A Contemplation Upon Flowers
A Contemplation Upon Flowers -
Literature Notes The physical structure of this poem has beenaltered from the original layout in the text. Brave flowers, 1.that I could 5.gallant it likeyou, and be as little vain;You come abroad and make a 6.harmless show,And to your beds of earth again;You are not proud, you know your birth,For your embroidered garments are from earth.You do obey your months and times, but Iwould have it ever spring;My fate would know no winter, never die, nor think of such a thing;Oh that I could 2.my bed of earth but view,1.and smile and look as cheerfully as you.Oh teach me to see death and not to fear,But rather to take truce;3.How often have I seen you at a 6.bier,And there look fresh and spruce;You fragrant flowers then 7.teach me that my breath like yours may sweeten and perfume mydeath.Berry, J. 'A Contemplation Upon Flowers' in AWorld of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt andHazel Simmonds McDonald. PearsonEducation Ltd, 2005.
This is the OPINION of one individual,which might not coincide with the views of others. LITERAL MEANINGThe persona wishes that he could be as braveas the flowers, who are aware of their allegiance to the earth. They know their place and obey the order, or cycle, of life anddeath. The persona wishes that he could be thisway because he is the opposite, he wants to liveforever. The persona wants the flowers to teachhim NOT to fear death, but to accept it.LITERARY DEVICES1. SIMILE
Stanza 1, line: The persona is wishingthat he could be as brave as the flower.This implies that the persona does notthink that he is brave, but a coward inthe face of death.
Stanza 2, line 14: This is another comparison between the persona and the plant. The persona wishes that he could look death in the face and be cheerful, like the plant. Again,this emphasizes that he fears death.2. EUPHEMISMThis phrase is a replacement for the word death. It softens death and makes it appear welcomingand pleasant.3. IRONYIt is ironic that the
Literature Notes The physical structure of this poem has beenaltered from the original layout in the text. Brave flowers, 1.that I could 5.gallant it likeyou, and be as little vain;You come abroad and make a 6.harmless show,And to your beds of earth again;You are not proud, you know your birth,For your embroidered garments are from earth.You do obey your months and times, but Iwould have it ever spring;My fate would know no winter, never die, nor think of such a thing;Oh that I could 2.my bed of earth but view,1.and smile and look as cheerfully as you.Oh teach me to see death and not to fear,But rather to take truce;3.How often have I seen you at a 6.bier,And there look fresh and spruce;You fragrant flowers then 7.teach me that my breath like yours may sweeten and perfume mydeath.Berry, J. 'A Contemplation Upon Flowers' in AWorld of Prose. Edited by Mark McWatt andHazel Simmonds McDonald. PearsonEducation Ltd, 2005.
This is the OPINION of one individual,which might not coincide with the views of others. LITERAL MEANINGThe persona wishes that he could be as braveas the flowers, who are aware of their allegiance to the earth. They know their place and obey the order, or cycle, of life anddeath. The persona wishes that he could be thisway because he is the opposite, he wants to liveforever. The persona wants the flowers to teachhim NOT to fear death, but to accept it.LITERARY DEVICES1. SIMILE
Stanza 1, line: The persona is wishingthat he could be as brave as the flower.This implies that the persona does notthink that he is brave, but a coward inthe face of death.
Stanza 2, line 14: This is another comparison between the persona and the plant. The persona wishes that he could look death in the face and be cheerful, like the plant. Again,this emphasizes that he fears death.2. EUPHEMISMThis phrase is a replacement for the word death. It softens death and makes it appear welcomingand pleasant.3. IRONYIt is ironic that the