A Red, Red Rose: Verse Three

“A Red, Red Rose: Verse Three” - Overview

Context and Background:

  • “A Red, Red Rose” is a classic love ballad by Robert Burns, celebrating eternal, romantic love. In Verse Three, this is emphasized through Burns’ commitment to his love, which he claims will endure till the “seas gang dry”.

Verse Analysis: Theme of Enduring Love:

  • The theme of enduring love is prominent in Verse Three, with Burns declaring that his love will last until all the seas dry up, a hyperbolic way to illustrate the timeless nature of his romantic feelings.

Imagery and Metaphor:

  • Burns uses powerful, vivid imagery to portray his love’s durability. The image of the sea drying up serves as a metaphor for an impossible event, symbolising the everlasting quality of his affection.
  • The line “Till a’ the seas gang dry” also serves as a metaphor for the vast, immeasurable depth of his love.

Structure and Form:

  • This verse continues the quatrain (four-line stanza) form, which gives the poem its predictable, rhythmic feel - mirroring a traditional ballad - and helps to reinforce the thematic constant and unwavering commitment of Burns’ love.

Language and Tone:

  • The Scots dialect, as in the phrase “gang dry”, deepens the authenticity and relatability of the poem, providing a distinct, earthy tone
  • The overall tone of Verse Three is passionate and sincere, reflecting the unfaltering intensity of Burns’ love.

Symbolism:

  • The sea is a significant symbol in this verse, not only for its limitless, expansive nature, reflecting the boundless extent of Burns’ love, but also for its constancy and enduring presence, further underscoring his eternal devotion.

Poetic Devices:

  • Burns uses hyperbole, or exaggeration, in this verse. The idea of all the seas drying up is an unlikely occurrence, thus his love lasting “Till a’ the seas gang dry” is to say that his love will last forever.
  • This verse also employs alliteration in the phrase “seas gang dry”, enhancing the acoustic effect and adding to the lyrical quality of the poetry.