OSCAR WILDE
“Le Jardin des Tuileries”
1881
OSCAR WILDE’S
BIOGRAPHY
Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854. He was born in Dubin. According to
poemhunter, He was the son of an aye surgeon and a literary hostess and writer. As a
child, Wilde was a bright and bookish boy. He attended the Portora Royal School at
Enniskillen , where he was awarded the Royal School Scholarship to attend Trinity
College. After studying at Trinity College, Wilde went to Magdalen College, where he
won the Newdigate Prize for the poem, Ravenna. During his years at college, he
became notorious for his flamboyant wit, talent, charm, and aestheticism. In 1881, he
published his first collection, Poems. On May 29, 1884, Wilde married a wealthy
Englishwoman named Constance Lloyd, and had two sons, Cyril and Vyvyan.
Beginning in 1888, Wilde entered a seven-year period of furious creativity, during
which he produced nearly all of his great literary works. Wilde was soon convicted
for “gross indecency” on May 25, 1895 and was sentenced to two years in prison.
After emerging from prison, he wrote very little during his few years. His only notable
work was a poem about his experiences in prison, “ The Ballad of Reading Gaol.” After
that, on November 30, 1900, Oscar Wilde died of meningitis at the age of 40.
Throughout his life, he published book and even, plays, like The Happy Prince and
Other Tales and Lady Windermere’s Fan. His witty, imaginative and undeniably
beautiful works are considered among the great literary masterpieces of the late
Victorian period.
BACKGROUND
OF
OSCAR WILDE’S TIME
During the late 1800’s, women were expected to marry, at a young age
and be delicate, weak, and helpless. Women’s opinions were supposed to
be kept to themselves. Women dressed in high fashion with V-waists,
layers upon layers of fine fabrics and elegant bell sleeves. Marriage was a
big deal. Young women were "trained" for marriage. They were taught to
sing and dance, and sometimes to play an instrument or speak foreign
languages, all for the purpose of marriage. When women were married,
they were required to be dutiful wives and have multiple children. Ideally
in the Victorian society, a woman was to marry early and work in the
home, raising children and organizing the household for her husband.
THE DOLE OF THE KING’S
DAUGHTER
Seven stars in the still water,
And seven in the sky;
Seven sins on the King's daughter,
Deep in her soul to lie.
What do they there so stark and dead?
(There is blood upon her hand)
Why are the lilies flecked with red?
(There is blood on the river sand.)
Red roses at her feet,
(Roses are red in her red-gold hair)
And O where her bosom and girdle meet
Red roses are hidden there.
There are two that ride from the south to the east,
And two from the north and west,
For the black raven a goodly feast,
For the King's daughter to rest.
Fair is the knight who lieth slain
Amid the rush and reed,
See the lean fishes that are fain
Upon dead men to feed.
There is one man who loves her true,
(Red, O red, is the stain of gore!)
He hath duggen a grave by the darksome yew,
(One grave will do for four.)
Sweet is the page that lieth there,
(Cloth of gold is goodly prey,)
See the black ravens in the air,
Black, O black as the night are they.
No moon in the still heaven,
In the black water none,
The sins on her soul are seven,
The sin upon his is one.
ANALYSIS
The first stanza introduces the king's daughter. It says that she has seven sins on her, so we can assume that
she has some affiliation with the dead people.
The second stanza shows that the king's daughter is covered in red roses. Whatever their meaning may be
later on in the poem will describe the woman in some fashion.
The third stanza begins the talk of death and introduces an evil tone. A dead knight lies slain at by a
river/stream and provides food for the fishes nearby.
(A “page” is also referred to as a squire, or a knight’s apprentice. You can assume the page is lying by the
slain knight mentioned earlier is also dead because there are black ravens above
The line “There is blood upon her hand” makes it apparent that the deaths of this knight and page are a
result of the daughter’s character/actions. Given the time period that this poem was written in, one can
assume that these knights were fighting for her love/hand in marriage.
There are an additional four knights now-one for each of the cardinal directions. It’s clear that each of
them is dead because of the re-mentioning of the black raven, and it’s highly likely that they were all slain
in a fight for the king’s daughter like the ones previously mentioned.
ANALYSIS CONTINUED…
The man mentioned is this stanza is defined as the man “who loves her true.” And this description of
character is followed by a description of scenery. “Red, O red, is the stain of gore!” describes the amount of
blood that was shed for this one knight to prove his love. In fact, during this time period, it would be
natural for a knight to have to prove his love only once. However, to be considered her true love, one
could assume that this knight had to kill the other six mentioned earlier. He has dug a grave for four
people. Assuming that the four in cardinal direction are already buried, he has the two by the river the
princess, and himself to bury.
The princess is responsible for the death of all six knights and the one page, while the knight is
responsible for the death of the princess.
The ideologies of this poem rebels against the social norms and historical constructs of its time. The
women in the Victorian are quite different compared to women today. They were delicate, weak, and
helpless. In addition, they married at a young age. The princess in this poem however, rebelled against
these norms. The princess made the knights and squire fight over her just to marry her. Women are
supposed to be gentle and polite, not have people fighting over her. The mention of a princess (royal,
kind, sweet, loyal, polite, and being well behaved) having the seven deadly sins on her is outrageous and
absolutely unthinkable.
ANALYSIS CONTINUED…
Rhyme Scheme: Cross Rhyme (ABAB)
Use of Language: Medieval Age
Subject: Death
Meter: Iambic Pentameter
Verse: Blank Verse
Rhyme: End Rhyme and Perfect Rhyme
Rhythm: Iambic Rhythm
Sound: Assonance
Poetic devices: Imagery
EXPLANATION
One literary element that is used in this piece is repetition. The number “seven” is repeated
several times, and its repetition-because it is usually seen as an unlucky number- provides an
eerie mood. “‘Red’ is another word repeated within the verses. It describes the roses adorning the
king's daughter (lines 5-6, 8), as well as the blood that highlights the morbid mess around her
(lines 18, 20, and 26).” Wilde also uses symbolism in this poem to further create meaning. “Red”
not only describes the blood that surrounds the king’s daughter, but from the line “There is
blood upon her hand, ” it shows that the death of the knights that have fallen in her name has
touched her. “While there was “one man who loved her true” (line 25), he could not prevent her
from being overwhelmed by the gore and destruction, which was caused by himself and the
lady's other admirers. Her grief, or “dole,” is what killed her in the end.”
LE JARDIN DES TUILERIES
This winter air is keen and cold,
And keen and cold this winter sun,
But round my chair the children run
Like little things of dancing gold.
And now in mimic flight they flee,
And now they rush, a boisterous band—
And, tiny hand on tiny hand,
Climb up the black and leafless tree.
Sometimes about the painted kiosk
The mimic soldiers strut and stride,
Sometimes the blue–eyed brigands hide
In the bleak tangles of the bosk.
And sometimes, while the old nurse cons
Her book, they steal across the square,
And launch their paper navies where
Huge Triton writhes in greenish bronze.
Ah! cruel tree! if I were you,
And children climbed me, for their sake
Though it be winter I would break
Into spring blossoms white and blue!
ANALYSIS
The first stanza describes the setting of this poem. Although this scene is taking place during the winter,
and it is cold, the sun and air are still keen-meaning they are still filled with eagerness and enthusiasm.
And around this place there are children, compared to dancing gold, running around, so you can feel the
energy and happiness in this place.
The second stanza describes all the statues and figures in the garden. They are all being described as if
they were alive so the poet is trying to tell us that the statues all seem to come to life.
The statues in the third stanza mimic a fight that took long ago. They are described as fleeing and having
tiny hands, so one can assume that they are young children playing war. Times must have been peaceful
to build statues of children playing .
The last stanza describes the changes in the tree as the season changes from winter to spring. The tree is
said to grow blue and white blossoms in the springtime when winter disappears.
ANALYSIS CONTINUED…
Rhyme Scheme: Envelope rhyme(ABBA)
Subject: Tuileries Garden
Meter: Iambic Pentameter
Verse: Rhymed verse
Rhyme: End Rhyme and Near Rhyme
Rhythm: Iambic Rhythm
Poetic devices: Imagery
EXPLANATION
This poem uses repetition of the word “mimic.” At first it was used an adjective, describing
the statues as strong and stern. However, by its second use, it is used as an adjective,
describing how they soldiers fled. With the change of use in the word mimic, came a change
in the actions of the statues. Although it was once winter, along with the change of the
battles, came a change in the seasons. One can assume that the winning side was the
protagonist of this poem because in the end spring came.
COMPARISON
Both of these poems refer to life in the past. “The Dole of the King’s Daughter” talks about
a group of knights that fight for a princess’s love. In the end, the knight who prevails is the one
that truly loves her. These events could be something that would occur in the time period that
poet wrote about. The other poem, “Le Jardin Des Tuileries” speaks about an actual location .
But it does not only talk about the garden in real life but an event that happened there. The
author wrote about a war that occurred at this place. Another thing that both poems have in
common is the theme of death. “The Dole of the King’s Daughter” involves the death of many
knights who fought for the love of the princess. “Le Jardin Des Tuileries” involves the death
of the people who fought in the war the poet wrote about.
SUVIAN’S ORIGINAL POEM
“ROLLERCOASTER”
Life is like a rollercoaster,
It has its ups and downs.
Don’t ever let it get to you,
Don’t ever make a frown.
I know life may seem rough at times
But trust me, it is worth it.
Once you get through the loop de loops
You’ll agree with me I promise.
Once you pass that last big hill,
You’ll wish it wouldn’t end.
When you see all you have done,
You’ll wish you knew it then.
TINA’S ORIGINAL POEM
“WHAT IS A POEM?”
A poem expresses feelings
A poem speaks your mind in your place
A poem gives meaning
There’s no thought, but emotions
There can be rhyme or no rhyme
A poem can be anything you like, it’s not prose
A poem is a language
A poem is a way of saying
A poem is ideas that are not easily expressed
There is misunderstanding
There is the feeling of confusedness
There is misinterpretation
Even so, a poem gives joy to its readers
MCENDEL’S ORIGINAL POEM
“UNTOUCHED YET FELT”
A child's best friend
Unseen, untouched, and unheard
Except through the senses of its creator
They play, and laugh at jokes from within
The secrets they share, what becomes of them
When the invisible vanishes
Without mourning or celebration
The unseen, untouched, and unheard
Feels liberation
And yet, after a thousand suns
The so-called liberated one
Returns to the mind of its creator
And like the base of a waterfall
Where all becomes one and one becomes all
The memories flood the cerebrum
Of all actions that have been done
With the unseen, untouched, unheard, and liberated
one
MICHAEL’S ORIGINAL POEM
“AMBITION”
If you're ambition-less
You won't know what success is
Your life will suck forever
And won't change unlike the weather
Unless you try and better
Yourself and equip ambition
In your ammunition
To help you
Achieve your mission
Which is making
A better creation
Of yourself than God painted
When he made you
Call it an innovation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Olive, Samantha. "Poetry Analysis: The Dole of the King's Daughter, by Oscar Wilde." Helium. Helium, 28 May 2012.
Web. 04 June 2013. <http://www.helium.com/items/2331478-poetry-analysis-the-dole-of-the-kings-daughter-byoscar-wilde)>.
Lamberto, Emilia. "Victorian Women in the Late 1800s | EHow." EHow. Demand Media, 08 May 2011. Web. 05 June
2013. <http://www.ehow.com/info_8381511_victorian-women-late-1800s.html>.
"Oscar Wilde (1854-1900 / Dublin / Ireland)." Poemhunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 June 2013. <Oscar Wilde (18541900 / Dublin / Ireland)>.
"Oscar Wilde Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 04 June 2013.
<http://www.biography.com/people/oscar-wilde-9531078>.
Oscar Wilde Is Alive!
Arthur Cravan
The Soil , Vol. 1, No. 4 (Apr., 1917), pp. 145-148
Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20542318