Question

lochinvar poem explanation

Answer 1

Lochinvar"
The poem "Lochinvar" by Sir Walter Scott is an interesting study in human relationships and power struggles between correct roles and duties. Its traditional form and apparently straightforward story masks an interesting power play. The relative activeness and passiveness of the characters allows for these interactions to take place.
"Lochinvar" is a balled with eight six line stanzas. The lines are in iambic tetrameter and are arranged in heroic couplets, three couplets per stanza. While the last couplet in each stanza always share the same rhyme and end with "Lochinvar," there appears to be no other organized rhyme scheme across the stanzas. Within the stanzas there is a consistent use of aabbccdd. The language used in the poem is primarily heroic and dealing with battle. For example, four of the eight couplets that end in "Lochinvar" also end in the word "war." In addition to this Lochinvar's descriptions include words like "dauntless" (line 5), "a gallant" (10), "bold' (13), "stately" (31), "daring" (47), and "a galliard," a man of courage and sprit (32). This heroic language is interesting because while there is challenge in the poem there is no battle or direct conflict.
This language of conflict and challenge carries over into the descriptions and personality of the characters in the poem. The characters are divided into two groups; those who are active, and who conform to the language of battle and conflict, and those who are passive and ineffectual. Lochinvar, the young man who is the focal character, is the only one who remains in the active, dominant role. At the beginning of the poem, all of the characters have the potential to be proactive in what happens. However through their choices and actions, all but Lochinvar place themselves in a position of inactivity.
Lochinvar's position as an active dominant person is reflected in everything that he does and how he is described. Along with the descriptive words mentioned above he is also described as young, faithful, solitary and stately. In the first stanza we are introduced to Lochinvar riding out of the west on his horse, which should be noted is described as the best horse in the land. This description, along with contributing to his worthiness and ideal characterization, is a bit of preparation and foreshadowing because later in the poem all the men from the clans cannot catch up to Lochinvar and Ellen. It is interesting because he is riding alone, a stoic and brave character, and it is also mentioned that he is armed only with his broad sword. This may suggest, as he states later in response to Ellen's father, that he is not going to Netherby expecting or intending to fight and also that he doesn't have any tricks "up his sleeves." Lines 5-9 further set Lochinvar up as an ideal character. He goes to all lengths to get the Netherby, stopping for nothing.
The character of Ellen, in contrast to Lochinvar, is soft and light. Though she is obviously in love with Lochinvar she consents to marrying the unappealing bridegroom. It seems that her character is defined by her malleability because it takes nothing for Lochinvar to persuade her to run away with him, simply "[o]ne touch of his hand, and one word in her ear"(10). In contrast to Lochinvar's description, Ellen is described as "fair," "lovely," "soft" and "light." This reflects well on her personality described in the poem. She is obviously one of the inactive, passive characters, unable to be proactive in the creating of her own fate.
Another interesting character that joins Ellen in the passive category is the bridegroom. If Lochinvar is the ideal character, the bridegroom is his exact antithesis. He is a "laggard in love, and a dastard in war"(11). He is cowardly and unable to stand up for himself. While Lochinvar is dancing with Ellen and the entire castle is watching the bridegroom stands by helplessly. "And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume"(34). The reference to "dangling" suggest

Answer 2

The story of young Lochinvar, a chivalrous knight, is actually a blending one and an elegantly composed one. To condense, we first observe Lochinvar as he jogs upon his steed over the open country.

• He conveys his broadsword however wears no other weapon or defensive layer:  What's more, spare his great broadsword he weapons had none,  he rode all unarmed, and he rode in solitude.  
• We are told he was hurrying on with a wrath of race to the stronghold of Netherby in light of the fact that inside Ellen was to be marry to an different man: "a slow poke in adoration, and a dastard in war."
• His excluded passage to the marriage corridor caused an incredible tumult, for Ellen's dad, prepared to draw his sword, inquired as to why he was there: was Lochinvar there to observe Ellen's wedding or to raise an uproar of ruckus?  

Here we discover that Lochinvar's suit for Ellen's hand was dismissed by her dad and that he has come to drink one challis of wine and to move one hit the dance floor with Ellen by method for grieving and separating as opposed to by method for celebrating.

• In fear, this is permitted. Ellen gives him a cup with a kiss in it and with redden all over. At that point, before her mom can stop him, he grasps Ellen's hand and they start a move.  
• In the midst of this strained scene, he inclines and talks something in her ear. At the point when their move has driven them to the entryway, they run for it, hop upon his steed and fly away with all his charger's speed.
• In spite of the fact that all look and quest for her, Ellen of Netherby is gone forever, nor is Lochinvar. [Interesting side note that it appears Jane Austen may have acquired Netherby for Bingley's home, Netherfield, in Pride and Prejudice.]