ORCHIDS
In this poem, the writer is about to relocate and is sending her material belongings
“to fill the empty spaces of her future life”. One thing that cannot be boxed is the
sentiment she feels for the orchids. The orchids belong to her emotional and
spiritual world. The purple colour is a symbol of the blood of Christ on the Cross.
What is evident in the poem is that some experiences in life can never be
forgotten. Even though you may wish to suppress them, like a stubborn orchid,
they bloom and blossom.
For the poet, the orchid is an inspiration to the creative instinct. It sends a
message, tells a story that reaches poetic dimensions. Even though the pressed
orchids become “thin and dried transparency”, she believes that they still are a
stimulus for poetic thought.
In the poem, the material world is pitted against the world of nature. The world
of nature is constant and eternal.
1. What is the theme of the poem?
(a) relocating to a new home
(b) nurturing a spray of orchids
(c) the poet’s impression of the orchids
2. What is the mood of the poem?
3. From where did the poet get the orchids?
4. What effect have the purple petals on the poet?
6. What was peculiar about the orchids?
7. (a) Explain the meaning of “their thin dried transparency”.
(b) Of what value is the “thin dried transparency” to the poet?
I would like to know about the literary devices.
ReplyDelete1. SIMILE: "When the blossoms were full blown like polished poems"
Delete2. PUN: "Look at the purple heart"
3. METAPHOR: "I'll discover their peculiar poetry"
how did you even know that the purple represented the blood of Christ on the Cross? Please reply I need to get some meaning out of this DEEP poem:) Thanks in advance
ReplyDeleteThis person has a point how do you know that it symbolises Jesus' blood on the cross ?
DeleteI really do need some answers
It doesnt represent the blood of christ it represents the military badge for courage which is purple
DeleteThe Purple represents royalty
Deletethe purple represent the strength of the flower because similarly to a purple medal dat is given to men in the army that survive harsh treatment so therefore it actually shows that the flowers are resilient....in 15 btw
Deletesorry I'm
DeleteThe purple represents a broken heart
DeleteI agree. How does it relate to that? That is too far. Purple is a colour to remember and in the poem, "purple heart" represents the middle of the orchid.
DeleteI think the person probably meant to say that the purple represents Jesus' bravery when he died on the cross for us. Purple is seen as royalty yes but also seen as bravery and there is a medal given to military personnels that serve in the army who have been wounded or killed, It is the Purple Heart Medal. You can google it.
Deletewho wrote the poem?
ReplyDeleteHazel Simmonds-McDonald
Deletehi what mood would u get from the poem
DeleteHazel Simmons -McDonald
Deletehazel simmons- mcdonald wrote the poem
ReplyDeletethe effect the purple petals have on the flowers is that the purple petal draws u to look at their purple heart because the petals are really pretty
ReplyDeletei dnt relle understand dis poem
ReplyDeleteI dont really understand this poem
DeleteI really don't understand. Every website I check has a different analysis and meaning of this poem. I guess it's just the way you interpret it...
ReplyDeleteThis analysis does not help to examine the poem properly
ReplyDeleteThis analysis does not help to examine the poem properly
ReplyDeleteThe orchid is resilient as it survives even though she only watered it once. She admires its resilience and wants to keep it to appreciate its resilence and beauty.
ReplyDeleteA lot of people are asking how do u know that the purple petals represented Christ's blood, I think its just how the person interpreted the poem, it can be interpreted in different ways.
what are the themes for this poem???
ReplyDelete1. death 2. nature 3. survival
DeleteAdmiration as well.
DeleteI can see that there is admiration but can you explain how id be able to prove this in an essay?
Deletewhat effect have the purple petal indicated
ReplyDeletepurple is the colour of royalty and it is also the colour of the badge in war
DeleteCan i have the words to this poem please?
ReplyDeletewhat literary devices are found in orchids
ReplyDelete1. metaphore (pages of memory)
DeleteThe devices in this poem ate simile and metaphor
DeletePun is also another literary device.
Deleteimagery
ReplyDeleteWhat value is the "thin dried transparency"?
ReplyDeletewhat? i really wish it would be explained by stanza at least,this analysis alone doesn't really help.
ReplyDeletebut if there's anyone out there who really needs a break down of a certain stanza, please tell me. i'd be happy to help, i know literature can be pretty hard to understand at times. and stuff like this make it a tad more confusing 'specially when it doesn't have what you're lookin' for.
ReplyDeleteYes please
DeleteYes please
Deletewha is the message of the poem?
ReplyDeleteI am suppose to write what inunderstand from this poem
ReplyDeleteWhat was peculiar about the orchids?
ReplyDeleteWhat was peculiar about the orchids?
ReplyDeleteWho seems to be the speaker or speaking voice in the poem.Say whatever you've learnt about the person..
ReplyDeletewhat exactly is the foreshadowing in the poem?
ReplyDeletehow nature is described in this poem and the speaker attitude to nature
ReplyDeleteWhat qualities do the orchids possess?
ReplyDeleteDoes the persona consider that she is similar to the orchids?.why?
ReplyDeleteDiscuss the tone of the persona in the poem.which words reveal this tone?
ReplyDeleteHow is theme nature is described in this poem
ReplyDelete'box pieces of the five week life , pages of memory', their peculiar poetry can you write an example similar to this stanza?
ReplyDeletewho is the speaker of this poem
ReplyDelete