illustrated profiles of a man and a woman set against the backdrop of a red rose

A Red, Red Rose

by Robert Burns

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Student Question

Why does "A Red, Red Rose" use similes?

Quick answer:

The poem "A Red, Red Rose" uses similes to help readers visualize and understand the depth of the speaker's emotions. By comparing love to familiar and universally appreciated elements like a newly bloomed rose and sweet music, the poem evokes vivid imagery and emotional resonance. These similes enable readers to grasp the intensity and beauty of the speaker's feelings, enhancing the overall impact of the poem.

Expert Answers

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Generally, a writer uses similes to enable the reader to imagine in his mind what the writer is saying. This is why a writer compares one thing to another with which the reader is familiar. The speaker compares his love to a red rose that has just bloomed. We are all familiar with a rose, so we are able to better understand the comparison. Most people are awed by the beauty of a "newly sprung" rose, so we can understand how the speaker feels about his love. He also compares to "the melodie/That's sweetly played in tune". Again, music is universal, so we can all understand how the speaker feels. We can imagine how we feel when we hear a beautiful piece of music played. It sends chills over us, and this lets us comprehend the speaker's feelings.

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