Poem – 4
LOCHINVAR
Sir Walter Scott
Comprehension Questions
I. Answer briefly the following questions.
1) Who was Lochinvar? Why did he ride to
Netherby Hall?
Ans: Lochinvar was
a brave knight of Scotland. He rode to Netherby Hall because Ellen was getting
married to another person.
2) What qualities of Lochinvar are
highlighted in the first stanza?
Ans: Lochinvar was
not afraid to fight and he was brave and faithful in his love for Ellen.
3) Lochinvar rode the horse passionately to
meet Ellen. What actions in lines 7 and 8 reveal his hurried movements?
Ans: Lochinvar did
not stop and rode his horse passionately and he swam the Eske river where there
was no shallow point and he reached Netherby Hall to meet his Ellen.
4) What qualities of the bridegroom are
listed in stanza 2?
Ans: The qualities
of the bridegroom listed in stanza 2 are: he was laggard in love and dastard in
war. He was a very timid and coward person.
5) What evidence is there in stanza 3; to
show that the bridegroom was a coward?
Ans: The most
important evidence in there in stanza 3 was that bridegroom did not speak a
single word in front of Lochinvar; this showed that the bridegroom was a coward
person.
6) How did the bride’s father receive Lochinvar?
And what did he ask him?
Ans: The bride’s
father when he saw Lochinvar, he asked him if he came to attend the wedding or
to have a war with him and he received him with his hand on the sword to fight
Lochinvar.
7) What answer did Lochinvar give the bride’s
father?
Ans: Lochinvar said
his love for Ellen swelled like Solway but ebbed like its tide. He had come
with his lost love for her, to attend the wedding dance with her once and drink
one cup of wine.
8) What quality of love is highlighted by
Lochinvar when he says,
a) “Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs
like its tide.”
b) Does this truly reflect Lochinvar’s love
for Ellen?
c) If not, why does Lochinvar tell him what
is not true?
b) No, Lochinvar’s
love for Ellen was true.
c) Lochinvar was
aware of Ellen’s father and bride’s father men were surrounded him. So, he lied
everyone that his love was not true and he understood that if would tell truth
then it would be difficult for him handle the situation alone.
9) What other lies does Lochinvar tell
Ellen’s father?
Ans: Lochinvar said
that there were more beautiful maidens who had shown interest in him and he represented
himself that he was so happy that his Ellen was marrying someone.
10) How did Ellen express her love towards
Lochinvar?
Ans: Ellen
expressed her love towards Lochinvar by kissing the goblet of wine that Lochinvar
drank and she looked down to blush and looked up to sigh with a smile on her
lips.
11) What was the impression of the bride-maidens
about the pair- Lochinvar and Ellen?
Ans: The
bride-maidens after seeing the pair of Lochinvar and Ellen were whispered that
it would have been immensely better if their pretty cousin had married
Lochinvar.
12) What mixed feelings are brought out in
stanza 5?
Ans: Ellen was sad
when she had to marry someone but when she had seen Lochinvar in the hall he
was excited and she was very happy by seeing him.
13) What clues of his plan does Lochinvar
give Ellen?
Ans: Lochinvar and
Ellen were dancing and they reached the door, he uttered something in her ear
and he carried her lightly onto the saddle and jumped and rode quickly from
there.
14) a)
What brings a smile on Ellen’s face?
b) Why does she shed a tear?
Ans: a) Lochinvar’s presence in the hall had
brought a smile on Ellen’s face.
b) She shed a tear because she was sad
to marry someone.
15) Pick out all the adjectives that describe
Lochinvar.
Ans: The adjectives
that describe Lochinvar are: young, faithful, dauntless, gallant, brave,
daring, and stately.
II. Close Study:
Read the following extracts carefully.
Discuss in pairs and then answer the questions given below them.
a) What is Solway?
b) Who does, Lochinvar speak this line to?
c) What is the figure of speech used here?
b)
Lochinvar says this line to Ellen’s father.
c)
Simile.
2)
Then spoke the bride’s father, his hand on his sword
(For
the poor craven bridegroom, said never a word).
a)What did the bride’s father speak?
b) Why did he keep his hand on the sword?
c) Why didn’t the bridegroom say even a word?
Ans: a) The bride’s
father when he saw Lochinvar, he asked him if he came to attend the wedding or
to have a war with him and he received him with his hand on the sword to fight
Lochinvar.
b) The bride’s
father wanted to attack and kill him.
c) Bridegroom was
scared of Lochinvar and didn’t say a single word.
III. Paragraph Writing:
Discuss in pairs/groups of four each the
answers to the following questions. Note down the important points for each
question and then develop the points into one-paragraph answers.
Ans: Lochinvar was
a brave young knight. He was deep in love with Ellen. He came to know about Ellen’s
wedding. Lochinvar rode very fast and he even swam the Eske River in which
where there was no shallow point. He hurried to reach the hall. The bride’s
father when he saw Lochinvar, he asked him if he came to attend the wedding or
to have a war with him and he received him with his hand on the sword to fight
Lochinvar. Lochinvar assured everyone that he didn’t come to marry Ellen and he
said that his love was fickle and Lochinvar said his love for Ellen swelled
like Solway but ebbed like its tide. He had come with his lost love for her, to
attend the wedding dance with her once and drink one cup of wine. Lochinvar
said that there were more beautiful maidens who had shown interest in him and
he represented himself that he was so happy that his Ellen was marrying
someone.
2) How did Lochinvar finally win Ellen for
himself?
Ans: Ellen was sad
when she had to marry someone but when she had seen Lochinvar in the hall he
was excited and she was very happy by seeing him. Ellen expressed her love
towards Lochinvar by kissing the goblet of wine that Lochinvar drank and she
looked down to blush and looked up to sigh with a smile on her lips. Lochinvar
and Ellen were dancing and they reached the door, he uttered something in her
ear and he carried her lightly onto the saddle and jumped and rode quickly from
there.
3) “Only the brave deserve the fair.” Justify
the statement with reference to the poem.
Ans: As the poet
represented that there was no one like Lochinvar and he was dauntless in war
and he was so faithful in love. Lochinvar was a brave young knight. He was deep
in love with Ellen. He came to know about Ellen’s wedding. Lochinvar rode very
fast and he even swam the Eske River in which where there was no shallow point.
He hurried to reach the hall without any weapon. His delighting appearance had
brought charm to that hall even spoke without hesitation with bride’s father. Even
Lochinvar chose to dance with her; the bride was speechless when he saw
Lochinvar. Lochinvar and Ellen were dancing and they reached the door, he
uttered something in her ear and he carried her lightly onto the saddle and
jumped and rode quickly from there.
(memorization)
Through
all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And
save his good broadsword he weapons had none,
He
rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone.
So
faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There
never was knight like the young Lochinvar.
He
staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone,
He
swam the Eske river where ford there was none;
But
ere he alighted at Netherby gate,
The
bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For
a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was
to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.
So
boldly he enter’d the Netherby Hall,
Among
bride’s-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then
spoke the bride’s father, his hand on his sword,
(For
the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,)
“O
come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or
to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?”
“I
long woo’d your daughter, my suit you denied;
Love
swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide
And
now I am come, with this lost love of mine,
To
lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There
are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That
would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar.”
