# The Nightingale and the Rose explained — Children’s Stories

> Chapter companion for Children’s Stories by Oscar Wilde.

## What happens

A young Student laments that he cannot find a red rose to give to his beloved, the Professor's daughter, so she will dance with him. A Nightingale, believing him to be a true lover, sacrifices her life by pressing her breast against a thorn all night, singing as her blood creates a crimson rose. The Student presents the rose to the girl, but she rejects it for jewels from the Chamberlain's nephew. The Student discards the rose, which is crushed by a cartwheel, and dismisses love as a foolish thing.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sacrifice and Redemption

The Nightingale sacrifices her life to create the red rose, embodying the theme of self-sacrifice for love.

### Love and Selfishness

The Student's love is shallow and self-centered, contrasted with the Nightingale's genuine, selfless love.

### Innocence and Experience

The Nightingale's innocent belief in true love is shattered by the Student's pragmatic and dismissive reaction.

## Character check-ins

### the Nightingale

Sacrifices her life to create a red rose for the Student, believing in true love.

### Little Hans

Not present in this chapter.

### the young King

Not present in this chapter.

### the Star-Child

Not present in this chapter.

### the Swallow

Not present in this chapter.

### the Selfish Giant

Not present in this chapter.

### the Remarkable Rocket

Not present in this chapter.

### the little Dwarf

Not present in this chapter.

### the young Fisherman

Not present in this chapter.

### big Hugh the Miller

Not present in this chapter.

### the Priest

Not present in this chapter.

### the Witch

Not present in this chapter.

### the Infanta

Not present in this chapter.

### the Soul

Not present in this chapter.

### Death

Not present in this chapter.

### Poverty

Not present in this chapter.

### Avarice

Not present in this chapter.

### the Doctor

Not present in this chapter.

### the North Wind

Not present in this chapter.

### the Wolf

Not present in this chapter.

### the Woodcutter

Not present in this chapter.

### The Flowers

Not present in this chapter.

### the Reed

Not present in this chapter.

### Dear Prince

Not present in this chapter.

### Jean le Fou

Not present in this chapter.

### The Afghans

Not present in this chapter.

### Lady Desborough

Not present in this chapter.

### the Cactus

Not present in this chapter.

### Gold Stick

Not present in this chapter.

### the Turtledoves

Not present in this chapter.

### the Hare

Not present in this chapter.

### the Dragonfly

Not present in this chapter.

### Catherine Wheel

Not present in this chapter.

### the Roman Candle

Not present in this chapter.

### Don Pedro of Aragon

Not present in this chapter.

### a Bengal Light

Not present in this chapter.

### the Tree

The Rose-tree that demands the Nightingale's sacrifice to produce a red rose.

### the Tartars

Not present in this chapter.

### One of the priests

Not present in this chapter.

### the Priest who was reading out of the Holy Book

Not present in this chapter.

### The master of the galley

Not present in this chapter.

### a Green Linnet

Not present in this chapter.

### the Duck

Not present in this chapter.

### the Frog

Not present in this chapter.

## Key lines

> Death is a great price to pay for a red rose

The Nightingale acknowledges that dying for a rose is a huge cost.

_Highlights the theme of sacrifice._

> Yet Love is better than Life, and what is the heart of a bird compared to the heart of a man?

The Nightingale decides that love is more valuable than her own life, and her bird heart is less important than a human's.

_Shows the Nightingale's prioritization of love over self-preservation._

> I am afraid it will not go with my dress

The Professor's daughter rejects the rose because it doesn't match her outfit.

_Illustrates the superficiality of the girl and the futility of the sacrifice._

> What a silly thing Love is!

The Student concludes that love is foolish and impractical.

_Reflects the Student's cynical dismissal of romantic love._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/children_s_stories_se/chapters/the-nightingale-and-the-rose
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/children_s_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/children_s_stories_se/chapters