Lord Ullin's Daughter

The poem consists of 13 stanzas. Each of these stanzas is again made up of 4 lines. Hence, the entire poem consists of 52 lines in total. Interpretation: “Lord Ullin’s Daughter” is a ballad that tells the tragic story of the daughter of Lord Ullin and her lover, who die a very sorrowful death when chased by her father and his men. The poem begins with the daughter and her lover, the Scottish chieftain, arriving at the banks of Lochgyle with the intention of eloping to a safer place. The lover offers the boatman a silver pound to bring them to safety. The weather is stormy and it is very dangerous to cross the Lochgyle in such a state. The lover introduces himself as the chief of Ulva and says that he is running from Lord Ullin’s men. He tells the boatman that if the Lord’s men catch him eloping with her daughter, they would immediately slay him. The boatman hesitates because agreeing can cost him all three lives. Then the beautiful daughter of Lord Ullin pleads to the boatman; she says that she is ready to face the raging storm but not her angry father. Finally, the boatman agrees to take them across Lochgyle. The boat has left the shore when Lord Ullin and his men reach. Lord Ullin’s anger evaporates at the moment when he sees his darling daughter fighting with Nature’s fury on the sea. His heart melts and he cries out to her to return and that he would accept her lover. But it is too late, and before the Lord could do anything, the little boat capsizes and the three of them are drowned in the turbulent waters of Lochgyle. The water-wraith was shrieking.” Bring out the symbolism in the line. The water wraith is the spirit of the lake. The water of Lochgyle has become turbulent and very noisy due to the storm. ‘Shrieking’ here refers to the lamenting of the water. The poet has used symbolism to prepare the reader for what is going to happen. The spirit of the lake seems to be lamenting at the imminent death of the two lovers. 4