the farmer's bride

Question 1

Three summers since I chose a maid

Answer 1

‘chose’- shows system of patriarchy (male authority over women), suggesting she didn’t have much choice when it came to their marriage. Title sounds like she belongs to him.

Question 2

There’s more to do at harvest time than to bide and woo

Answer 2

Hints that the farmer had a practical and unromantic approach to marriage. His work on the farm is more important than his relationship.

Question 3

We chased her, flying like a hare… all in a shiver and a scare

Answer 3

Hunting imagery - suggests her terror. Simile - her fear is expressed physically like an animal.
‘hare’ is rhymed with ‘scare’, emphasising the comparison.

Question 4

We caught her, fetched her home at last and turned the key upon her, fast

Answer 4

The whole village seemed to be involved - ‘we’
this adds to the sense that she’s being hunted
‘last’ and ‘fast’ - rhyming couplet emphasises the decisive action of locking her away - makes it sound sinister.

Question 5

But what to me?

Answer 5

Rhetorical question - breaks his happier thoughts of her in the summer time. He’s starting to want more from her.

Question 6

What’s christmas-time without there be some other people in the house than we?

Answer 6

They have no children because she refuses to have them with him. He is becoming impatient and wants her to give him children

Question 7

her eyes, her hair, her hair!

Answer 7

Frantic sounding repetition of the half-rhyme ‘her hair’ - he’s breaking down and losing control.