Interpretations

Word cloud of keywords and phrases from the poem Love and Friendship

Interpreting and analysing a poem is not necessarily a matter of finding the right answer.

Poems are complex creations and are open to many different interpretations. Your is as valid as anyone else’s – as long as you can back it up with suitable evidence from the text.

Remember to avoid simply identifying what techniques or approaches poets use. Aim to show an understanding of how form, language and structure create meanings and effects.

Below are some quotations from the poem with different possible interpretations. How would you interpret the poem?

Examples

Interpretation of the line: 'Love is like the wild rose-briar'

Interpretation	Reason for interpretation
The wild rose-briar represents the beauty and excitement of romantic love.	A rose is traditionally used as a symbol of love, and the poet adds ‘wild’ to suggest the excitement of passion.
The rose-briar shows that love is beautiful.	Roses are associated with beauty, and, even though the poet goes on to warn that it will fade, she also celebrates this aspect of love.

Interpretation	The wild rose-briar represents the beauty and excitement of romantic love.
Reason for interpretation	A rose is traditionally used as a symbol of love, and the poet adds ‘wild’ to suggest the excitement of passion.

Interpretation	The rose-briar shows that love is beautiful.
Reason for interpretation	Roses are associated with beauty, and, even though the poet goes on to warn that it will fade, she also celebrates this aspect of love.

Interpretation of the line: 'Then scorn the silly rose-wreath now'

Interpretation	Reason for interpretation
The rose will come to look ‘silly’.	Over time the rose will fade and become unsuitable for making a wreath. Likewise, love which had been so sweet, will come to appear foolish.
The rose will be rejected and scorned when it fades.	The poet warns that the rose will be unwanted and scorned when it loses its bloom. Similarly love will be rejected. The poet uses sibilance (producing a hissing sound using 's' or 'sh') in this line, which emphasises the sense of rejection.

Interpretation	The rose will come to look ‘silly’.
Reason for interpretation	Over time the rose will fade and become unsuitable for making a wreath. Likewise, love which had been so sweet, will come to appear foolish.

Interpretation	The rose will be rejected and scorned when it fades.
Reason for interpretation	The poet warns that the rose will be unwanted and scorned when it loses its bloom. Similarly love will be rejected. The poet uses sibilance (producing a hissing sound using 's' or 'sh') in this line, which emphasises the sense of rejection.

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Love and Friendship by Emily Brontë - OCRInterpretations