oscar Wilde), and made movies (two of which were released in 1960, one of which was inspired on the Stokes' play) in his honour.