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ABOUT THE POET
·
Robert Southey
Robert Southey
·
Born – August 12, 1774 Bristol England.
Born – August 12, 1774 Bristol England.
·
Died – 21 march 1843 England.
Died – 21 march 1843 England.
·
He was a poet and laureate to Romantic
school
He was a poet and laureate to Romantic
school
·
Famous works : –
Famous works : –
1)
The fall of Robes Pierre (17940
The fall of Robes Pierre (17940
2)
Joan of Arc – An epic Poem (1796)
Joan of Arc – An epic Poem (1796)
3)
After Blen Heim (1798)
After Blen Heim (1798)
4)
Devil’s thoughts (1799)
Devil’s thoughts (1799)
BACKGROUND OF THE INCHCAPE ROCK
Robert Southey composed the poem for the Morning Post, but it was not published until 1802. This poem was written somewhere between the period of 1796 to 1798.
It remained uncorrected among many papers for ten years. At last, it was published in 1812. Southey was inspired by the legendary story of a pirate who removed a bell on Inchcape Rock placed by Abbot of Arbroath.
ABOUT THE INCHCAPE ROCK
The poem takes place near a notorious sandstone reef about 18 Km. off the east coast of Scotland. The whole poem is written in a ballad form.
The poem acquaints us how a pirate removed the bell from the Inchcape Rock and subsequently got killed justifying the divine judgement. The poem gives us a message that those who do wrong things will meet due punishment.
THE INCHCAPE ROCK-A POEM OF POETIC JUSTICE
The Inchcape Rock” is a perfect embodiment of Poetic Justice. We come to know about the story of the Rock legend. Abbot of Aberbroath, a monk placed a bell on the dangerous reef to warn the ships and mariners.
But one day wicked Ralph; the pirate removed the bell and turned the dangerous reef again a death trap for him. But we once get to see the poetic justice to play in the story at the end when wicked Ralph himself was going through that area.
His ship could not assess the dangerous reef and turned out to be a victim of the deadly reef. And thus the poetic justice was made.
THE INCHCAPE Rock – a Ballad
If a Ballad means a long narrative poem which tells a story, then “The Inchcape Rock is a ballad which fulfils the characteristics of a story. The poem is a big one with seventeen stanzas acquainting us with a didactic story.
Here we come across a pirate who cuts the bell placed on a sand reef to warn the mariners and the ships against the peril and how the pirate on another day falls prey to the divine justice.
STANZA WISE EXPLANATION
STANZA – 1
The atmosphere of the sea is calm and quiet. There is no movement in the air. The ship was devoid any threats of story wind. The sails of the ship had been silent and keel of the ship was steady and strong in the ocean.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Repetition – ‘No stir’
2) Antithesis – No stir in the air, no stir in the sea
3)
Anaphora –
her sails ………………..
Her keel ……………
STANZA – 2
This is the place of dangerous Inchcape Rock. As there is no movement in the air, the waves have died down and no sound could be heard from the Inchcape bell.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Repetition – ‘So little’
2)
Antithesis – So little they rose, so little
they fall
3)
Personification – Here waves are referred
as ‘They’
STANZA -3
This talks about the great monk Abbot of Aber Brothok
and his benevolent deed of placing the warning bell over Inchcape Rock. He placed it on a buoy.
and his benevolent deed of placing the warning bell over Inchcape Rock. He placed it on a buoy.
Whenever stony waves will initiate, this bell starts making warning sounds and thus warns the mariners and their ships from the shipwreck.
Poetic Devices in use
1) Inversion –
On a buoy in the storm it floated and swung.
STANZA – 4
This stanza talks about the utility of the bell. When there is high tide and when it becomes impossible to locate the Inchcape Rock by mariners, the sound of the bell warns the mariners about the perilous rock and they get warned. Then thus they used to get saved by the bell, they used to bless Abbot of Abber Brothok for this noble deed.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Alliteration – Surge’s swell, then they
(line -3)
Alliteration – Surge’s swell, then they
(line -3)
2)
Anaphora – And then
Anaphora – And then
And blest ……..
STANZA – 5
This fifth stanza talks about the jubilant weather. It
was a bright sunny day. Everything of nature seemed to be mirthful on that day.
The sea birds are screaming while flying around and the sounds created by them
were filled with joy.
was a bright sunny day. Everything of nature seemed to be mirthful on that day.
The sea birds are screaming while flying around and the sounds created by them
were filled with joy.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Symbolism – heaven (meaning sky )
Symbolism – heaven (meaning sky )
2)
Personification – The sun is described as
‘gay’
Personification – The sun is described as
‘gay’
STANZA – 6
This sixth stanza tells us about the buoy and Sir
Ralph’s approach to the Inchcape Rock. The buoy of the Inchcape bell is visible
like a darkness speck on the green ocean. Sir Ralph walked over his deck and
set his eye or the buoy.
Ralph’s approach to the Inchcape Rock. The buoy of the Inchcape bell is visible
like a darkness speck on the green ocean. Sir Ralph walked over his deck and
set his eye or the buoy.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Inversion – A darker speck on the ocean
green.
Inversion – A darker speck on the ocean
green.
STANZA – 7
This stanza shows how Sir Ralph was joyous over the
pleasant spring weather and how he had the wicked intention. Sir Ralph is found
at the utmost peak of mirth. He is singing and whistling. But this mirth is
actually his wickedness.
pleasant spring weather and how he had the wicked intention. Sir Ralph is found
at the utmost peak of mirth. He is singing and whistling. But this mirth is
actually his wickedness.
Poetic Devices in use –
1)
Onomatopoeia – ‘whistle’
Onomatopoeia – ‘whistle’
2)
Alliteration – ‘his heart’
Alliteration – ‘his heart’
STANZA – 8
In the eighth stanza we see the real wickedness of sir
Ralph. He looked intently at the Inchcape Rock. Then he ordered his men to take
him to the Inchcape Rock by boat. He made up his mind of bringing an end to the
benevolent work of Abbot of Aber Brothok
Ralph. He looked intently at the Inchcape Rock. Then he ordered his men to take
him to the Inchcape Rock by boat. He made up his mind of bringing an end to the
benevolent work of Abbot of Aber Brothok
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Inversion – quoth he, ‘my men, put out the
boat
Inversion – quoth he, ‘my men, put out the
boat
2)
Anaphora – And row
Anaphora – And row
And I’ll
STANZA – 9
Stanza nine shows execution of his wicked plans. Sir
Ralph got on the boat which the boatmen rowed and when the boat reached the
Inchcape Rock. Sir Ralph cut the Inchcape bell.
Ralph got on the boat which the boatmen rowed and when the boat reached the
Inchcape Rock. Sir Ralph cut the Inchcape bell.
1)
Inversion – And to the Inchcape Rock they
go.
Inversion – And to the Inchcape Rock they
go.
STANZA -10
This stanza shows how the bell drowned and comments of
Sir Ralph over this. With a gurgling sound the bell sank down. There had been
bubbles while the bell drowned. Sir
Ralph said that moon would ever thank Abbot of Abber Brothok after that act.
Sir Ralph over this. With a gurgling sound the bell sank down. There had been
bubbles while the bell drowned. Sir
Ralph said that moon would ever thank Abbot of Abber Brothok after that act.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Onomatopoeia – gurgling
Onomatopoeia – gurgling
2)
Inversion – i) ‘Down sank the bell
with a gurgling sound”
Inversion – i) ‘Down sank the bell
with a gurgling sound”
ii) Quoth Sir Ralph…………
STANZA – 11
This stanza gives us a gap in time. Sir Ralph, the
rover has become rich by looting a lot of the ships and now he is heading
towards the shore of Scotland.
rover has become rich by looting a lot of the ships and now he is heading
towards the shore of Scotland.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Alliteration – Scotland’s shore
Alliteration – Scotland’s shore
STANZA – 12
This stanza talks about a day which is troubled with
ill weather. The sun is not visible as because of hazy sky. Throughout the day
wind had blown like a storm. At the evening the wind died away signifying the
approach of a horrible storm.
ill weather. The sun is not visible as because of hazy sky. Throughout the day
wind had blown like a storm. At the evening the wind died away signifying the
approach of a horrible storm.
STANZA – 13
Sir Ralph is found standing on the deck. The atmosphere
is so dark that they cannot see anything. Sir Ralph is optimistic that soon
there will be a change in the weather in positive. He assumes that it was down
and moon will soon be seen.
is so dark that they cannot see anything. Sir Ralph is optimistic that soon
there will be a change in the weather in positive. He assumes that it was down
and moon will soon be seen.
Poetic Device in use
1)
Inversion i)
on the deck, the Rover takes his stand
Inversion i)
on the deck, the Rover takes his stand
ii) so dark it is they see no
land.
land.
STANZA – 14
This stanza is the beginning of the end. One of the
sailors stated that he could hear the breaker’s sound. This signifies that
shore is very near. He further states that he does not have any idea where they
stand with the ship. But he had strong wish if he could hear the warning sound
of the Inchcape bell.
sailors stated that he could hear the breaker’s sound. This signifies that
shore is very near. He further states that he does not have any idea where they
stand with the ship. But he had strong wish if he could hear the warning sound
of the Inchcape bell.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Inversion – “Now where we are we cannot
tell”.
Inversion – “Now where we are we cannot
tell”.
STANZA – 15
This stanza fulfils the poetic justice. Because of
high waves they heard no sound. In spite of the fact that the wind has fallen
they drifted along and they received the shivering shock. Immediately they understood
that their ship had hit the Inchcape rock. They called for the Christ as the
son of God.
high waves they heard no sound. In spite of the fact that the wind has fallen
they drifted along and they received the shivering shock. Immediately they understood
that their ship had hit the Inchcape rock. They called for the Christ as the
son of God.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Alliteration – ‘Though the’, ‘Shivering
shock’, “Till the”
Alliteration – ‘Though the’, ‘Shivering
shock’, “Till the”
STANZA – 16
This is the time for sir Ralph to go mad. He almost
tore his hair in frustration and cursed himself in despair. Water waves started
to enter the ship and started to engulf the ship. The ship started to drown
beneath the high tide.
tore his hair in frustration and cursed himself in despair. Water waves started
to enter the ship and started to engulf the ship. The ship started to drown
beneath the high tide.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Alliteration – ‘his hair’, ‘the tidy’
Alliteration – ‘his hair’, ‘the tidy’
2)
Anaphora – The waves
Anaphora – The waves
The ship
STANZA – 17
Here sir Ralph goes through his dreadful
hallucinations. In his dying fear as if he could hear the ringing sound of the
Inchcape Bell of Abbot of Aber Brothok. He felt as if the death bell was rung
by Devil himself.
hallucinations. In his dying fear as if he could hear the ringing sound of the
Inchcape Bell of Abbot of Aber Brothok. He felt as if the death bell was rung
by Devil himself.
Poetic Devices in use
1)
Inversion – One dreadful sound could the
Rover hear.
Inversion – One dreadful sound could the
Rover hear.
STRUCTURE OF THE POEM
The
poem “The Inchcape Rock”, is a poem of 68 lines divided into 17 stanzas of 4
lines each. It follows the rhyme scheme of aabb throughout the poem. We find
extensive use of Alliteration, Inversion, Imagery, Anaphora and personification
in the poem.
poem “The Inchcape Rock”, is a poem of 68 lines divided into 17 stanzas of 4
lines each. It follows the rhyme scheme of aabb throughout the poem. We find
extensive use of Alliteration, Inversion, Imagery, Anaphora and personification
in the poem.
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same here
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Me too 🙂
Same here 🙂
Mee to
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it helped me…..it was needed indeed!!!…tysm
it helped me…..it was needed indeed!!!…tysm
But why was the ocean green…and why was the speck on the ocean dark??
But why was the ocean green…and why was the speck on the ocean dark??
The ocean was green with algae as it is near Scotland and small specks which is the rock here appear dark
Helped me a lot to complete my english project but has some spelling mistakes.