Question

Using complete sentences, explain the figurative language used in lines 11-12: “And early though the laurel grows/ It withers quicker than the rose.” Cite evidence from the poem in your response

Answer 1

This excerpt from 'To an Athlete Dying Young' exemplifies an elegy written by A.E. Housman, to an athlete who is dying, and contains an obsessive usage of metaphors'shady night'(symbolizes death), 'stiller town'(a metaphor for graveyard), etc. to mourn his death. The lines 11 displays the "laurel" as "glory and fame" and implies that as quick as it grows, withers away even more promptly. Line 12 represents the metaphor of "rose" which he employs to laurel to a rose to symbolize that all the honor or fame fades away more quickly than a rose "withers quicker than the rose". However, the entire poem is an apostrophe lamenting the death of the athlete and symbolizes his absence.

Answer 2

In the poem "To an Athlete Dying Young" by A. E. Housman, the author uses metaphors in lines 11-12 to describe the athlete's short-lived and glorious life. The laurel flower represents glory and victory, and have a shorter lifespan than roses. This metaphor implies that fame and honor does not last long.