The Thorn Essay Questions

What is the significance of the thorn in the poem?

The thorn is a symbol of the coexisting feelings of joy and sadness that one experiences in life—especially as one grows older and “joins society,” so to speak. Within the context of Romantic literature, the thorn may represent how even in the most beautiful natural setting, ugliness can be found. Romantic poetry often adheres to the belief that modern society corrupted the simple and pure way of life that people used to follow while living in nature. On another level, the thorn may symbolize grief and affliction. The speaker may be referring once again to the inevitable pitfalls of growing up, joining society, and thus leaving the innocence and purity of the natural world one enjoys so freely as a child. Growing up is a kind of affliction of the human experience, as love, innocence, and truthfulness are lost. The townspeople represent society—they gossip about Martha Ray and judge her, feigning sympathy but never once reaching out to help her. As the final resting place of Martha’s child, the thorn is the very embodiment of innocence lost.

How is the speaker’s narrative ironic in tone and content?

At the poem’s outset, the speaker comes across as very self-assured. He describes the thorn and its surroundings with nearly scientific accuracy, explaining the exact location and detail of every natural element. However, once he begins to introduce the characters of his narrative—beginning with Martha Ray—his story starts to go off on tangents. He begins to express doubts regarding details and frequently states that his knowledge is actually based on hearsay, gradually establishing himself as an unreliable narrator. However, essentially every time he expresses doubt, he follows with a statement that he swears to be true.