The Rhodora: Poem Critique
TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES
938 Aurora Booulevard, Cubao, Quezon City
“The rival of the Rose”
A Formalist Criticism Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements in ELP 473:
Literary Criticism
To: Professor Salirick Andres
ELP 473: Literary
Criticism
By: John David S. Tamondong
AB41FA2
S.Y: 2014 – 2015
This Formalist Criticism focuses on the poem entitled, The Rhodora. This will cover the overall structure, tone, and analysis of the meaning of the poem.
The Rhodora is an embodiment of the many fascinating flowers that proves that all the qualities of beauty are found in the universe waiting to be recognized and admired.
This representation of beauty (the rhodora) questions and contemplates the worth of beautifully crafted creatures on earth if no one ever sees it, consequently it implicitly explains that the beauty of something is unworthy if no one witnesses how beautiful it is.
As the poem progresses, it expresses that each earthly things supply beauty to each other. It describes beauty as something relative, and it does not measure true beauty only by its appearance rather by experiencing it through senses. The poem also suggests that there is no way of comparing an earthly thing by its outside or physical attributes but only by the experiences that its beauty brings. Naturally all creatures are beautifully created and they contribute and work together for the harmony of nature.
The poem consists of sixteen lines with an iambic (refers to a division of two syllables in which the emphasis stresses on the second syllable) pentameter (which means five) rhythm. There are a total number of 139 words in the poem. The eight-line section builds one half of the sixteen line poem, which results to an integrated and fair piece.
It has a rhyme scheme of two paired couplets, preceded by four lines of alternating lines. For example, in lines 1 to 8 they end with
938 Aurora Booulevard, Cubao, Quezon City
“The rival of the Rose”
A Formalist Criticism Submitted in Fulfillment of the Requirements in ELP 473:
Literary Criticism
To: Professor Salirick Andres
ELP 473: Literary
Criticism
By: John David S. Tamondong
AB41FA2
S.Y: 2014 – 2015
This Formalist Criticism focuses on the poem entitled, The Rhodora. This will cover the overall structure, tone, and analysis of the meaning of the poem.
The Rhodora is an embodiment of the many fascinating flowers that proves that all the qualities of beauty are found in the universe waiting to be recognized and admired.
This representation of beauty (the rhodora) questions and contemplates the worth of beautifully crafted creatures on earth if no one ever sees it, consequently it implicitly explains that the beauty of something is unworthy if no one witnesses how beautiful it is.
As the poem progresses, it expresses that each earthly things supply beauty to each other. It describes beauty as something relative, and it does not measure true beauty only by its appearance rather by experiencing it through senses. The poem also suggests that there is no way of comparing an earthly thing by its outside or physical attributes but only by the experiences that its beauty brings. Naturally all creatures are beautifully created and they contribute and work together for the harmony of nature.
The poem consists of sixteen lines with an iambic (refers to a division of two syllables in which the emphasis stresses on the second syllable) pentameter (which means five) rhythm. There are a total number of 139 words in the poem. The eight-line section builds one half of the sixteen line poem, which results to an integrated and fair piece.
It has a rhyme scheme of two paired couplets, preceded by four lines of alternating lines. For example, in lines 1 to 8 they end with
References: Retrieved from: http://cvirginia.wordpress.com/2009/09/21/emerson-the-rhodora-find-the-essence-the-core-meaning/ http://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-rhodora/style.html http://www.poemofquotes.com/ralphwaldoemerson/the-rhodora.php