Lord Ullin’s Daughter – CBSE Notes for Class 9 English Literature Reader
CBSE NotesCBSE Notes English Literature ReaderNCERT Solutions English Literature Reader
The Poet
Thomas Campbell (1777-1844) was born in Glasgow. His famous poems are ‘Lochiel’s Warning’, ‘Hopenlnden’, ‘The Last Man’, ‘The Pleasure of Hope’, ‘The Battle of the Baltic’ and ‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’.
The Summary
‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’ by Thomas Campbell is a well-known ballad. It tells the tragic story of two lovers. The Scottish Chieftain of Ulva’s island falls in love with Lord Ullin’s daughter. In order to escape the wrath of Lord Ullin, both the lovers run away. Lord Ullin and his men chase them on horses.
The lovers come to the shore of the tempestuous sea. The chieftain asks the boatman to row them over the ferry. He tells him how he and his beloved are being chased and are sure to be killed. The boatman is reluctant at first because of the stormy weather. But then he agrees to take them to the other shore in his boat. He spurns the offer of a pound of silver. He states that he is undertaking the deadly voyage for the sake of the beautiful girl.
As the boat moves on, the storm grows fierce and the waves rise high. Soon the storm becomes fiercer and the waves rise menacingly higher. The boatman fails to handle the boat. The boat sinks. Lord Ullin’s daughter raises one hand for help and puts the other around her lover.
Lord Ullin and his men who have reached the shore see the boat sinking. Lord Ullin helplessly watches his daughter perish in the ravaging waters before his eyes. He asks her to come back and promises to forgive her lover.
The raging storm makes the rescue of the lovers impossible. Lord Ullin becomes a picture of regret and remorse as the lovers are drowned before his own eyes.
The Theme
‘Lord Ullin’s Daughter’, a traditional ballad, narrates the story of young lovers. It depicts the conflict between the rebellious youth and the tyrannical authority of the parents.
Explanation of the Poem
1. A chieftain ………….ferry.
Explanation
A chieftain who was ready to go to the Scottish highlands we it near a boatman and told him to ferry them across the river and promised that he would give him a silver pour… tor that.
Rhyme scheme: abab
2. Now who be………..Ullin’s daughter.
Explanation
The boatman was surprised and asked him who he was who wanted to cross the river lochgyle in a dark and stormy weather. The man replied that he was the chief of Ulva island and the girl beside him was the daughter of Lord Ullin.
Rhyme scheme: abab
3. And fast………the heather.
Explanation
The chieftain told the boatman to hurry and take them away before the men of Lord Ullin catch them. They had been fleeing for last three days. If the men found them in that valley, they would kill the chieftain and his blood Would stain the heather plant.
Poetic Devices:
Alliteration: And fast before her father’s men.
For should he find us in the glen.
Rhyme scheme: abab
4. His horsemen………….slain her lover.
Explanation
Lord Ulliris horsemen were following them and if they discovered their steps, they would kill the chieftain who . would make the beautiful lady happy.
Poetic Devices:
Alliteration : His horsemen hard behind us ride.
Then who will cheer my bonny bride.
Rhyme scheme: abab
5. Out spoke the……….winsome lady.
Explanation
After listening to these words of the chieftain, the boatman agreed to take them across the river. He told him that he was ready, but it was not because of the silver pound that the chieftain had offered but because of the beautiful and attractive lady.
Poetic Device:
Alliteration : Out spoke the hardy Highland night.
Rhyme scheme : abab
6. And by my………….ofer the ferry.
Explanation
The boatman promised that the beautiful lady would not have to wait longer in a dangerous situation. Though the waves were turning violent i.e. white with rage, he would saw them across the river.
Poetic Devices:
Alliteration : And by my word ! The bonny bird.
So, though the waves are raging white.
Rhyme scheme: abab
7. By this the………..were speaking.
Explanation
By this time, the storm grew more violent. The water had assumed the shape of shrieking ghost and the faces of all the three i.e. the boatman, the chieftain and the lady grew dark as the sky showed a dirty and scowling look.
Rhyme scheme : abab .
8. But still as……….sounded nearer.
Explanation
By this time, the wind started blowing more violently and the night grew more lonely and deserted. The armed men of Lord Ullin had reached there as the sound of stamping sounded nearer.
Poetic Device:
Alliteration : But still as the wilder blew the wind.
Adown the glen rode armed men.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
9. O haste thee l ……….sound as gather.
Explanation
When the lady heard the trampling sound of the armed men of Lord Ullin, she shouted to the boatman to hurry even though the storm was getting rough. She told him that she was ready to meet the anger of the sky but she was not ready to face the anger of her father.
Poetic Device:
Repetition : O haste thee haste.
Rhyme scheme : abab
10. The boat has…………gather’d o’er her.
Explanation
The boatman agreed to it and all the three sat in the boat and it left that stormy land to enter info; the stormy sea. But suddenly the violent storm gathered around them. It was so rough that no human could control it.
Poetic Device:
Alliteration: When O! too strong for human hand.
Rhyme scheme: abab
11. And still…………changed to wailing.
Explanation
Despite the tempest, they kept on rowing amidst the roaring sound of the river. The river water was overcoming them. Lord Ullin had, by now, reached that fatal shore when he saw his daughter caught in the storm; all his anger was gone and he started crying to find his daughter in a dangerous situation.
Rhyme scheme: abab
12. For sore dismay’d…………round her lover.
Explanation
He was shocked to find his daughter in the storm. He noticed that she was stretching out her hand as if she wanted help from her father The lady had put her other hand around her lover, conveying that she wanted help for both of them.
Poetic Device:
Alliteration: His child he did discover.
Rhyme scheme: abab
13. “Come back…………O my daughter!”
Explanation
Lord Ullin cried in grief and asked his daughter to come back. Lie-promised that he would forgive even the highland chief.
Poetic Devices:
Repetition: Come back! Come back he cried in grief.
My daughter! O my daughter.
Rhyme scheme: abab
14. ‘t was vain ………….. was left lamenting.
Explanation
But his crying in grief was futile. It was useless because the high waves struck against the shore and prevented any kind of help that could be provided to the lovers. They could not even return back. The water went over all the three and they all drowned. Lord Ullin was left crying and feeling sad for his daughter.
Poetic Devices:
Alliteration:‘t was vain: The land waves lash’d the shore.
The water wild went o’er his child.
And he was left lamenting.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
The post Lord Ullin’s Daughter – CBSE Notes for Class 9 English Literature Reader appeared first on Learn CBSE.