the lammas hireling Flashcards
form
dramatic monologue
Speaker
- a farmer in the pre industrial era
- may be an unreliable narrator
“and a heavy purse, he struck so cheap”
speaker is focused on money
- hard headed
“cattle doted on him”
- suggestion that the hireling is magic/ can influence the cows
- strong connection between the hireling and speaker
- fairy tale atmosphere
“i grew fond of company that knew when to shut up”
- speaker leads a lonely and isolated life
- speaker does not like sharing his thoughts/ feelings but has chosen to write in a dramatic monologue? (this is due to him now compulsively talking to the priest)
“disturbed from dreams of my dear late wife”
“disturbed” - implies guilt or denial
“dear late wife” - affectionate
“hunted down her torn voice”
“torn” - metaphor, screaming/ in pain?
“hunted down” - imagery of a predator and prey, saving/finding, dehumanising (to kill), aggression
“stock still”
“stark naked”
hireling as vulnerable/ victim
- imitating an animal
- hireling is a witch that can transform into a hare
- hireling is partially human, partially nature
“warlock”
speaker initially views the hireling as evil
“blew the small hour through his heart”
- forbidden desire and aggression
- metaphor, speaker shot the hireling
“the moon came out”
“Disturbed from dreams”
Gothic features
“fur over like a stone mossing”
“head thinned”
“his eyes rose like bread”
“his top lip gathered”
hireling turning back into a hare
- connecting back with the natural world - innocence
- nothing scary about the hireling
“moss” - nature
“lovely head”
affectionate, speakers attraction?
“i don’t dream”
“spend my nights casting ball from half crowns”
speakers paranoia/ guilt
- his real guilt/ fear comes from his own feelings/ desires (for the hireling?)
“bless me father i have sinned”
religion
- HUMAN
- whole poem is a confession
