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Poem Analysis : The Rose Family by Robert Frost

The Rose Family by Robert Frost

The rose is a rose,
And was always a rose.
But the theory now goes
That the apple's a rose,
And the pear is, and so's
The plum, I suppose.
The dear only knows
What will next prove a rose.
You, of course, are a rose -
But were always a rose. 


ANALYSIS

Rhyme Scheme: ABAB

1. First Line
“The rose is a rose,”
Diction: symbolic
Tone: calming
Meaning: Beauty is beauty no matter what, the rose is beautiful for what it is, not its smell or texture or any other specific characteristics. Roses have several different colors and each color represents something, red - love, energy; white - fresh, perfection; pink - best condition/degree, compassion; yellow - smart.

2. Second Line
“And was always a rose”
Diction: Symbolic
Tone: Proud
Meaning: The rose was always beautiful.

3. Third Line
“But the theory now goes”
Meaning: Logic and proof cannot be used to prove beauty.

4. Fourth Line
"That the apple's a rose,”
Diction: figurative
Tone: confident
Meaning: even though the apple doesn't look like a rose (different shape), just as beautiful as the rose, the red quality defines it. The apple's red color represents love and energy. This line is an example of a metaphor.

5. Fifth Line
"And the pear is, and so's”
Meaning: Even though a pear doesn't look like a rose, it is still just as beautiful and should be seen in the same way as a rose is. A pear’s green color represents growth and individuality and yellow color represents its intelligence, which defines its inner beauty

6. Sixth Line
“The plum, I suppose.”
Meaning: A plum does not look like a rose but it is just as beautiful, plum’s purple quality defines its strength.

7. Seventh Line
"The dear only knows”
Meaning: Only you can understand your own inner beauty.

8. Eighth Line
“What will next prove a rose”
Diction: Passionate
Tone: Firm
Meaning: Nobody can "prove" beauty.

9. Ninth Line
"You, of course, are a rose –“
Diction: figurative
Tone: positive, reassuring
Meaning: “You” (the reader) are beautiful no matter what anyone tells you. You may not look like the person next to you who gets called pretty and beautiful, but you are because you’re beautiful inside and out. This line is an example of personification. 

10. Last Line
"But were always a rose”
Diction: Passionate
Tone: Fierce
Meaning: Everything is beautiful, no matter what it looks like; shape and size don't define something or someone. Its whats inside that truly matters.

Overall Diction
Passionate and figurative 

Overall Tone
Passionate and proud

Overall Meaning
Outer beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but inside we are all beautiful. Don't judge a book by its cover because it is what's inside that counts. 

Overall Theme
Each color represents a quality trait (inner beauty) that women have. Fashion may come and go, but true beauty will always be so.



Odyssey M G M/16202241057

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