Poem "The Sick Rose" by William Blake Summary, Explanation

Poem "The Sick Rose" by William Blake. (Helpful for Class XI WBCHSE students).
     
         The Sick Rose

                     William Blake
O Rose thou are sick, 
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm,
Has found out thy bed 
Of crimson joy :
And his dark secret love 
Does thy life destroy.

Word meaning :
  Thou - You
  Art    -  are
  Thou art sick - You are sick 
  Invisible - Unseen/ Hidden/ Latent
  Worm  -  Insect
   Howling - Roaring/ great sound
  Thy -  your
   Crimson - Deep red
   Crimson Joy - Red petals of Rose (Joy that is derived through love has faded now. The color red has turned from 'red' to purple.)
   Secret - Covert/ Undisclosed
   Dark secret love - The destructive love of the worm.
  Destroy - Demolish
  Thy life destroy - His destructive love(dark love) destroys the life of the rose( thy life)

Analysis: 


"The Sick Rose" is a poem about a rose and a worm. This poem was first published in William Blake's poetry collection Songs Of Experience in 1794.

It is clearly understood that Blake has given human attribution to both "the rose" and "the worm". The speaker addresses that the rose which is innocent, beautiful, pure is sick and the worm which symbolizes lust, destruction, pain, deceit is invisible. Her innocence is ruined by the destructive and experienced worm.

Rose is a token of love and symbolizes love, affection, while the worm is the symbol of lust. The invisible worm infects the rose with his dark secret love and destroys her life.

This is the poem where Blake shows the progression from Innocence to Experience.
In the due course of her journey,the Rose gets infected with worm and enters the zone of experience.

Also Read: 

Poem Composed Upon Westminster Bridge Analysis

Dust of Snow Summary and Explanation 

Daybreak Poem Analysis
About the Poet: 
Blake(1757-1827) was a pre-romantic poet. He wrote in the "Transition Period" of English Literature i.e. came before the Romantics when the temperament was changing from Classicism to Romanticism.

Blake was a poet, painter, engraver ( Carver).
His Poetry: Songs Of Innocence (1789)
                    Songs Of Experience (1794)
                    The French Revolution (1791)
                   The First Book Of Urizen (1794).

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