Love and Friendship
by Emily Brontë
Love is like the wild rose-briar,
Friendship is like the holly-tree—
The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms
But which will bloom most constantly?
The wild rose-briar is sweet in spring,
Its summer blossoms scent the air;
yet wait till winter comes again
And who will call the wild-briar fair?
What types of symbols are the wild rose-briar and the holly-tree in this poem?
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The wild rose-briar and the holly-tree are symbols representing love and friendship, respectively. The comparison between the two plants reflects the different qualities and characteristics of each relationship. Love, represented by the wild rose-briar, is described as sweet and beautiful in spring but may not be as enduring or constant as friendship, symbolized by the holly-tree. The holly-tree is depicted as dark and not as visually appealing as the rose-briar, but it is noted for its constancy and resilience, even in the harshness of winter.
1 answer