The Nightingale and the Rose
by Oscar Wilde

The Nightingale and the Rose: Style 1 key example

Key Examples in The Nightingale and the Rose

Style
Explanation and Analysis:

The style of "The Nightingale and the Rose" is very typical of fairy tales, though it's also unique to Oscar Wilde and his own narrative tendencies. The plot-driven nature of the story—with action occurring virtually on every page—is a mainstay of the fairy tale genre, in which stories center around the structure of a problem, quest, and resolution. The fast pacing and style as a short story are also typical features of the form. Furthermore, the poetic and whimsical language throughout is a choice that once again aligns with the kind of stylings normally associated with fairy tales. When the Nightingale and trees speak, for instance, they use poetic descriptions and heightened language. Answering the Nightingale's request for a red rose, the Yellow Rose-Tree shakes its "head" and says:

"My roses are yellow... as yellow as the hair of the mermaiden who sits upon an amber throne, and yellower than the daffodil that blooms in the meadow before the mower comes with his scythe."