Analysis Of The Highwayman

a) In The Highwayman, the orientation occurs at the beginning of the poem. During the orientation of The Highwayman, Alfred Noyes sets the scene and describes the current surroundings as an eerie, moonlit moor (lines 1-3), which helps introduce the sombre mood of the poem. The poet then introduces the main protagonist, The Highwayman, and the current action that he was doing, which was riding his horse(lines 4-6). Finally, Noyes concludes the orientation by describing the physical appearance of the main protagonist in the second stanza. The orientation was a cleverly constructed in a way that enabled the poet to inform the reader of the situation, in an enjoyable and proficient method that drew the reader in.

b) The first complication that occurs during The Highwayman, begins at line 20, stanza 4. During this section of the poem, the highwayman arrives at the inn-yard, proceeding to his love’s window, Bess, for a midnight rendezvous. Unfortunately, the stableman, Tim, had overheard their intimate conversation and decided to inform the officials about the forbidden relationship, due to the fact that he was also immensely in love with Bess. The

Before the apotheosis of the poem, Bess had shot herself, the bullet being a warning for the highwayman to turn around, which would result in his safety. Alas, he was too late. In this section of the poem, Noyes then introduces the climax. During the pinnacle of the poem, the highwayman is pursued by the guards on the cobbles of the town. They enclose him, before shooting him down on the highway. Noyes created a traumatizing scene by using the simile; “Down like a dog on the highway”(line 89). It evoked an immense amount of sympathy for the character. He then ended the climax with the line, “And he lay in his blood in the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.” (line 90) Thus creating a contrast between the gentle white lace, and the horrendous, deep red