THE INCHCAPE ROCK

1.What does the poet want to convey in the first two stanzas?

In these stanzas the poet is describing the calmness of the sea. There is no stir in the air

and the sea also appears to be calm. The ship stood very still in the ocean, this we know

because the ‘keel’ of the ship is steady. On the other hand the Inchcape rock ahead

of the ship was also standing firm and the waves flowed steadily not affecting the

Inchcape rock.

2.What is the figure of speech used in these lines?

a)       “no stir in the air, no stir in the sea.”

b)       “So little they rose, so little they fell.”

Here at two places poet has used ‘repetition’, “no stir in the air, no stir in

the sea.” “So little they rose, so little they fell.” Also there is ‘alliteration’

in the lines, “The ship was still as till could be.”

3.Who anchored the bell and why it has been called as warning bell?

The bell was anchored by the kind Abbot(monk) of Aberbrothok  on the Inchcape rock.

 This bell worked as a warning bell for the mariners, whenever there happened

 to be a storm, the bell swayed and floated along with buoys producing

sound and mariners became aware about the presence of a dangerous rock,

 which would have otherwise been hidden by the swell of sea waves. All the

 mariners were thankful towards Abbot of Aberbrothok and blessed him for

his kind deed.

4.What is the figure of speech used in these lines?

a) The ship was as still as she could be ,her keel was steady

Her sails from heaven received no motion.

b) A sound as if with the inchcape bell

The devil below was ringing the bell

a)Personification

b)Metaphor

VERY SHORT QESTIONS

1.Do you think this poem is ballad? Why?

Yes,it is ballad because it is narrating a story of two characters .

2.What do you make out of the Abbot of Aberbrothok’s character?

He was a kind- hearted, humane person who wished well for everyone.

That is why he had placed the bell at the Inchcape Rock’s buoy.

3.Why did Sir Ralph want to create trouble for Abbot of Aberbrothok?

 …...because he was jealous of the popularity of Abbot of Aberbrothok and

 simply wanted to make life difficult for him.

4.What is the mood of the poem in the first few stanzas of the poem?

The mood is of happiness, stillness. It is peaceful and calm. The day is bright and sun is shining.

Everything looks just perfect.

5.Which rhyme scheme is followed in this poem?

……aabb.

6.What is the difference between a ‘surge’ and a ‘wave’?

 A surge is a very strong forward movement of sea

waves whereas wave is the regular movement of sea water.

7.What is the structure?

Poem has seventeen stanzas.

8.What is the form?

It is a lyrical ballad.

9.What is the style?

 It is narrative poem by the poet.

10.Are opening and closing lines of poem significant?

Yes, Opening lines tells that everything is peaceful and calm and closing lines

 talk about death and destruction.

11.Is there a clear passage of time mentioned in the poem?

No, the poem just describes the life of pirates and sailors at sea.

12.What is the mood of the poem?

 it is very serious and adventurous.

13.What is the tone of the poem?

Is it a satiric, serious ,adventurous and somber poem .

14.What is the theme?

One pays for ones misdeeds.