Blake 'The Sick Rose' (Experience)

Question 1

Context

What does Blake explore in this poem?

Answer 1

Blake explores the loss of a woman’s virginity through the metaphor of an invisible worm and rose

Question 2

Context

Why does Blake choose to explore themes of sex, desire, death, and destruction?

Answer 2

Blake chose to explore these themes to explore the church’s repression of sexuality in 18th century England and to show what happens to innocence, happiness, joy, love - all the things that are positive and good about life - when they encounter the real world.

Question 3

Form and structure

What is the form and structure of Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose’ (Experience)

Answer 3

• 2 quatrains
• ABCB rhyme scheme
• Anapestic dimeter - 2 unstressed + 1 stressed. Three syllable foot.
  
  • Ominous rhythm that contributes to the poem’s sense of dread and foreboding.

Question 4

Lexical set

What is the lexical set of secrecy and shame that Blake uses to explore the church’s repression of sexuality?

Answer 4

• “invisible” Emphasises the evil and sin of the worm (devil). Whatever the threat is, it is already here. STD/Syphillis?
• “night” Connotations of night as when evil creatures and spirits act in the interest of evil.
• “found out” Exposes the sin, links to Psalm 90:8 ‘secret sins in the light of thy countenance’.
• “dark secret” The dark secret is that the church needs people to stay poor.
• “life destroy” the rose is no longer a beautiful flower - it is infected and diseased, England is infected by the church.

Question 5

Quote

Give a quote from line 1 of Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose’ (Experience)

Answer 5

“O Rose, thou art sick!”

Question 6

Interpretation

“O Rose, thou art sick!”

Answer 6

• “Rose” The traditional symbol of England. Flowers link to virginity, demonstrating the sexual exploitation of women who are brought up as a commodity and suffering an STD and the effects of poverty and child birth.
• “sick!” Exclamation mark fuels concern at mystery illness. STD/Syphillis?

Question 7

Quote

Give a quote from line 2 of Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose’ (Experience)

Answer 7

“The invisible worm”

Question 8

Interpretation

“The invisible worm”

Answer 8

• “invisble” Adds to lexical set of shame. Emphasises the evil and sin of the worm (devil). Whatever the threat is, it is already here. STD/Syphillis?
• “worm” Associated with death and decay. Phallic imagery, synecdoche that men will exploit women for sex. An agent of death. Patriarchal idea that institutional attitudes that lead to prudery and sexual repression.
• “worm” Medieval associations with a serpetn - Eve was seduced by a serpent in Genesis 3 = fall of mankind. Invisibility of worm mirrors Christian assertion that the devil lurks unseen.

Question 9

Quote

Give a quote from lines 7 to 8 of Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose’ (Experience)

Answer 9

“And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.”

Question 10

Interpretation

“And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.”

Answer 10

• “his” Links to the element of misogynistic views at the time surrounding prostitution.
• “dark secret” Sinister and covert. The dark secret is that the church needs people to stay poor.
• “life destroy” the rose is no longer a beautiful flower - it is infected and diseased, England is infected by the church.