Lord Randal is a poem about a guy who goes hunting and returns home to discover his girlfriend has poisoned him. His mother is aware that he will die and inquires about what he would leave his family. Finally, the symbolic significance of Lord Randall’s poisoning death is revealed.
What is a good line from Lord Randal’s poem?
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wad lie down.’ ‘O I fear you are poisoned, Lord Randal, my son! I fear you are poisoned, my handsome young man!’ For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down.” ‘What d’ ye leave to your mother, Lord Randal, my son? What d ‘ye leave to your mother, my handsome young man?’
Who wrote the poem Lord Randall?
Songwriter(s) Unknown. "Lord Randall", or "Lord Randal", (Roud 10, Child 12) is an Anglo-Scottish border ballad consisting of dialogue between a young Lord and his mother.
What is the summary of Lord Randall by anonymous?
Summary of Lord Randall. ‘ Lord Randall’ by Anonymous depicts a mother and son’s conversation in regard to what he did that day and ate for dinner. Through the lines of the poem, which are quite repetitive and circular, the mother asks her son questions, and he replies simply, mostly saying the same thing over and over again.
What are some of the best quotes from Lord Randall?
For I'm wearied wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down." "An wha met ye there, Lord Randall, my son? An wha met you there, my handsome young man?"
What does the bed in the poem Lord Randal symbolize?
Here, Lord Randall's refrain changes to reflect the fact that we know his fate now. Instead of simply saying that he's tired and needs to lie down, he asks his mother to make his bed (we now realize that he means his death bed), because he's "sick at heart."
Is Lord Randall a narrative poem?
As are all traditional ballads, “Lord Randal” is a narrative song—a song that tells a story. Ballads tell their stories directly, with an emphasis on climactic incidents, by stripping away those details that are not essential to the plot. “Lord Randal” tells of a man who has been poisoned by his lover.
What type of ballad is Lord Randall?
Anglo-Scottish border ballad"Lord Randall", or "Lord Randal", (Roud 10, Child 12) is an Anglo-Scottish border ballad consisting of dialogue between a young Lord and his mother. Similar ballads can be found across Europe in many languages, including Danish, German, Magyar, Irish, Swedish, and Wendish.
Why was Lord Randall poisoned?
He reveals that he went hunting, then had dinner with his special lady friend, who fed him a dish of eels in broth. His dogs, who probably ate some of the same food, died rather horribly. This leads Lord Randall's mother to the terrible conclusion that he has been poisoned, like the dogs.
Who is the main character in Lord Randall?
People/CharactersLord Randall Lord Randal(l): Character in the song of the same name, also called "Lord Ronald," "Lord Randolph," "Johnny Randall," "Diranti," etc. The song is #12 in Francis James Child's The English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Randall comes home to his mother; he is sick.
What will Lord Randall leave to his true love?
What d 'ye leave to your true-love, my handsome young man? ' 'I leave her hell and fire; mother, mak my bed soon, For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wad lie down.
What is the rhythm in Lord Randall?
The rhyme scheme is regular and in all quatrains it is ABAC. Because this is a ballad which was originally sung to a simple instrumental accompaniment, the rhyme scheme was very important to give more musicality to the composition.
Does Lord Randall have rhyme scheme?
The rhyme scheme used in the poem by the narrator is: ABAC, ABAC. The poem has a definite structure: the first two lines of all stanzas are in the interrogative form and the second two lines are affirmative forms; as matter of fact the reader can notice that the ballad is a dialogue between Lord Randal and his mother.
What does Lord Randall keep telling his mother that he wants to do and why?
In this original version of the refrain, he asks his mother to make his bed, because he's tired from hunting in the woods. Our suspicions might also be roused by this line. After all, Lord Randall is a bold young man, and his old ladyish complaint here seems a little out of place.
Where have you been Lord Randall my son?
"Oh, where have ye been, Lord Lantonn, my son? Oh, where have ye been, my handsome young man ?" "Out with the hounds, mother make the bed soon, I 'm weary with hunting, and fain would lie doon."
What is the emotional effect of the refrain's variation in the fifth stanza of Lord Randall?
What is the emotional effect of change in the refrain in the 5th stanza in Lord Randall? The effect of the change in the refrain in Lord Randall is one of sadness. He seems to be dying of a broken heart and betrayal by his lover.
Who are the main ballad characters?
Cyno.Venti.Candace.Nilou.Albedo.
What genre of poems is Bonny Barbara Allan?
traditional ballad“Barbara Allan” is a traditional ballad that originated in Scotland. The first written reference to it occurred in 1666 in The Diary of Samuel Pepys, where Pepys praises it after watching a stage performance sung by an actress.
What characteristics are considered in creating ballad music?
A ballad with lyrics traditionally follows a pattern of rhymed quatrains. This means that for every four-line grouping, either the first and third line will rhyme or the second and fourth lines will rhyme. The final word of the second line (“lance”) rhymes with the final word of the fourth line (“pants”).
What is the emotional effect of the refrains variation in the fifth stanza of Lord Randall?
What is the emotional effect of change in the refrain in the 5th stanza in Lord Randall? The effect of the change in the refrain in Lord Randall is one of sadness. He seems to be dying of a broken heart and betrayal by his lover.
What is the story of Lord Randall?
Familiar, right? But, Lord Randall's story takes an odd turn. Not only does his true love shun him, she poisons him and his dogs! Talk about a bad breakup! The ballad begins when Lord Randall returns home, and his mother asks where he's been. He tells her he's been hunting, but now needs to lie down.
What is the background of Lord Randall?
Background of 'Lord Randall'. 'Lord Randall' is a Scottish folk ballad. It was known and sung by many in the Scottish countryside. Though it was later written down, 'Lord Randall' was originally memorized and sang. It is very much a part of the oral literary tradition rather than the written. Although no one knows who originally composed ...
Why is it so hard to recognize rhymes in a ballad?
It may be hard to recognize the rhymes because some of them are slant rhyme, meaning the words sound very similar, but don't rhyme exactly. The ballad also uses incremental repetition, which means that the text keeps repeating itself, but there are enough changes in each verse to move the story forward.
How did Lord Randall die?
Lord Randall experiences heartache and ultimately death from poisoning.
Why does Lord Randall make his bed?
Where's the story here? When we hear Lord Randall ask his mother to make his bed, readers are tipped off that 'making his bed' is actually an allusion to wrapping up his affairs and preparing him for death.
Why do poems rhyme?
In addition to repetition, the poem utilizes rhyme to help with memorization. It may be hard to recognize the rhymes: some of them are slant rhyme, meaning the words sound very similar, but don't rhyme exactly. An example is 'son' and 'man.' Others, such as 'soon' and 'down' actually do rhyme when pronounced with the original Scottish accent because 'down' is pronounced 'doon.' For example, here is the first stanza of 'Lord Randall:'
What language was Lord Randall written in?
When Child and others wrote 'Lord Randall' down, they wrote it the way it was sung, with a rural, Scottish dialect. It was never meant to be written down in the first place, so it does not use the same kind of poetic language as written pieces. Of course, that is also why you will find different versions of the text.
What is Lord Randall's name?
It is not to be confused with Stuart Randall, Baron Randall of St Budeaux or John Randall, Baron Randall of Uxbridge. " Lord Randall ", or " Lord Randal ", ( Roud 10, Child 12) is an Anglo - Scottish border ballad consisting of dialogue between a young Lord and his mother.
What happened to Lord Randall's hunting dogs?
Lord Randall returns home to his mother after visiting his lover. Randall explains that his lover gave him a dinner of eels and that his hunting dogs died after eating the scraps of the meal, leading his mother to realize that he has been poisoned.
What is the name of the song that is about a young boy and his mother?
Unknown. " Lord Randall ", or " Lord Randal ", ( Roud 10, Child 12) is an Anglo - Scottish border ballad consisting of dialogue between a young Lord and his mother. Similar ballads can be found across Europe in many languages, including Danish, German, Magyar, Irish, Swedish, and Wendish.
What song was modeled after the song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"?
In 1962, Bob Dylan modeled his song " A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall " on "Lord Randall", introducing each verse with variants of the introductory lines to each verse of "Lord Randall". Dylan's ballad is often interpreted as a reaction to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Who sang the Scottish version of Lord Donald?
Scottish traveller Jeannie Robertson had her version entitled "Lord Donald" recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1953 and again by the BBC in 1963, and her nephew Stanley Robertson was later recorded singing the same version, the audio of which is available on the Tobar an Dualchais website.
Who sang Lord Donald?
Scottish traveller Jeannie Robertson had her version entitled "Lord Donald" recorded by Peter Kennedy in 1953 and again by the BBC in 1963, and her nephew Stanley Robertson was later recorded singing the same version, the audio of which is available on the Tobar an Dualchais website.
Who adopted the ballad form?
In the nineteenth century, the ballad form was adopted by poets who were definitely not anonymous. Robert Burns, Christina Rossetti and Tennyson, for example, all explored old legends and tragic romances in a number of poems.
What are the conventions of a ballad?
Consider the extent to which ‘Lord Randall’ obeys certain traditional conventions, such as dramatic, even sensational, subject matter; repetition; a question and answer format; metaphorical phrases such as ‘mak my bed soon’, which suggests preparation for death; and a simple, emphatic rhythm.
Overview
"Lord Randall", or "Lord Randal", (Roud 10, Child 12) is an Anglo-Scottish border ballad consisting of dialogue between a young Lord and his mother. Similar ballads can be found across Europe in many languages, including Danish, German, Magyar, Irish, Swedish, and Wendish. Italian variants are usually titled "L'avvelenato" ("The Poisoned Man") or "Il testamento dell'avvelenato" ("The Po…
Summary
Lord Randall returns home to his mother after visiting his lover. Randall explains that his lover gave him a dinner of eels and that his hunting dogs died after eating the scraps of the meal, leading his mother to realize that he has been poisoned. In some variants, Randall dictates his last will and testament in readiness for his impending death, dividing his possessions among family members and wishing damnation on his lover. Her motive for poisoning him is never discussed.
Traditional recordings
Many traditional versions of the ballad survived long enough to be recorded by folklorists and ethnomusicologists.
Most traditional English versions are called "Henry, My Son". Dorset traveller Caroline Hughes sang a version to Peter Kennedy in 1968 and another to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in the early 1960s which can be heard online on the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library website. Fred Jordan of
Cultural uses
In 1962, Bob Dylan modeled his song "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" on "Lord Randall", introducing each verse with variants of the introductory lines to each verse of "Lord Randall". Dylan's ballad is often interpreted as a reaction to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Dylan himself disclaimed this as an oversimplification, and in reality, Dylan first publicly performed the song a month before the crisis.
See also
• List of the Child Ballads
External links
• Digitised copy of Lord Randal in James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum, printed between 1787 and 1803, from National Library of Scotland. JPEG, PDF, XML versions.
• Traditional English Lute Songs - Lord Randall
• A painting of the poisoning of Jimmy Randall appears on Kentucky artist and ballad singer Daniel Dutton's web site: "Ballads of the Barefoot Mind"