{"id":328,"date":"2024-10-05T00:23:17","date_gmt":"2024-10-05T00:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/poemeveryday\/?p=328"},"modified":"2024-10-05T23:38:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-05T23:38:14","slug":"the-highwayman-by-alfred-noyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/poemeveryday\/the-highwayman-by-alfred-noyes\/","title":{"rendered":"THE HIGHWAYMAN by Alfred Noyes"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"THE<\/p>\n

THE HIGHWAYMAN<\/h2>\n

by Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)
\nPART ONE<\/p>\n

I
\nThe wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
\nThe moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
\nThe road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
\nAnd the highwayman came riding?
\nRiding?riding?
\nThe highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.<\/p>\n

II
\nHe’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
\nA coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
\nThey fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!
\nAnd he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
\nHis pistol butts a-twinkle,
\nHis rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.<\/p>\n

III
\nOver the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
\nAnd he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
\nHe whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
\nBut the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
\nBess, the landlord’s daughter,
\nPlaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.<\/p>\n

IV
\nAnd dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
\nWhere Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
\nHis eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
\nBut he loved the landlord’s daughter,
\nThe landlord’s red-lipped daughter,
\nDumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say?<\/p>\n

V
\n“One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I’m after a prize to-night,
\nBut I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
\nYet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
\nThen look for me by moonlight,
\nWatch for me by moonlight,
\nI’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.”<\/p>\n

VI
\nHe rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
\nBut she loosened her hair i’ the casement! His face burnt like a brand
\nAs the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
\nAnd he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
\n(Oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)
\nThen he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the West.<\/p>\n

PART TWO
\nI
\nHe did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
\nAnd out o’ the tawny sunset, before the rise o’ the moon,
\nWhen the road was a gipsy’s ribbon, looping the purple moor,
\nA red-coat troop came marching?
\nMarching?marching?
\nKing George’s men came marching, up to the old inn-door.<\/p>\n

II
\nThey said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
\nBut they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
\nTwo of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!
\nThere was death at every window;
\nAnd hell at one dark window;
\nFor Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.<\/p>\n

III
\nThey had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
\nThey had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
\n“Now keep good watch!” and they kissed her.
\nShe heard the dead man say?
\nLook for me by moonlight;
\nWatch for me by moonlight;
\nI’ll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!<\/p>\n

IV
\nShe twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!
\nShe writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
\nThey stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
\nTill, now, on the stroke of midnight,
\nCold, on the stroke of midnight,
\nThe tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!<\/p>\n

V
\nThe tip of one finger touched it; she strove no more for the rest!
\nUp, she stood up to attention, with the barrel beneath her breast,
\nShe would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;
\nFor the road lay bare in the moonlight;
\nBlank and bare in the moonlight;
\nAnd the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love’s refrain.<\/p>\n

VI
\nTlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear;
\nTlot-tlot, tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear?
\nDown the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
\nThe highwayman came riding,
\nRiding, riding!
\nThe red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up, straight and still!<\/p>\n

VII
\nTlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!
\nNearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
\nHer eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,
\nThen her finger moved in the moonlight,
\nHer musket shattered the moonlight,
\nShattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him?with her death.<\/p>\n

VIII
\nHe turned; he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
\nBowed, with her head o’er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
\nNot till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear
\nHow Bess, the landlord’s daughter,
\nThe landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
\nHad watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.<\/p>\n

IX
\nBack, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
\nWith the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
\nBlood-red were his spurs i’ the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
\nWhen they shot him down on the highway,
\nDown like a dog on the highway,
\nAnd he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
\n*??? *??? *??? *<\/p>\n

X
\nAnd still of a winter’s night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
\nWhen the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
\nWhen the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
\nA highwayman comes riding?
\nRiding?riding?
\nA highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.<\/p>\n

XI
\nOver the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard;
\nHe taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred;
\nHe whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
\nBut the landlord’s black-eyed daughter,
\nBess, the landlord’s daughter,
\nPlaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.<\/p>\n

Bio<\/h3>\n

Alfred Noyes was a prominent English poet, novelist, and playwright born in Wolverhampton, England, on September 16, 1880. He gained early recognition for his poetry, publishing his first collection, “The Loom of Years,” at the age of 21 after studying briefly at Exeter College, Oxford. Noyes is best known for his ballads and narrative poems, particularly “The Highwayman” (1906), which has become a classic of English literature. Throughout his career, he produced numerous works, including the epic poem “Drake” and the scientific history trilogy “The Torch-Bearers.” Noyes also had a distinguished academic career, teaching English literature at Princeton University from 1914 to 1923. His personal life saw two marriages and a conversion to Catholicism in 1927, which influenced his later writings. During World War II, Noyes contributed to the war effort by working for the British Ministry of Information. Despite the changing literary landscape with the rise of modernist poetry, Noyes maintained a traditional style, often focusing on romantic and historical themes. He continued writing until late in life, publishing his autobiography, “Two Worlds for Memory,” in 1953. Alfred Noyes passed away on June 25, 1958, on the Isle of Wight, leaving behind a significant legacy in English poetry.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/h3>\n

“The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes is a haunting narrative poem that tells a tragic tale of love and sacrifice in 18th-century England. The story centers on a dashing highwayman and his love, Bess, the innkeeper’s daughter. One night, the highwayman visits Bess, promising to return with stolen riches. However, Tim, the jealous ostler who also loves Bess, overhears their plan and betrays them to the authorities. King George’s men arrive at the inn, using Bess as bait to capture the highwayman. In a desperate act of love, Bess sacrifices herself to warn her lover of the trap. Upon learning of her death, the highwayman returns in a rage and is shot down on the highway. The poem concludes with an eerie epilogue, suggesting that on winter nights, the ghosts of the ill-fated lovers can still be seen at the old inn. Through its vivid imagery, rhythmic language, and poignant storyline, the poem explores themes of love, loyalty, betrayal, and the enduring power of romantic legend.<\/p>\n

Guided Questions<\/h3>\n

Here are 10 questions based on “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. What is the significance of the weather and natural imagery in the opening stanza of the poem?<\/li>\n
  2. How does the poet describe the highwayman’s appearance, and what does this reveal about his character?<\/li>\n
  3. What role does Tim the ostler play in the story, and how does his actions affect the outcome?<\/li>\n
  4. How does Bess demonstrate her love and loyalty to the highwayman?<\/li>\n
  5. What promise does the highwayman make to Bess, and how does this foreshadow later events?<\/li>\n
  6. How do the redcoats use Bess as part of their plan to capture the highwayman?<\/li>\n
  7. What is the meaning behind the repeated phrase “Tlot-tlot” in the poem?<\/li>\n
  8. How does Bess manage to warn the highwayman of the trap, and at what cost?<\/li>\n
  9. What is the highwayman’s reaction upon learning of Bess’s fate, and what happens to him?<\/li>\n
  10. How does the poem’s ending contribute to its overall mood and themes?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Lesson Plan: “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes<\/h1>\n

    Objective<\/h2>\n

    Students will analyze the narrative structure, poetic devices, and themes in Alfred Noyes’ poem “The Highwayman.”<\/p>\n

    Duration<\/h2>\n

    90 minutes (can be split into two 45-minute sessions)<\/p>\n

    Materials<\/h2>\n
      \n
    • Copies of “The Highwayman” poem<\/li>\n
    • Audio recording of the poem (optional)<\/li>\n
    • Whiteboard and markers<\/li>\n
    • Handouts for activities<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Lesson Structure<\/h2>\n

      1. Introduction (10 minutes)<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Begin with a brief discussion about highwaymen in history.<\/li>\n
      • Introduce Alfred Noyes and provide context for the poem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        2. First Reading (15 minutes)<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • Read the poem aloud to the class, or play an audio recording.<\/li>\n
        • Ask students to jot down initial impressions and questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          3. Literary Devices Discussion (20 minutes)<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Discuss the following poetic elements:\n
              \n
            • Rhythm and meter<\/li>\n
            • Imagery and symbolism<\/li>\n
            • Repetition and its effect<\/li>\n
            • Personification (e.g., “The moon was a ghostly galleon”)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
            • Have students identify examples in the text.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              4. Character Analysis (15 minutes)<\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Divide the class into groups, assigning each a character:\n
                  \n
                • The Highwayman<\/li>\n
                • Bess<\/li>\n
                • Tim the ostler<\/li>\n
                • The redcoats<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Groups discuss and present their character’s motivations and role in the story.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  5. Plot and Narrative Structure (15 minutes)<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  • Create a timeline of events on the board.<\/li>\n
                  • Discuss the narrative structure and how tension builds throughout the poem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    6. Themes and Symbolism (10 minutes)<\/h3>\n
                      \n
                    • Lead a discussion on key themes:\n
                        \n
                      • Love and sacrifice<\/li>\n
                      • Loyalty and betrayal<\/li>\n
                      • The supernatural\/ghostly elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        7. Creative Response (15 minutes)<\/h3>\n

                        Choose one:<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • Write a diary entry from Bess’s perspective.<\/li>\n
                        • Create an alternative ending to the poem.<\/li>\n
                        • Draw a scene from the poem, focusing on the vivid imagery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          8. Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes)<\/h3>\n
                            \n
                          • Summarize key points learned.<\/li>\n
                          • Assign homework: Write a short essay on how the poem’s structure contributes to its emotional impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Extension Activities<\/h2>\n
                              \n
                            • Research historical highwaymen and compare to the poem’s portrayal.<\/li>\n
                            • Analyze and compare other narrative poems (e.g., “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe).<\/li>\n
                            • Create a dramatic reading or performance of the poem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Assessment<\/h2>\n
                                \n
                              • Participation in discussions<\/li>\n
                              • Character analysis presentation<\/li>\n
                              • Creative response activity<\/li>\n
                              • Homework essay<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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