Question

critically comment on the poem A BARD’S EPITAPH

Answer 1

This poem is an epitaph for a dead bard; in Scotland at the time this was a strolling musician or minstrel, classed with vagabonds. It is a morality tale addressed to the reader, particularly to bards and men who seek to inspire others, of a talented bard who gained fame and honor but lost it due to leading a wild and dissolute life; thus, he ended with a stained reputation and lost respect in death.

The poem follows an AAABAB rhyme scheme with eight syllables to the “A” lines and four syllables to the “B” lines.