Bonny Barbara Allan

GOGI, SAW, HANIS, ZAHRI,HAMIDAH

What is this poem about?

The poem is about unrequited love. Sir John Graeme falls in love with Barbara Allan. He is so lovesick that he is bound to his deathbed. When Barbara comes to visit her ailing lover, she reminds him that he slighted her in front of others at a local tavern. He dies, and then she feels guilty, so she asks her mother to prepare her deathbed for the following day.

The Author
This poem was written anonymously in Scotland It is called Traditional Scottish Ballad It has many versions and the characters in the poem also changed according to the versions It was sung throughout the generations as part of the oral tradition of the English language.

Theme of the Poem

Unconditional love for the loved ones

John is bedridden that he loves Barbara so much and Barbara does not want to live anymore just because John is no longer alive

Unrequited love
Johns love for Barbara is not complete as he died before she could reply and she loves John but hes not alive to know it

Analysing the poem

RHYME

SCHEME

The rhyme scheme is not regular, so it varies throughout the poem. The poem also uses approximate instead of exact rhyme. The A rhyme is repeated most often and is representative of the ing words used before.

Personification
Death is personified in lines 22 and 28 as one that deprives the speaker Sir John Graeme of life and health. It evokes an image of the Grim Reaper, a powerful force that comes at the end of ones life to set Graemes dead-bell ringing (31). The dead bell itself is also personified as crying out its woe to Barbara Allan-seem like a haunting voice that wont let Miss Allan forget that she let her love die lonely and brokenhearted.

GENRE OF POEM
This poem is a folk ballad, meaning that it rhymes and it was sung or recited.

Activities for the poem

Life is more precious than love (Find a newspaper article about someone killing himself or herself because of love). What are the punishment for those who killed themselves (according to different religion). State different ways to cure heart break.