Ljae DR.

De Guzman September 23, 2022

9 – St. John of God

Bonny Barbara Allan

By: Anonymous
I. Characterization:

Bonny Barbara Allan – Very indecisive, and very petty about trivial matters. Seems to be a bit selfish in
regards to her feelings, instead of others.

John Graeme-Fell in love at a wrong time, and dies a sad death.

II. Setting:

When: In May, Autumn

Where: Scotland

III. Theme:

The Themes are Death, Love & Passion, and Unrequited Love & Guilt.

Death refers to the death of the lovers.

Unrequited Love refers to Sir John’s love to Barbara.

Guilt refers to the guilt Barbara feel when Sir John died.

Love & Passion refers to the strong affection they feel for each other and their romantic feeling.

IV. Plot the events in the story.

1. Introduction

 It is said that it was the time of autumn where the green leaves are falling and Sir John Graeme
fell in love with Barbara Allan.

2. Rising Action

 Sir John sends a servant to fetch Barbara. The servants ask her to hurry and go to Sir John but
Barbara does not hurry.

3. Climax

 When she has arrived to Sir John’s house she saw him in his bed dying. He tells her that the
cause of his illness is his spurned love for her but Barbara treated him coldly. While he is dying
Barbara told him the reason why she acted coldly to him which is He slighted or treated with
 indifference and disdain, Barbara felt hurt by that. Sir John did not deny the accusation that
Barbara made.

4. Falling Action

 Soon she left his house while walking she heard the bell rang indicating that Sir John has died.
She felt regret for what she has done to cause the death of her true love. As soon as she go to her
home she yelled "O mother, mother, make my bed! O make it soft and narrow! Since my love
died for me today, I'll die for him tomorrow.”

5. Resolution

 So they died and their grave was near each other and above their graves To Sir John’s love a red,
red rose grew while to Barbara Allan a brier grew.

6. Moral Lesson of the Story

 I think the moral lesson to this ballad is to not let other people feel little and to talk things out.
Communication is always the key to a healthy relationship.

V. Answer the following questions:

1. Describe the kind of love of Sir John to Bonny Barbara Allan.

 A Spurned Love.

2. What kind of relationship do they have?

 A sad and tragic love.

3. Why was Barbara Allan holding back her love for Sir John?

 Because Sir John had slighted her at the tavern

4. What do you think was the cause of Sir John's Death?

 He said it was because of his spurned love

5. If you were Barbara Allan, are you going to tell your feelings to Sir John? Why or why not?

 Yes because he deserve to know my feelings, if I keep it to myself then I will just regret it if I
didn’t told him.