The Man he Killed

Question 1

“Had he and I but met / By some old ancient inn”

Answer 1

• The anecdotal tone of this hypothetical situation portrays the relatable humanity of these two men.
• This hypothetical situation of the two men meeting “By some old ancient inn” implies that the speaker did not have any hateful feelings towards the man.

Question 2

“Right many a nipperkin”

Answer 2

The fact that the speaker says that the other man and him could have sat down and had “Right many a nipperkin” makes it clear that the speaker wishes he had met this man under different circumstances, and it is here that the idea of an internal conflict is introduced. The word “nipperkin” suggests a peaceful, traditional English setting, which is juxtaposed by the harsh reality of what actually happened

Question 3

“But”

Answer 3

The use of “But” jolts the reader back into reality and shifts the tone