The Nightingale and the Rose by Oscar Wilde

Q : 1 Write about your understanding of the story The Nightingale and the Rose.

Answer :                                                                       

              The Nightingale and the Rose" by Oscar Wilde is a tale that delves into the depths of understanding love and sacrifice. The nightingale's unwavering commitment to aiding a young student in love highlights the selflessness often required in genuine relationships. However, the story also exposes the harsh realities of a world that often values superficial appearances over sincere emotions. It prompts readers to reflect on the true essence of love and the sacrifices one might make in its pursuit, questioning societal norms and the worth of superficial desires.

        She knows how rare true love is, and she knows it when she sees it. The Prince is giving a ball the following night, but although the Student and the woman he loves will both be there, she will not dance with him without a red rose.

A Lizard, a Butterfly, and a Daisy all tell the Nightingale that it’s ridiculous that the young Student is weeping over a red rose, but the Nightingale sympathises with him. She flies to a nearby grass-plot and asks the Rose-tree to give her a red rose, and in exchange she will sing for it. But the Rose-tree says it produces only white roses, so cannot give her what she wants. It suggests going to the Rose-tree by the sun-dial.

The Nightingale proposes the same deal with this tree, but it replies that it only produces yellow roses, so cannot help. However, it directs her to the Rose-tree right under the student’s window. However, although this Rose-tree does produce red roses, the winter has frozen its branches and it cannot produce any.

The Nightingale asks if there is any way she can get one red rose for the Student. The tree replies that the only way of producing a red rose is for the Nightingale to sing by moonlight while allowing a thorn to pierce her heart, so her blood seeps through to the tree and produces a red rose. The Nightingale agrees to this, because she believes Love to be more valuable than Life, and a human heart more precious than hers.

   She goes and tells the forlorn Student what she is going to do, but he doesn’t understand her, because he only understands things written down in books. The Oak-tree, in which the Nightingale has built her nest, does understand her words, however, and requests one last song from the Nightingale. She sings, but the Student, taking out his notebook, is rather unimpressed, because the bird’s song has no practical use.

That night, the Nightingale sings with her heart against the thorn, until it eventually pierces her heart while she sings of love. Her heart’s blood seeps into the tree and produces a red rose, but by the time the flower is formed the Nightingale has died.

The next morning, the Student opens his window and sees the red rose on the tree, and believes that it is there thanks to mere good luck. Plucking the rose, he goes to the house where his sweetheart lives, and presents her with the red rose. But another suitor, the Chamberlain’s nephew, has sent her jewels, which are more valuable than flowers, so she says she will dance with him instead at the ball that night.

The Student denounces the girl for her fickleness, and she calls him rude. He throws the red rose into the gutter, where a cart rolls over it. As he walks home, he decides to reject Love in favour of Logic and Philosophy, which have a more practical use .

Conclusion : 

In conclusion reveals the tragic sacrifice made by the nightingale for the sake of love. The nightingale gives her life to create a red rose for the Student, only to discover that his love was fleeting. The story highlights themes of sacrifice, unrequited love, and the often cruel reality of human 

Q : 1 Write about your understanding of the story The Nightingale and the Rose.

Answer :                                                                       

              The Nightingale and the Rose" by Oscar Wilde is a tale that delves into the depths of understanding love and sacrifice. The nightingale's unwavering commitment to aiding a young student in love highlights the selflessness often required in genuine relationships. However, the story also exposes the harsh realities of a world that often values superficial appearances over sincere emotions. It prompts readers to reflect on the true essence of love and the sacrifices one might make in its pursuit, questioning societal norms and the worth of superficial desires.

        She knows how rare true love is, and she knows it when she sees it. The Prince is giving a ball the following night, but although the Student and the woman he loves will both be there, she will not dance with him without a red rose.

A Lizard, a Butterfly, and a Daisy all tell the Nightingale that it’s ridiculous that the young Student is weeping over a red rose, but the Nightingale sympathises with him. She flies to a nearby grass-plot and asks the Rose-tree to give her a red rose, and in exchange she will sing for it. But the Rose-tree says it produces only white roses, so cannot give her what she wants. It suggests going to the Rose-tree by the sun-dial.

The Nightingale proposes the same deal with this tree, but it replies that it only produces yellow roses, so cannot help. However, it directs her to the Rose-tree right under the student’s window. However, although this Rose-tree does produce red roses, the winter has frozen its branches and it cannot produce any.

The Nightingale asks if there is any way she can get one red rose for the Student. The tree replies that the only way of producing a red rose is for the Nightingale to sing by moonlight while allowing a thorn to pierce her heart, so her blood seeps through to the tree and produces a red rose. The Nightingale agrees to this, because she believes Love to be more valuable than Life, and a human heart more precious than hers.

   She goes and tells the forlorn Student what she is going to do, but he doesn’t understand her, because he only understands things written down in books. The Oak-tree, in which the Nightingale has built her nest, does understand her words, however, and requests one last song from the Nightingale. She sings, but the Student, taking out his notebook, is rather unimpressed, because the bird’s song has no practical use.

That night, the Nightingale sings with her heart against the thorn, until it eventually pierces her heart while she sings of love. Her heart’s blood seeps into the tree and produces a red rose, but by the time the flower is formed the Nightingale has died.

The next morning, the Student opens his window and sees the red rose on the tree, and believes that it is there thanks to mere good luck. Plucking the rose, he goes to the house where his sweetheart lives, and presents her with the red rose. But another suitor, the Chamberlain’s nephew, has sent her jewels, which are more valuable than flowers, so she says she will dance with him instead at the ball that night.

The Student denounces the girl for her fickleness, and she calls him rude. He throws the red rose into the gutter, where a cart rolls over it. As he walks home, he decides to reject Love in favour of Logic and Philosophy, which have a more practical use .

Conclusion : 

In conclusion reveals the tragic sacrifice made by the nightingale for the sake of love. The nightingale gives her life to create a red rose for the Student, only to discover that his love was fleeting. The story highlights themes of sacrifice, unrequited love, and the often cruel reality of human emotions.

Q : 2 How many characters are there in the story, and what do they do or say?

Answer : 

Character is crucial in a story "The Nightingale and the Rose" as it drives plot, fosters reader engagement, and conveys themes. Well-developed characters make the narrative relatable and provide a lens through which the audience can connect with and understand the unfolding events.

Characters : 

    1. The Student

    2. The Nightingale  

    3. The Rose-tree

     4. The Girl:

     5. The Lizard:

     6. The Oak-tree:

     7. Butterfly and Daisy

     8. The Professor

     9. The White Rose-tree   

   10. The Yellow Rose-tree:

1. The Student : 

        In "The Nightingale and the Rose" by Oscar Wilde, the student is the main character who is in love and desperately seeks a red rose to present to his beloved. Throughout the story, he expresses his frustration and despair at the difficulties of finding a suitable rose. The student's words and actions convey the central theme of the story, exploring the nature of love and the sacrifices made in its pursuit.

2. The Nightingale : 

the nightingale is a selfless and compassionate character. It overhears the student's plight and decides to help him by sacrificing its own life to create a red rose. The nightingale's actions and words in the story emphasize themes of love, sacrifice, and the contrast between genuine emotions and superficial desires. The nightingale plays a crucial role in driving the narrative forward and highlighting the consequences of pursuing love at any cost.

3. The Rose-tree :

    The rose-tree is not given a distinct character or dialogue. It serves as a plot element, as the nightingale sacrifices itself by pressing against the thorn of the rose-tree to create the red rose desired by the student. The rose-tree, in this context, represents the harsh reality and the price of true love, as it becomes the instrument through which the nightingale's sacrifice leads to the creation of the coveted rose.

4. The Girl : 

   There isn't a specific character referred to as "The Girl." Instead, the story generally mentions the object of the student's affections, who is the recipient of the red rose. The girl's actions and words are not explicitly detailed in the story; rather, the narrative focuses on the student's quest for a red rose to win her favor. The girl's role in the story is more symbolic, representing the concept of unrequited love and the sometimes painful sacrifices made in its pursuit.

5. The Lizard :

Like the Nightingale, the Lizard overhears the Student lamenting his unrequited love for the girl. The Lizard, however, is "a cynic," so he scoffs when he learns the Student is crying over a red rose. This foreshadows the ending of the story, when both the Student and the girl prove incapable of seeing the value of the rose as a symbol of sacrificial love.

6. The Oak-tree :

The Oak-tree is both a friend of the Nightingale and the place where she makes her home. Like the Rose-tree, the Oak-tree understands the seriousness of the Nightingale's intended sacrifice, and he begs her to sing one last song for him before she goes to her death.

7. Butterfly and Daisy : 

In the story, Butterfly and Daisy are characters mentioned briefly. They don't play significant roles or have specific dialogues. The primary focus is on the Nightingale, the Student, and the Rose.

8. The Professor : 

 Although he never appears in the story, the Professor is a symbolically important character. Like the Student, the Professor has clear ties to academia and intellectualism. Interestingly, however, he is also the father of the girl, suggesting a link between the Student's "rational" worldview and the girl's materialism.

9. The White Rose-tree :

This is the first tree the Nightingale visits on her search for a red rose. He does not have one, so he sends her to his brother, the Yellow Rose-tree.

10. The Yellow Rose-tree :

This is the second tree the Nightingale visits on her search for a red rose. He does not have one, so he sends her to his brother, the Red Rose-tree.

Q : 3 : If you were asked to do the second part of the story, what would it be? Write Freely.

Answer: 

     If I am asked to do another part of this story, I will take it on a happy end.In the happy continuation of "The Nightingale and the Rose," the enchanted red rose, infused with the nightingale's sacrifice, becomes a symbol of enduring love. As the lovers embrace the profound gift, their bond strengthens. Their lives are filled with joy, understanding, and a deep appreciation for the beauty that emerged from the nightingale's selfless act. The story concludes with the couple, surrounded by the blooming red roses, living a harmonious and blissful life together.

Q : 4. Upload the photo of the poetry you have written as a part of classroom activities done based on the story.

Answer :

         Thank you.