Imagery

Here, we will discuss the imagery of the poem “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns.

Traditionally, when we speak of poetry we also refer to several stylistic choices that are used to enrich a certain poem. Here, we will discuss such stylistic techniques employed by Robert Burns in “A Red, Red Rose”.

Similes and comparisons

As you have seen, the poem begins with a simile, which is also the one which gives the title of the poem. The speaker’s love is compared with the rose, the most beautiful of flowers and the symbol of passion: “O my Luve is like a red, red rose” (l. 1)

Another interesting simile is that of love being compared with a song: “O my Luve is like the melody” (l. 3)

A simile – though less obvious at a first glance – is employed when the speaker compares his love with the beauty of the woman:

“So fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;” (ll. 5-6)

Metaphors

The poem “A Red, Red Rose” abounds in metaphors. An interesting metaphor is that of th...