The story revolves around a college student who despairs not having a red rose as a condition for dancing with the girl he loves. The nightingale hears his complaint and offers to create the red rose at the cost of his life. He sang a love song all night with his chest stuck to the thorns of the rose tree. Finally, the red rose grew, but his sacrifice was in vain. The girl rejected the flower because it didn’t match her outfit and preferred a jewellery gift. The student threw the flower on the street and returned to studying philosophy

1. A Romanticism Approach to Oscar
Wilde “The Nightingale and the Rose”
Final Exam English Literary and Criticism
Pgri Silampari University
English Education

2. Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde was born to an intellectual and educated family in
Dublin, Ireland, on October 16, 1854. His father, Sir William Wilde, was a renowned eye
and ear doctor who contributed significantly to the Irish population census and
independently founded St. Mark’s Eye Hospital to serve people experiencing poverty.
His mother, Jane Francesca Elgee, was a revolutionary poet and writer known by the
pen name “Speranza” and a translator of Sidonia the Sorceress, who later influenced
her son’s writing style.
Wilde was educated at Portora Royal School, Trinity College Dublin, then went
to Magdalen College, Oxford University. During his studies, he excelled in
classics, particularly Greek, and won prestigious awards such as the Berkeley
Gold Medal and the Demyship. This academic success laid a strong foundation
for his literary career.
Wilde is known for his poetry, drama, and prose, which combine wit, irony, and social
criticism. He became a leading figure in the aestheticism movement that upheld
beauty as the goal of art. His famous works include The Picture of Dorian Gray and the
play The Importance of Being Earnest. Despite his popularity, Wilde’s personal life was
marked by controversy, including imprisonment due to his sexual orientation, which
ultimately led to his poverty and early death on November 30, 1900, at the age of 46.
Author Background
Source: Pinterest
https://pin.it/659bkYeor

3. Synopsis of the nightingale and the rose
The story revolves around a college student who
despairs not having a red rose as a condition for dancing
with the girl he loves. The nightingale hears his
complaint and offers to create the red rose at the cost
of his life. He sang a love song all night with his chest
stuck to the thorns of the rose tree. Finally, the red rose
grew, but his sacrifice was in vain. The girl rejected the
flower because it didn’t match her outfit and preferred a
jewellery gift. The student threw the flower on the
street and returned to studying philosophy. Source: Pinterest
https://pin.it/5swLr9HPK

4. Literature is a reflective medium that voices
the human heart, including desire, suffering,
and sacrifice. In this context, Romanticism
emerged as a response to the dominance of
reason and logic, emphasizing emotion,
nature, and human subjectivity. Oscar
Wilde’s The Nightingale and the Rose
contains strong elements of Romanticism
and, therefore, deserves to be studied using
this approach. Through the character of
Nightingale, Wilde conveys messages about
true love, sacrifice, and the social irony of
ignoring these noble values.
Introduction
The focus of this study is to answer the question:
“How are the values of Romanticism-such as
emotion, sacrifice, and criticism of rational logic-
presented in the story The Nightingale and the Rose
by Oscar Wilde?” Literature is a reflective medium
that voices the human heart, including desire,
suffering, and sacrifice. In this context, Romanticism
emerged as a response to the dominance of reason
and logic, emphasizing emotion, nature, and human
subjectivity. Oscar Wilde’s The Nightingale and the
Rose contains strong elements of Romanticism and,
therefore, deserves to be studied using this
approach. Through the character of Nightingale,
Wilde conveys a message of true love, sacrifice, and
the social irony of ignoring these noble values.

5. Romanticism in literature emphasizes the expression
of emotion, imagination, natural beauty, and the
value of individuality as opposed to rigid rationality.
According to William Wordsworth in his Preface to
Lyrical Ballads (1802), true poetry is “the
spontaneous overflow of strong feeling” arising from
deep reflection. This view explains Nightingale’s
character in Wilde’s story, who acts on emotional
impulses and loving sensibilities rather than based on
rationality or logical calculations.
Meanwhile, Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed humans
are good, but artificial social values corrupt their
purity. In this story, the girl represents a society
corrupted by materialistic values, rejecting true love
in favour of status and luxury (Abrams, 1971).
Literature Review
M.H. Abrams, in The Mirror and the Lamp (1971), states
that Romantic literature functions as a mirror of
emotions and a lamp that radiates the author’s
subjectivity. This concept helps explain that
Nightingale’s sacrifice is a symbol of love and an inner
reflection of the highest value of emotional devotion.
In the context of modern criticism, Sari and Yulianto
(2019) highlight Wilde’s writing style, which is full of
symbolism, irony, and deep emotions. This is
reinforced by Fonseka (2020), who raises the idea of
unacknowledged sacrifice, namely the sacrifice of the
character Nightingale that is not appreciated by other
characters and society. This strengthens the
assumption that Wilde criticizes the loss of
appreciation for true love in the modern rational world.

6. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method with a
close reading technique. The analysis examines the text’s
symbols, characters, and conflicts related to Romanticism’s
values. Primary data comes from Wilde’s story, while
secondary data is from journal articles, books, and other
scientificstudiesrelevanttotheRomanticapproach.
Metadology

7. Finding
1. Selfless Sacrifice
Quotation:
“Yet Love is better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?”
(Wilde, 1888)-this line is from Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Nightingale and the Rose’, a poignant tale that
explores the theme of selfless sacrifice.
Explanation:
Nightingale made the ultimate sacrifice in her profound belief that love is more precious than her
life. Her decision to die to create red roses for the students was not rational or driven by personal
gain. It was a testament to the depth of her emotions, a symbol of the highest form of emotional
sacrifice that took everyone by surprise.
Romanticism Meaning:
This is an expression of the core values of Romanticism: emotion, sacrifice, and spirituality. William
Wordsworth called artistic expression “the spontaneous overflow of strong feeling” (Wordsworth,
1802), and M.H. Abrams emphasized art as the emanation of inner subjectivity. In Romantic
literature, emotion is celebrated for its power to inspire and transform, sacrifice is revered as a
noble act of love, and spirituality is seen as a source of inspiration and guidance. Nightingale’s
sacrifice represents the highest pure emotion in this genre.

8. 2. Love Cannot Be Purchased
Quotation:
“Surely Love is a wonderful thing. It is more precious than emeralds... It may not be bought off the
merchants.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
Nightingale explains that love cannot be acquired with money, jewels, or transaction logic. According to
her, love is a sacred inner experience that cannot be calculated.
Romanticism Meaning:
This concept of love as a spiritual value aligns with Romanticism’s critique of materialism. Love is a
transcendental experience, not a market commodity. This shows the inner value that Romanticism
upholds.
Finding

9. 3. Girl Materialism
Quotation:
“I am afraid it will not go with my dress... the Chamberlain's nephew has sent me some real jewels.”
(Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
The girl rejects the sacrificial rose because it does not match her appearance. She prefers a gift from a
rich man who gives her jewellery.
Romanticism Meaning:
This reinforces Rousseau’s criticism of a society that corrupts pure values. Girls represent “amour
propre” (love for social status), not “amour de soi” (pure love). Consumptive values replace the value of
love in romanticism.
Finding

10. 4. The Dominance of Rationalism
Quotation:
“What a silly thing Love is... it is quite unpractical.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
The student returns to studying philosophy because he considers love illogical and impractical. He
ignores the value of Nightingale’s sacrifice.
Romanticism Meaning:
This reflects the main conflict in Romanticism: emotion and logic. Through this character, Wilde satirizes
the cold and rational world of academia, which is opposite to the values of deep feeling that
Romanticism upholds (Fonseka, 2020).
Finding

11. Finding
5. Nature Symbolism and Emotion
Quotation:
“What a silly thing Love is... it is quite impractical.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
“All night long she sang, and the thorn went deeper and deeper into her breast...” (Wilde, 1888)
Romanticism Meaning:
In Romanticism, nature is not just a setting but an expression of human emotion and spirituality.
Abrams explains that in Romantic works, nature reflects the inner state (Abrams, 1971).

12. Finding
6. Love and Death as One
Quotation:
“She sang of the Love that is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the tomb.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
Nightingale believed that true love can only reach perfection through death. She was willing to give up her
life for love, not even for herself. In her view, love is not limited by physical life; it is eternal and sublime
Romanticism Meaning:
In Romanticism, love and death are not opposites but complementary. Death is considered the highest
form of sacrifice and emotional expression. Love fought to the point of death is a form of tragic beauty—the
hallmark of Romanticism, as reflected in the poems of John Keats and Lord Byron. Romanticism also
expresses the idea that true meaning lies in suffering and intensity of feeling, not in outcome or logic.

13. Finding
7. Irony and Indifference
Quotation:
“She sang of the Love that is perfected by Death, of the Love that dies not in the tomb.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
After Nightingale died for a student, the student mocked her as an artist without sincerity. Nightingale had
sacrificed herself wholeheartedly. He did not know that the red rose came from Nightingale’s blood.
Romanticism Meaning:
Wilde satirizes the rational world that does not understand the depth of emotion and sacrifice. In
Romanticism, sincerity and feelings are superior to outward force. This is a form of social irony in which a
logical society underestimates genuine emotions.

14. Finding
8. The Rose as Proof of Ultimate Love
Quotation:
“The rose is finished now,” cried the Tree... “but the Nightingale made no answer, for she was lying dead in
the long grass.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
The red rose grows from the Nightingale’s song and blood. By the time the rose finished blooming, she was
dead. The rose becomes a mute legacy of unrecognized true love.
Romanticism Meaning:
In Romanticism, nature (trees, flowers, the moon) is not just a visual object but an extension of the mind.
The rose is an eternal symbol of love born out of suffering and the deepest emotions—a major theme in the
works of Romantics like Blake or Keats.

15. Finding
9. Total Disregard for Love
Quotation:
“He threw the rose into the street... and a cartwheel went over it.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
The student threw the rose into the street because the girl rejected him. The love he had fought for with
his life was thrown away and run over by a cartwheel.
Romanticism Meaning:
This act shows that emotional love has no value in the eyes of a rational and practical modern society. It
confirms man’s failure to appreciate spiritual value - a significant criticism of Romanticism.

16. Finding
10. Social Class Pride
Quotation:
“Who are you? Only a Student... you don't even have silver buckles.” (Wilde, 1888)
Explanation:
The girl rejects the student not because she does not love him, but because of her low social status. She
prefers men from the nobility.
Romanticism Meaning:
In the Romantic view, true love is not bound by social class. When love is limited by status, it loses its purity.
Rousseau mentions that society corrupts man’s natural morality, which is reflected in the girl’s attitude.

17. Result
Wilde illustrates how a society that only cares about practical values can
overlook the sacrifice of true love. Nightingale represents the highest values
of romanticism-love, sacrifice, and spiritual emotion. The girl and the student
represent a rational and materialistic society. The story becomes a tragic
allegory of humanity’s failure to appreciate pure, materially invisible love.

18. The story features the conflict between idealistic love and the rational world. Nightingale
represents the emotional pinnacle of humanity, and the girl and the student reflect the corruption
of values brought about by logic and materialism. Wilde conveys that love, if not recognized and
appreciated, will be lost along with the sacrifices that come with it. A potential weakness lies with
readers who do not understand the symbolism and see this story as an ordinary fairy tale. Further
studies could compare the role of the Nightingale bird symbol in other romantic poems, such as
Keats’, and explore deeper social criticism. This short story can be used as reflection material in
character education, especially in instilling the value of empathy and respect for the feelings of
others. This research helps us understand that literature is a narrative and a tool of social and
spiritual criticism and enriches our appreciation of classic literature..
Conclusion

19. Fonseka, E. G. (2020). Sacrifice Unacknowledged: A Literary Analysis of “The Nightingale and
the Rose” by Oscar Wilde. American Research Journal of English and Literature, 6(1), 1-8.
References
Wilde, O., Wright, F., & Foreman, M. (1981). The nightingale and the rose. Kaye & Ward.
Sari, M. I., & Yulianto, H. J. (2019). Oscar Wilde's Writing Style in" The Happy Prince" in View of
Transitivity Analysis. Rainbow: Journal of Literature, Linguistics and Culture Studies, 8(1), 8-19.
Abrams, M. H. (1971). The mirror and the lamp: Romantic theory and the critical tradition
(Vol. 360). New York: Oxford University Press.
Abbas, A. J., & Mugair, S. K. (2019). A Stylistic Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s the Nightingale and
the Rose. Opción: Revista de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, (19), 28.
Wilde, O. (2024). The nightingale and the rose. Modernista..
Mugair, S. K., & Abbas, A. J. (2016). A Stylistic Analysis of Oscar Wilde’s the Nightingale
and the Rose. International Journal of Social Sciences & Education, 6(4), 389-395.
Solyom, L. The nightingale and the rose by oscar wilde. Scribd.
https://www.scribd.com/document/397727535/The-Nightingale-and-the-Rose
Oscar Wilde Biography.http://www.cmgww.com/historic/wilde/bio1.htm
Bio. “Oscar Wilde Biography - Writer (1854–1900).”
http://www. biography.com/people/oscar-wilde-9531078

20. Thank You
Presented by Karyana Tantri (202220001)