the rose that grew from concrete analysis essay

The Rose That Grew From Concrete

By Tupac Shakur

‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ is a moving celebration of personal resolve against the backdrop of oppressive forces.

Tupac Shakur

Nationality: American

He was born in 1971 in New York City.

Key Poem Information

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Central Message: Exceptional people will always thrive, but they shouldn't have to be exceptional to do so.

Themes: Beauty , Celebration , Dreams

Speaker: A supportive observer of the rose, who wishes to share their experience.

Emotions Evoked: Anger , Hope , Pride

Poetic Form: Free Verse

Time Period: 20th Century

Shakur's simple yet brilliant poem challenges expectations while celebrating achievement.

Poem Analyzed by Joe Santamaria

B.A. in English and Related Literature, M.A. in Irish Literature

Tupac Shakur’s ‘ The Rose That Grew From Concrete ‘ is a simple yet evocative depiction of beauty’s ability to survive despite circumstances that would ordinarily stifle it. The poem symbolically reflects the ability an artist, or person more broadly, has to break through barriers in order to become the individual they want to be.

Explore The Rose That Grew From Concrete

• 3 Detailed Analysis
• 5 Similar Poetry

‘ The Rose That Grew From Concrete ‘ explores ideas including perseverance and belief through an extended metaphor .

The poem begins by asking whether the reader or some other figure had ever heard about the titular rose, which immediately establishes the flower’s growth to be something out of the ordinary. It continues by exploring how the rose was able to thrive despite its less-than-ideal surroundings. This is largely attributed to the flower’s unique qualities, as the poet imbues it with personality and individualism. Ultimately, the poem concludes by heralding the rose and celebrating its ability to grow and provide beauty where nobody thought it was possible.

‘ The Rose That Grew From Concrete ‘ is the title poem of Shakur’s 1999 collection, though it was written between 1989 and 1991 when Shakur was still a teenager. While predominately known as a rapper, Shakur’s interest in poetry has come to light since his death in 1996, as demonstrated by a book of haikus he wrote aged just eleven, which was auctioned in 2022. Like his music, his poetry is largely concerned with social issues, particularly the treatment of African Americans and systemic inequality. Having become one of the most successful and influential musical artists in the world, Shakur was tragically murdered in 1996 at the age of just twenty-five.

Detailed Analysis

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet.

The use of the direct address creates a personal tone and implies the speaker is addressing the reader individually. It also serves to create a sense of urgency, perhaps encouraging those readers to reflect on why the rose had to endure such hardships at all. The use of the rhetorical question also places the onus on the reader to justify the flower’s treatment. Likewise, the alliteration in the second line creates a harsh, aggressive sound to emphasize the pain and suffering experienced by the flower, even when all it wished to do was exist and evoke beauty. The hyperbolic claim that the rose “prov[ed] nature’s law is wrong” showcases the value the poet placed on simple acts of beauty and on living a peaceful existence. Shakur then personifies the flower, further imbuing it with agency and personality. This could be intended to imply that, while the plant cannot physically move, its message can travel many miles. Finally, the reference to the flower’s lack of feet could be an example of meta-textual humor , as Shakur could be hinting at his unorthodox entry into the world of poetry, as poetic lines are laid out and measured in feet.

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, (…) when no one else ever cared.

The poem continues to personify the flower by referring to its dreams, establishing a direct connection between having hopes and aspirations and living a better, more fulfilling life. The idea that a being can somehow learn to breathe fresh air places a degree of emphasis on the individual by suggesting they can overcome their circumstances through perseverance and self-belief, just as the rose has. Finally, the speaker returns to the juxtaposition between the flower and the concrete, to once again reinforce the magnitude of the rose’s story. The caustic final line functions as a challenge to the reader for being complicit in a world where only the very strongest and most determined things can endure.

The rose can be viewed as an extended metaphor for a person who has grown up in poverty but managed to break free of the constraints placed upon them by society. It could also represent the life of African Americans whom Shakur observed pushing against similar barriers in life. Crucially, the fact that it is a single rose is significant as it suggests that the majority of people cannot break free of these oppressive structures.

The single stanza poem is written in free verse , though it does feature rhyming lines, specifically ‘concrete’, ‘feet’, and ‘air’, ‘cared’. These rhymes could suggest the memory of rigid social structures that have been broken, just as the rose has broken the surface of the concrete.

The speaker appears to be spreading the message that the sight of the rose inspired, passing it on so that the reader too might carry it with them.

The tone shifts between appearing hopeful and celebratory and angry and accusatory. Whilst Shakur is keen to emphasise the rose’s qualities, he is frustrated that they are necessary characteristics to survive in the world.

Similar Poetry

Readers who enjoyed ‘ The Rose That Grew From Concrete ‘ might want to explore similar poetry. For example:

• ‘ Blowin’ in the Wind ‘ by Bob Dylan – Another songwriter, Dylan’s work is similarly charged with a broader purpose.
• ‘ White Roses ‘ by Gillian Clarke – This poem also uses roses as a symbol , this time to explore mortality and sickness.
• ‘ Harlem (A Dream Deferred) ‘ by Langston Hughes – This poem examines the difficulties a black man experiences in a white-dominated world.

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20th century, celebration, african americans, man vs nature.

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Santamaria, Joe. "The Rose That Grew From Concrete by Tupac Shakur". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/tupac-shakur/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete/ . Accessed 15 September 2024.

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“The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive

Most of the poetry that we analyze here is basically very standard fare. It’s written by some poet and makes use of what you might expect from a poem. But what about an analysis of a poem written by a rapper? Today, we want to examine The Rose That Grew from Concrete meanings and interpretations by checking out this immensely famous rapper’s non-musical literary output, and we’ll do so by discussing Tupac Shakur himself, his poem, some of the themes and ideas within the poem, and the connections between this poem and his music. If an analysis of a rapper’s poetry, rather than their raps, leads to some interest in your mind, give this one a read!

Table of Contents

• 1 The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur Analysis
• 2 The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis Summary Points
• 3 Biography of Tupac Shakur
• 4.1 Section One
• 4.2 Section Two
• 4.3 Section Three
• 4.4 Section Four
• 5 The Rose That Grew from Concrete Meanings and Themes
• 6 The Relation Between The Rose That Grew from Concrete and Other Tupac Shakur Songs and Poems
• 7.1 What Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur?
• 7.2 Who Was Tupac Shakur?
• 7.3 What Type of Poem Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete?
• 7.4 What Are the Themes of The Rose That Grew from Concrete?
• 7.5 How Does The Rose That Grew from Concrete Relate to Other Tupac Shakur Poems and Songs?

The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur Analysis

We are often told that poetry is just not really a thing anymore. Poetry was this old thing that is not much enjoyed by the general populace these days unless they’re in an English class and they’re forced to sit there and listen to some ancient poem. However, this isn’t really the case. Some of the oldest poetry in existence was traditionally set to music and performed. How is that different from contemporary music with lyrics?

Lyrics are poems. They may be written with the intention of setting them to music, and elements such as a chorus are not all that common in poetry in comparison to their place in music. However, lyrics are often poetically written and presented to the audience, and the work of Tupac Shakur is no exception. In fact, many would likely argue that the work of Shakur, often better known as 2Pac, was even more poetically constructed than most of the other music that was being produced at the time (or since). This is a good point to examine, and many of the raps by 2Pac can be read as poetry if we were to read a lyric sheet. However, what about an actual poem by this famous rapper from the nineties? Well, that is why we’ll be diving into a The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis today. Before we get to any of that though, we’re first going to stop for a moment and check out a summary of the things to come.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis Summary Points

In this The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we will be looking over various elements of this poem by an acclaimed rapper, but before we do get into any of that, we are first going to see some summarized points. The reason for this is because it can often be easier to analyze something when you have some background information in mind from the very beginning:

• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem about adversity and celebration. This poem comes from a very real place for the poet because they grew up in a difficult and dangerous environment. In his life, he faced adversity and violence and was able to rise above it to make something of himself. This is the ultimate meaning of the poem as it celebrates this ability to survive and even thrive despite the harsh places from which we may arise.
• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a free verse poem. While the poem was typically known as a rapper and made comprehensive use of rhyme, this poem is instead bereft of rhyme or more traditional structures. It is also a rather short poem that would not typically manage to sustain an actual rap like the other poetically constructed raps that Shakur produced.
• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem by Tupac Shakur. This figure was a rapper, actor, and activist, but he also wrote poetry. While he is best known for producing rap music under his stage name, 2Pac, he did also do a lot more. This poem shows the range of talents that he possessed as a creative. However, despite the poetry that Shakur wrote, they will likely never be seen as the things that he is notable for creating.

This summary is hardly enough to understand The Rose That Grew from Concrete meanings, themes, and so on because the only way you’ll learn all of that is by going more on a line-by-line basis.

And that is exactly what we’re going to do in this analysis, but first, let’s chat about Tupac Shakur himself for a few moments.

Biography of Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur is predominantly remembered as an influential American rapper, but he was also an activist, and actor. He was a major proponent of the West Coast hip-hop scene, and his work would go on to inspire many other rappers over the decades. He was also one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, and his work was often directed at an unflinching critique and portrayal of oppression, violence, racism, and so on.

He would also find success as an actor and would lay the groundwork for many other rappers who followed a similar general career trajectory. However, he did experience a variety of issues in his life. For instance, he was convicted of sexual assault and served time in prison shortly before his death. When it comes to his death, there is often still speculation about it as he was murdered in a drive-by shooting incident by an unknown assailant. Conspiracies have swirled ever since about the reasons for his murder.

However, his death at the age of 25 solidified his place as a rapper who was taken young while being one of the most influential to have ever lived.

An In-Depth The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis

We have now reached The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis which was promised at the start of this article. This 2Pac text is written in free verse, and for this reason, there are no ordinary formal aspects of the poem to keep in mind as we proceed with the analysis. There is no use of rhyme or standard meter. This frees the poem up to read more like ordinary communication. In terms of the poem’s presentation here for analysis, I have arbitrarily broken it into pieces to make it easier to analyze. The poem is arranged as four different statements or questions, each of which is broken into two lines, for a total of eight lines. So, I have separated it into four different sections so that each of them can be analyzed on its own terms.

Section One

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

The first statement of the poem posits a question to us. This is a means of engaging with the audience by forcing them to consider the question. In this case, the question asks whether any of us have heard about the rose that has grown out of a crack in the concrete. This is a very powerful image. The opposing views of the man-made concrete can be seen as a representation of the urban environments that humans occupy against the rose, and the crack is something broken and in disrepair within that urban environment.

In this early part of the poem, we can already see that the crack is something from which adversity arises for those who are exposed to it.

Those who grow up in these “cracks” are the ones who need to have perseverance to be able to make it at all. Because out of it, something like a rose can have the means to grow. A rose is a potent image that has so many symbolic attachments. For instance, we can see the rose as something beautiful that arose from the cracks and managed to survive, but despite its beauty, it is surrounded by thorns to protect itself.

Section Two

Proving nature’s law is wrong it

learned to walk with out having feet.

The second statement in the poem tells us that the supposed laws of nature are wrong. This rose that arose out of the crack in the ground was never meant to rise. The oppressive nature of the urban environments that 2Pac often wrote and rapped about, which affected African Americans above all others, are oppressive places that do not foster growth. It goes against the supposed “laws of nature” that such places produce for something beautiful to ever be able to escape its clutches. We can see the hope embedded within this beauty and joy.

Perseverance has paid off for this rose as it grew in the most inhospitable of places.

Section Three

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,

it learned to breathe fresh air.

The second-last stanza opens by pointing out the seeming absurdity of the rose ever being able to grow out of such a place, but there is where the poem shifts to a focus on dreams. The rose, which metaphorically represents Tupac Shakur and, by extension, others who might have risen out of the same kind of oppressive situations, was only able to grow because it had dreams that it refused to give up on. Those who managed to escape are suggested, by the poem, to only get out of those places because they had hope and perseverance.

It was able to learn to breathe the air that was freer than anything they’d experienced before.

Section Four

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

when no one else ever cared.

The final statement of the poem is our final point of wrapping up the text as a whole. It tells the rose that it must live as long as it is able to live. It grew out of the worst kind of place it could have grown from, but it survived, and it has continued to survive in such a place. The final line is a darker and more unpleasant one because while the rose may have survived and thrived by breaking through the concrete, no one had ever cared about it.

So, the speaker wants it to live and hopes that it will despite no one really caring as he does.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete Meanings and Themes

In my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, I looked at various themes for this poem, but as a more definitive wrap-up, let’s discuss them a little more here. The poem examines, through the use of metaphor, a person who is forced to live through adversity and must fight to rise above the odds and come out on top. This view of oppression is integral to an understanding of the poem.

However, out of that sense of oppression and misery, there is the chance for growth despite the difficulties in doing so.

The poem becomes a piece of celebration. It wants us to strive to be better in our lives regardless of any of the hardships that we might face. The world is often a cruel and tough place, but the poem valorizes those who are strong enough to continue to follow their dreams through perseverance and self-assertiveness.

The Relation Between The Rose That Grew from Concrete and Other Tupac Shakur Songs and Poems

One of the things that anyone familiar with the work of Tupac Shakur will probably realize immediately is that The Rose That Grew from Concrete shares very similar themes with the music for which he was predominantly known. His work often focused on social issues, such as systemic racism in African American communities and the dangers of life in gang territory cities.

This poem, like many of the raps that Shakur wrote, is concerned with resilience and perseverance in the face of these difficulties. Much of his music would share many commonalities with this poem. While many of his raps are aggressive, in keeping with gangsta rap tradition, he does also have many raps, and poems, that show a more sensitive disposition. This The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis should have shown part of that more sensitive side that wanted to express feelings of hope in what is often a hopeless world for many.

Today, we have examined a text that is a little different from the usual poetry we discuss here. Music is a fascinating thing because lyrics are basically poems that are set to instruments, but we don’t often think of it that way. Many of the raps by Tupac Shakur are highly poetic in their structure, presentation, and content, yet many may not agree. However, when it comes to my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we can see that rappers such as these are also capable of writing more standard poetry that is not intended to be set to music at all. Regardless of this, there is poetry throughout the music of 2Pac, so if you want to experience more of that, give some of it a listen!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rose that grew from concrete by tupac shakur.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem by Tupac Shakur, often better known by his stage name, 2Pac. This poem is an examination and exploration of personal growth and resolve. The poem comes from a dark place in which Shakur metaphorically recounts the way in which he was forced to grow up in an oppressive environment. It is a celebration of overcoming adversity and developing as a person despite the difficulties faced in life. It is a poem about self-love and self-respect.

Who Was Tupac Shakur?

Tupac Shakur was an American rapper who was best known under the stage name, 2Pac. He would go on to become one of the most influential figures in hip hop and was a major figure in West Coast hip hop in the nineties. He grew up in and around gang culture, and much of this existence would lead to the later raps that he produced. He was ultimately shot and killed when he was only 25 years old in a drive-by shooting incident. 

What Type of Poem Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete ?

In my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we saw that this text is a free verse poem. This means that it doesn’t adhere to the standard rules of poetry that one might ordinarily expect. For instance, there is no use of rhyme or consistent meter. Instead, it makes use of a very informal presentation and basic vocabulary. The simplicity of the words and structure contribute to the straightforward nature of the message that is being presented to the reader.

What Are the Themes of The Rose That Grew from Concrete ?

The basic idea behind The Rose That Grew from Concrete is that it is about growing up in a difficult situation and still managing to not only survive, but also to thrive. The poem examines oppression, and how one can pull themselves out of situations in which the odds are not in their favor. The poem is about overcoming diversity through willpower and the desire to grow and improve as a person.

How Does The Rose That Grew from Concrete Relate to Other Tupac Shakur Poems and Songs?

When it comes to a The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, it is easy to see how it relates to other works by Tupac Shakur, provided you are familiar with his work. His music was often related to the dangers of growing up in gang territory, the oppression felt by African American people, the pervasive role of violence in society, and so on. However, many of his poems are also about persevering despite that, and The Rose That Grew from Concrete falls into this category like many of 2Pac’s raps.

Justin van Huyssteen is a freelance writer, novelist, and academic originally from Cape Town, South Africa. At present, he has a bachelor’s degree in English and literary theory and an honor’s degree in literary theory. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in literary theory with a focus on animal studies, critical theory, and semiotics within literature. As a novelist and freelancer, he often writes under the pen name L.C. Lupus.

Justin’s preferred literary movements include modern and postmodern literature with literary fiction and genre fiction like sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and horror being of particular interest. His academia extends to his interest in prose and narratology. He enjoys analyzing a variety of mediums through a literary lens, such as graphic novels, film, and video games.

Justin is working for artincontext.org as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture, literature and poetry.

Learn more about Justin van Huyssteen and the Art in Context Team .

Cite this Article

Justin, van Huyssteen, ““The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive.” Art in Context. February 3, 2024. URL: https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/

van Huyssteen, J. (2024, 3 February). “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/

van Huyssteen, Justin. ““The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive.” Art in Context , February 3, 2024. https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/ .

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Tupac Shakur — Analysis Of The Poem ‘the Rose That Grew From Concrete’ Written By Tupac Shakur

Analysis of The Poem 'The Rose that Grew from Concrete' Written by Tupac Shakur

• Categories: Poetry Tupac Shakur

About this sample

Words: 876 |

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 876 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

The essay explores Tupac Shakur's poem "The Rose that Grew from Concrete" and delves into the various layers of irony and symbolism present in the poem. It begins by introducing the poem and its central theme, which is the idea of resilience and success despite challenging circumstances. The essay highlights that the rose symbolizes a person with strength and determination, while the concrete represents the harsh environment that seeks to hinder growth and progress.

The first layer of irony discussed is situational irony, where the poem's protagonist defies expectations by resorting to violence when faced with a proposed breakup. This unexpected turn of events challenges the conventional response to adversity.

Dramatic irony is the next focus, emphasizing how the audience knows that the lamb used to murder the husband is served to the police, while the characters remain oblivious. This creates tension and suspense in the narrative.

The essay also explores the recurring theme of determination and never giving up on one's dreams. It points out that despite the challenges and lack of support, the rose in the concrete continues to chase its dreams, symbolizing the resilience of the human spirit.

Furthermore, the essay discusses the personal connection between Tupac Shakur and the poem, as he reflects on his own experiences growing up in a challenging environment and finding an outlet in music and poetry to express his feelings.

• Shakur, Tupac “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”

Should follow an “upside down” triangle format, meaning, the writer should start off broad and introduce the text and author or topic being discussed, and then get more specific to the thesis statement.

Provides a foundational overview, outlining the historical context and introducing key information that will be further explored in the essay, setting the stage for the argument to follow.

Cornerstone of the essay, presenting the central argument that will be elaborated upon and supported with evidence and analysis throughout the rest of the paper.

The topic sentence serves as the main point or focus of a paragraph in an essay, summarizing the key idea that will be discussed in that paragraph.

The body of each paragraph builds an argument in support of the topic sentence, citing information from sources as evidence.

After each piece of evidence is provided, the author should explain HOW and WHY the evidence supports the claim.

Should follow a right side up triangle format, meaning, specifics should be mentioned first such as restating the thesis, and then get more broad about the topic at hand. Lastly, leave the reader with something to think about and ponder once they are done reading.

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The Rose That Grew from Concrete

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams , it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Summary of The Rose That Grew from Concrete

Analysis of literary devices used in the rose that grew from concrete.

Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Rose That Grew From Concrete

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The moon won’t use the door, only the window.

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Analysis of "The Rose That Grew From Concrete"

Table of contents, resilience and adversity, unlikely beauty, empowerment and hope, legacy and influence.

• Shakur, T. (1999). The Rose That Grew From Concrete. MTV Books/Pocket Books.
• Forman, M. (2002). The ‘Hood Comes First: Race, Space, and Place in Rap and Hip-Hop. Wesleyan University Press.
• Neal, M. A. (2004). New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity. Routledge.
• Williams, B. (2010). The Rose That Grew from Concrete: Black Power and Hip-Hop. Black Music Research Journal, 30(1), 111-130.
• Tate, G. (1997). "Now Don't Everybody Like the smell of Roses?": On Being "Loved" by Young Black Men. Rethinking Schools, 12(3), 2-7.

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The Rose that Grew from Concrete Analysis

Critical appreciation of tupac shakur's the rose that grew from concrete.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete  is a poignant and inspiring poem written by Tupac Shakur, featured in his posthumous poetry collection of the same name. In this metaphorical piece, Tupac paints a vivid  picture of a rose growing from a crack in the concrete, symbolizing resilience and the ability to flourish despite adverse circumstances.  The poem speaks to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome challenges and thrive, even in the face of  seemingly impossible odds. It serves as a testament to Tupac’s belief in the strength of the marginalized and oppressed,  encouraging all to embrace their uniqueness and rise above life’s obstacles, just like the rose that defied the concrete’s harshness to bloom with beauty and grace.

The Rose that Grew from Concrete | Summary and Analysis

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? 

The Rose That Grew from Concrete, Lines 3-4

Proving nature’s law wrong it  learned to walk without having feet. 

The rose is personified and is indeed symbolic of his own self,  and countless other talented individuals who rise from the most hopeless of situations. The said rose proves nature’s law wrong; in a similar way, people who rise from their situations  thwart the hereditary cycle of living in a sorry state.  The poet owes his success to no one but himself; he rose from his surroundings and proved the logical predictions of people wrong. 

The Rose That Grew from Concrete, Lines 4-5

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,  it learned to breathe fresh air. 

The Rose That Grew from Concrete, Lines 6-7

Long live the rose that grew from concrete  when no one else ever cared. 

In the final lines, the poet prays for the rose to live long. He prays that the rose thrives because it has come a long way. From growing from concrete to breathing fresh air,  the rose has come all this way alone because no one else has ever cared about its dreams.  The poet applauds himself for surviving this journey when his dreams were laughed at and not respected. The concrete floor does not allow any vegetation to be possibly,  but from a small crack, the rose has lived and learned to walk.  Shakur employs the  metaphor of   the rose to applaud himself that he has been able to grow from a ghetto to a life that he is proud of.  He has come out of his comfort zone when no one believed in him, and his dreams seemed laughable. 

About the Poet 

Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was a legendary American rapper, actor, and poet who left a lasting impact on the music industry and beyond. Born on June 16, 1971, he  grew up amidst the struggles of poverty and violence in East Harlem and later moved to Baltimore . His talent and passion for music emerged at an early age, leading him to a  successful career in hip-hop.  Tupac’s lyrics often touched on  social issues, racial inequality, and his own personal experiences, making him an influential voice for the marginalized and oppressed.  Through his poetry,  he bared his struggles, hopes, and dreams, captivating audiences with his powerful storytelling.  His poems delved into themes of love, societal injustice, and the complexities of life. T upac’s words possessed a unique blend of vulnerability and strength, resonating deeply with listeners who found solace and understanding in his art.  His poetry remains a testament to his brilliance as a  poet and an artist who used his platform to shine a light on the realities of the world while inspiring change and unity among people from all walks of life.  Despite his untimely death on September 13, 1996, his music and legacy continue to resonate with fans worldwide, solidifying his status as an icon and a symbol of artistic expression and social change. 

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The Rose that grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur- Analysis and summary

Tupac shakur – introduction.

Tupac Amaru Shakur is popularly known as 2pac is an American rapper, song writer and actor. He was born on June 1971 and died in a homicide gunshot on September 13, 1996. His works represent contemporary social issues and he is considered as the symbol of resistance, activism and against inequality.

Poem The Rose that grew from Concrete

in the concrete

Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams

Line by line Interpretation

in the concre te

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack

The poet calls it as rose and not as a plant which raises a question, Why did he choose a rose instead of a plant? One interpretation can be drawn that a flower is always derived as a symbol for life. So it might be appropriate to use rose apart from plant. Considering rose as symbol for life will help us analyse the rest of the poem better.

Concrete is symbol for all the troubles, criticism and obstacles faced in life. The will of the rose is so strong that it can break the concrete and grow. It can also mean concrete as society being broken from its unity and infilled with negatives like a crack (criticism, racial discrimination, domination etc) yet a human like rose manages to stand alone and grow.

Learned to walk signifies that it has done something incredible that has shocked nature (society). While reading this line we feel that he is fantasizing rose by making it walk, but he keeps the poem near to reality by adding the rest of the line that is without having feet . This shows that rose is actually doing something incredible in its life which is phenomenal. Another interpretation that can be drawn from walked without feet is that the rose is a man who came up in life without any help or guidance from others. He has climbed this success without any support.

He says that rose proves nature’s law wrong , it doesn’t mean that the rose is illegitimate or unlawful but it is unique in its own way and lives it’s life as nobody does. This can also mean that a human not meeting the common expectations of society following the way that is accepted by the majorities.

Dreams helped rose to breathe fresh air . Here Dreams stands for its goals and aspirations and fresh air can be clarity or new approach to life.We can notice here that dreams and fresh air both serve motivation and energy to face future. So the combination promotes the intention rightly.

The line completes with the when no one else ever cared , which shows how the rose was ignored by others and the struggles it has undergone to reach this stage as to grow from concrete, walk without feet. Thus the poem celebrates the journey of rose.

The Rose that grew from Concrete Analysis

It appears that the rose in the poem refers to Tupac Shakur himself. It seems like the story of rose is of his own life. It talks about how a beautiful flower like rose can grow from something that is not beautiful, like the concrete. Concrete represents the hardships we face and the problems we inherit, the crack symbolises an opportunity to grow from that concrete. It is an inspirational poem that gives motivation and need to achieve something in life.

Poetic Devices in the poem The Rose that Grew from Concrete

Tone and speaker.

The tone of the poem is Optimistic. It motivates the reader to rise above hardships in life. However, it is neither too serious nor too careless.

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The Rose That Grew From Concrete Poem by Tupac Shakur Analysis

Introduction.

The Rose That Grew From Concrete written by famous rapper and actor of America is a symbolic poem in which the poet describes the journey of Rose from the darkness in the concrete to fresh air and sunlight.

The poem is quite short consisting of the single stanza that has eight lines. There is no specific rhyme scheme. The poet uses a number of literary devices in the poem .

In the poem, concrete symbolizes “ Ghetto ” or probably the slum area which is occupied by the poor section of people. Crimes, scarcity, diseases, violence and other bad things are quite common in such an area.

Thus the growing up from the crack in the concrete was quite difficult for the rose and symbolically growing up from the ghettos was quite difficult for the poet and would be difficult for others as well.

The rose has proven  nature’s law is wrong . Nature’s law here means the way rose should have existed i.e. it needs soil, air, sunlight, moisture, etc for existence. However, it has proven that law wrong because of its struggle.

The rose has learned  to walk with out having feet  i.e. it grew up with any help. Similarly, the poet would also have grown up without any help from his community which was rather acting as stone in his way.

The poet says that success of the rose or symbolically his own success in coming out of ghetto would seem to be  funny  but because its (rose’s as well as poet’s) dreams were high and its determination was firm and strong,  it learned to breathe fresh air .

In the final lines, the poet prays for the rose to live long as it struggled when no one ever cared for it. In the deeper sense, the poet applauds himself and wishes himself to live longer as he struggles when everybody laughed at him but never cared for him.

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The Rose that Grew from Concrete

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Analysis: “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”

Note: Although some versions of the poem appear without it, the original version has the word “autobiography” written under the title, suggesting from the very beginning that the poem is about Tupac. This guide therefore uses “the speaker” and “Tupac” interchangeably.

Tupac opens the poem with a question: “Did you hear about the rose that grew / from a crack in the concrete?” (Lines 1-2). It sounds like a question someone might say in conversation, and this repetition of the title adds to the feeling that this is an oral poem intended to be spoken or recited like Tupac’s rap lyrics. Since a rose growing from a crack in concrete seems unlikely, it piques the listener/reader’s interest. The contrast between the rose, a symbol of something beautiful yet potentially dangerous due to thorns, and the neglect and urban decay symbolized by the “crack in the concrete” (Line 2), further illustrate the poem’s autobiographical tone and its subject matter of inner-city survival.

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The Analysis of The Rose That Grew From Concrete By Tupac Shakur

The Background "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" is a poem composed by Tupac Shakur. It also exists as a poetic album released in 2000. The composer, Tupac was a famous American actor and rapper who is popularly referred to as "2pac". He was the best-selling music artist in his time.

The Structure The poem is written in 8 lines. There’s apparent lack of rhyme scheme in it. The poet used symbols and other literary devices in conveying his message.

The Meaning "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" is not actually talking about the rose flower and the concrete. The Rose symbolizes a man while the concrete stands for the ghetto. There’s no way a rose flower would grow from a concrete. This means that it’s very hard for a man to survive the hard life of the ghetto and also makes something out of himself. Nevertheless, man can still survive if he’s ready to swim against the nature’s law. Actually, the nature’s law says that no one is expected to survive life in the ghetto. But man can prove this law wrong if he’s ready to push through life. Man has to keep his dreams and goals alive in order to survive the harsh realities of life. He should also be very confident in his own abilities in order to reach his goals. If man continues to persevere, he’ll get to a place far away from the ghetto where he’ll never face problems anymore. He’ll then be able to achieve his goals and aspirations.

In all, the poem is a true reflection of what Tupac, the writer experienced in life. He passed through a lot in life and still made it despite the challenges. He focused on his dreams and ended up becoming a popular world-class rapper. The theme of the poem is all about having goals and reaching them in life despite the challenges. Hope is also a unique theme portrayed in the poem. Man must continue to work harder with the hope of reaching his goals one day as life goes on.

The Summary "The Rose That Grew From Concrete" is a poem composed by Tupac Shakur. It portrays how man can survive the harsh realities of life by remaining focused to his goals despite the challenges.

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The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Compare this with Carlos Drummond Andrade's poem Rosa Do Povo http://oldpoetry.com/opoem/show/136572-Carlos-Drummond-de-Andrade-rosa-do-povo

There is also a possibility it was influenced by Ben E King's 1960 song Spanish Harlem which contains the line "It's growing in the street right up through the concrete"

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Home / Essay Samples / Music / Tupac Shakur / Rhetorical Analysis Of Tupac Shakur’s ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’

Rhetorical Analysis Of Tupac Shakur's 'The Rose That Grew From Concrete'

• Category: Music
• Topic: Song Analysis , Tupac Shakur

Pages: 3 (1414 words)

Views: 1778

• Downloads: -->
• Biography.com. (2017, December 04). Tupac Shakur Biography.
• https://www.biography.com/musician/tupac-shakur
• Foss, S.K. (2009). Rhetorical criticism: exploration and practice. Long Grove, IL.: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Greenburg. Z.O. (2011, March 21). Tupac Shakur Earning Like He's Still Alive.
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/05/31/tupac-shakur-earning-like-hes-still-alive/#11f54843641e
• History.com. (2009, November 13). Tupac Shakur dies. https://www.history.com/this-day-in- history/tupac-shakur-dies

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