STUDY THE NIGHTINGALE THE ROSE

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
Birth place: Ireland

Nationality: Irish

A poet, a novelist, and a playwright

The leader of the movement “art for art’s

sake”

“The Nightingale and the Rose” (1988 –
when he was at the top of his career)

Died of cerebral meningitis in Paris (1900)
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Pre-reading:

Pre-reading:
1-Nightingales in
1-Nightingales in
literature
literature

In general: Happiness,
In general: Happiness,
hope, luck, freedom, youth,
hope, luck, freedom, youth,

In the story: the Nightingale

In the story: the Nightingale
is the symbol of a true love
is the symbol of a true love
2-Red roses symbolize:
•
A true, pure and
passion love
Studying
1- In all the Student’s garden there
is no red rose.
The symbolic meaning of this:
•

The rose bush is placed
underneath his window but
he does not appreciate it
=It seems that the Student
has never fallen in love.
=There is no true love
Studying
2- The Student says all the secrets of
philosophy are his but his life is made wretched
“for want of a red rose”.
Contrast is suggested here :
•

The Student thought that he’s wise but
he has no a common thing – a red rose
= He ‘s so cocky (too self-confident)
= He does not try looking for a red rose.
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Studying
Studying
5-The irony about the descriptions of the Student when he
5-The irony about the descriptions of the Student when he
listens to the Nightingale’s thoughts on Love is:

listens to the Nightingale’s thoughts on Love is:
“The Student looked up from the grass, and listened, but
he could not understand what the Nightingale was saying
to him, for he only knew the things that are written down
in books.”
“She has form,….; but has she got feeling?”
“ …she is like most artists; she is all style, without any
sincerity. She would not sacrifice herself for others. She
thinks merely of music, and everybody knows that the
arts are selfish”
“What a pity it is that they do not mean anything, or do
any practical good.”

(The Student is loveless, unrelenting. The Nightingale
had proposed to sacrifice herself for a red rose but
he doesn’t understand.
In fact, the Nightingale is the true lover,
not the Student.)
The Student’s reflections on the Nightingale’s song
The Student’s reflections on the Nightingale’s song
are:
are:
-Suggesting he knows nothing of love, just plain
-Suggesting he knows nothing of love, just plain
knowledge that can be learnt in books, not

knowledge that can be learnt in books, not
experiencing in life.
experiencing in life.
-The Student just imposes his opinion on the
-The Student just imposes his opinion on the
Nightingale.
Nightingale.
-He is superficial.(not think deeply)
-He is superficial.(not think deeply)
Studying
6-The Oak-tree understands
the Nightingale’s song but the

Student doesn’t.
Although he said that: “I have read all that
Although he said that: “I have read all that
the wise men have written, and all the
the wise men have written, and all the
secrets of philosophy are mine”, he is still
secrets of philosophy are mine”, he is still
absurd like normal people being in love.
absurd like normal people being in love.
In fact, he is not wise as he thought he was.
In fact, he is not wise as he thought he was.
Studying

7-On seeing the red rose, the Student says:”It is so
beautiful that am sure it has a long Latin name”.
This is revealed about the Student:
-She showed and bragged to the Student of the
-She showed and bragged to the Student of the
Chamberlain’s nephew’s gift; she compared the
Chamberlain’s nephew’s gift; she compared the
Student with the Chamberlain’ nephew; the real
Student with the Chamberlain’ nephew; the real
jewels with the Rose.
jewels with the Rose.
-She scorned the Student stupid and poor

-She scorned the Student stupid and poor
-> her love is measured in terms of
-> her love is measured in terms of
wealth.
wealth.
Studying
8- Comment on the Professor’s
daughter rejection on the Student.
She shows her snobbery and her
superficiality:
Studying
Studying

9- When the Student rejects Love and turns to philosophy, he returns
9- When the Student rejects Love and turns to philosophy, he returns
to his room and pulls out “a great dusty book”.
to his room and pulls out “a great dusty book”.
The symbolic significance of
The symbolic significance of
“dusty”
“dusty”
here is:
here is:
-Avoid something “impractical”
-The Student finished many books but he

doesn’t understand the books to put into
real life.
The name of the characters are capitalized as
every character represent a type of social
class
1-Student
2-Nightingale
3-Red rose
4-Oak-tree
5-Professor’ daughter
6-Green Lizard, Butter)y, Daisy
The endThank you!