Heidenröslein Poem Analysis
"Heidenröslein," which translates to "Rose on the Heath" or "Wild Rose," is a poem written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1771. This poem has become one of Goethe's most well-known works, and it has been set to music by several composers, most notably Franz Schubert. The poem consists of three stanzas and tells the story of a young man's encounter with a wild rose and the subsequent events that unfold.
Here is the full text of the poem in its original German, followed by an English translation:
Sah ein Knab' ein Röslein stehn,
Röslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell, es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
Knabe sprach: ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach: ich steche dich,
Daß du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
Und der wilde Knabe brach
's Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihm doch kein Weh und Ach,
Mußt' es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.
The English translation:
Once a boy saw a little rose
Standing on the heath,
It was so young and beautiful,
He hurried to look at it closely,
He looked at it with great joy.
Little rose, little rose, little red rose,
Little rose on the heath.
The boy said: I will pick you,
Little rose on the heath!
The rose said: I will prick you,
So that you'll always remember me,
And I won't let it happen.
Little rose, little rose, little red rose,
Little rose on the heath.
And the wild boy broke
The little rose on the heath;
The rose defended itself and pricked,
But no pain and lament could help,
It had to suffer.
Little rose, little rose, little red rose,
Little rose on the heath.
The poem tells a simple story about a young boy who encounters a beautiful wild rose on the heath. The first stanza sets the scene and describes the boy's fascination with the rose's beauty. The repetition of "Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot, Röslein auf der Heiden" throughout the poem emphasizes the rose's allure and the significance of this encounter.
In the second stanza, the boy declares his intention to pick the rose, to which the rose responds that it will prick him, so he will always remember it. The rose's resistance can be interpreted as a metaphor for the natural world's innate desire to preserve its beauty and autonomy.
In the final stanza, the boy disregards the rose's warning and picks it anyway. The rose does prick the boy as it promised, but the poem suggests that the boy's pain and regret cannot change the fact that he has destroyed something beautiful. The poem ends with the same refrain, highlighting the loss of the rose's beauty and innocence.
"Heidenröslein" can be analyzed on multiple levels. On the surface, it tells a simple story about the consequences of impulsive actions and the desire to possess beauty. However, the poem can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the loss of innocence, the relationship between humans and nature, or even the complexities of romantic love.