Flowers of Flowers of The handmaid’s taleThe handmaid’s tale
English 4 Honors
tuliptulipcommon name from the Turkish word for gauze (with which turbans were wrapped)
yellow tulips symbolizing cheerful thoughts
white conveying forgiveness
purple representing royalty
a Turkish legend may be responsible for the red tulip's symbolism. The a Prince Farhad was love struck by a maiden named Shirin. When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse over the edge of a cliff. A scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood - a symbol of "perfect love."
irisiris
faith
wisdom
cherished friendship
hope
valor
promise in love
bleeding heartbleeding heartundying love
This story tells of a prince who tries to win the heart of a beautiful maiden by giving her gifts. With each gift, two of the petals are removed. Despite his attempts, the maiden continues to refuse the prince, and so he pierces himself through the heart – the heart having been formed with the discarded petals, the knife with the green stamen.
symbols of both Jesus and Mary, united in redemptive and co-redemptive sacrifice
lilylilyDerived from the Greek word “leiron,” - they believed it sprouted from the milk of Hera, the queen of the gods.
white lilies - chastity and virtue – the symbol of the Virgin Mary’s purity and her role of Queen of the Angels
Peruvian lilies, or alstroemeria, represent friendship and devotion
white stargazer lilies express sympathy and pink stargazer lilies represent wealth and prosperity.
lilies of the valley symbolize humility and devotion
lilies symbolize that the soul of the departed has received restored innocence after death
peoniespeoniesOne legend has it that the peony is named after Paeon, a physician to the gods, who received the flower on Mount Olympus from the mother of Apollo.
Another tells the story of that same physician who was “saved” from the fate of dying as other mortals by being turned into the flower.
peonies are known as the flower of riches and honor
peonies embody romance and prosperity
are regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage
carnationcarnationwhite carnations suggest pure love and good luck
light red symbolizes admiration
dark red represents deep love and affection
purple carnations imply capriciousness
pink carnations carry the greatest significance, beginning with the belief that they first appeared on earth from the Virgin Mary’s tears – making them the symbol of a mother’s undying love.
daisydaisy
purity
innocence
loyal love
beauty
patience
simplicity
black-eyed susanblack-eyed susan
encouragement
dandeliondandelion
love me
affection returned
desire
sympathy
faithfulness
happiness
love's oracle.
BibliographyBibliography• “Bleeding Heart Flower Pictures & Meaning.” Flowersinfo.org. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “Find Your Flower: Flower Symbols and Meanings.” Living Arts Originals. Living Arts Enterprises, LLC, 2010. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “Flower Meanings and Meanings of Flowers.” aboutflowers. Society of American Florists, n.d. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “Iris Flower Meaning.” Living Arts Originals. Living Arts Enterprises, LLC, 2010. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “The Meaning and Symbolism of Carnation.” teleflora. Teleflora, 2012. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “The Meaning and Symbolism of Lilies.” teleflora. Teleflora, 2012. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “The Meaning and Symbolism of Peonies.” teleflora. Teleflora, 2012. Web. 5 February 2012.
• “The Meaning and Symbolism of Tulip.” teleflora. Teleflora, 2012. Web. 5 February 2012.
• Stokes, John S. Jr. “Reparation Through Flowers.” Mary’s Garden. The Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute, 2009. Web. 5 February 2012.