Oscar Wilde (1888) — a little bird believes in true love, and gives everything for one red rose
Original version available: read this lesson at B2/C1 level →
This is a famous short story, told here in simple English. Read each part, then stop and talk about the questions. The end is a surprise — read slowly and do not jump ahead.
A young student was very sad. He loved a girl. The girl was beautiful, and the student wanted to dance with her.
The girl said: "I will dance with you, but only if you bring me a red rose."
The student looked in his garden. But there were no red roses there. He sat down and began to cry. "I have no red rose. So she will not dance with me, and my heart will break."
A little bird, a nightingale, lived in a tree near the window. She heard the student cry. The nightingale loved love. She believed in true love. "Here is a true lover," she said. "I will help him."
The nightingale flew to the rose trees. "Please give me a red rose," she said. But the first tree had white roses. The second tree had yellow roses. The third tree had red roses, but it had no flowers this year.
The third tree said: "There is a way to make a red rose. But it is very hard. You must sing all night with a thorn in your heart. You must give your own life."
The little bird loved love more than her own life. So at night she began to sing. She sang and sang. The thorn went into her heart. All night she sang, and slowly a beautiful red rose grew on the tree.
In the morning, the rose was red and perfect. But the little nightingale was dead. She gave her life for the red rose.
In the morning, the student saw the red rose. "What a beautiful rose!" he said. He was very happy. He took the rose to the girl.
"Here is your red rose. Now you will dance with me," he said.
But the girl did not want the rose now. "Another man gave me some beautiful jewels," she said. "Jewels cost more than flowers. I like jewels more than roses."
The student was angry. He threw the red rose into the street, and a car went over it. "Love is silly," he said. "My books are more useful." He went home, and started to read his books again.
Ten useful words. Tap each card to see what it means and an example sentence.
1. The girl wanted a ______ rose. 2. The little ______ sang all night. 3. The girl liked ______ more than flowers.
After some verbs, we use to + verb. After other verbs, we use verb + -ing. This story is full of wanting, liking and stopping — perfect for these patterns.
want to / would like to + verb: for things we hope to do. I want to dance. She would like to have a rose.
like + -ing: for things we enjoy. I like singing. She likes wearing jewels.
stop + -ing: for an activity we end. The bird stopped singing.
1. The student wanted with the girl. (dance)
2. The girl would like a red rose. (have)
3. The bird wanted the student. (help)
4. The student did not want alone. (be)
1. to dance 2. to have 3. to help 4. to be
Remember: after want and would like, we use to + verb.
1. The bird liked in the tree. (sing)
2. The girl liked jewels. (wear)
3. In the morning, the bird stopped . (sing)
4. The student liked his books. (read)
1. singing 2. wearing 3. singing 4. reading
Remember: after like and stop, we often use verb + -ing.
A good short story makes you feel something. This story has a sad surprise at the end. Here are two simple ideas to think about.
We think the story will be happy. The bird makes a beautiful red rose. The student is happy. But then the girl says no — she likes jewels more. The student throws the rose away, and a car goes over it. This sad surprise at the end makes us think again about the whole story. The bird gave her life, and no one even knows.
The little bird gives the biggest gift: her life. But the rose ends in the street. The girl wants money and jewels, not love. The student goes back to his books. The writer asks us a big question: what is more important, love or money? The bird chose love. The girl and the student chose money and books. Wilde wants us to feel that this is sad.
Do all three. Use the timer and try to keep talking. The sentence starters can help you begin.
Now tell the story again in your own words. Use short, simple sentences. Try to use four or five words from the Words tab, and tell the events in order.
These steps will help you: a student needs a red rose to dance with a girl · a little bird decides to help · the bird sings all night and gives her life to make one red rose · the student gives the rose to the girl · she does not want it, and he throws it away.
Talk about a gift you gave someone, or a gift someone gave you. Say what it was and how you felt.
The girl likes jewels more than the rose. What is more important to you: love or money? Say what you think.