Name: ___________________________________Date: _____________________Ms. Estes Period:_____
, by Alfred Noyes, is a very popular poem from the beginning of the 20 th century. Published in 1907, this romantic ballad of doomed love has captured the imagination of its readers. Many find the rhythm and imagery especially well done in this poem.
We have several main goals while reading this poem. The following checklist includes “I can…” statements that you can use to evaluate yourself.
I can demonstrate my knowledge of what I have read by using the text of the poem to answer questions
I can identify poetic devices used by Alfred Noyes to improve communication (metaphor, simile, personification, repetition, rhythm, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia)
I can use a poem to provide support for my opinion of a character.
I can determine the rhyme scheme/pattern of the poem.

First Look Questions: Read the poem for the first time AND write the number of
the lines that answer the following questions. The first one has been done for you.
1) What is the weather like when the poem begins? Lines?
1&2
It is windy (gusty) and cloudy.
2) What is the Highwayman wearing? Lines? _____
3) What does Bess, the landlord's daughter, look like? Lines? _____
4) What does Tim the ostler look like? Lines? _____
6) Where is the Highwayman going after he leaves Bess? Lines? _____
8) What did King George's men do when they arrived at the inn? Lines? _____
9) Why did the men come to the inn? Lines? _____
10) How did the soldiers tie Bess up? Lines? _____
11) What sound does the Highwayman’s horse make? Lines? _____
12) Why did Bess decide to shoot herself? Lines? _____
13) How did King George's men find out that the Highwayman was at the inn? Lines? _____
14) Why does the Highwayman return to the Inn? Lines? _____
15) How does the Highwayman die? Lines? _____ Vocabulary:

The poem The Highwayman was written in 1913 and is set a long time before that, so it contains quite a few old-fashioned words. Use a dictionary to find definitions for the following words:
1.
torrent
2.
breeches
3.
peaked
4.
tawny
5.
moor
6.
sniggering
7.
jest
8.
writhed
9.
strive
10 .
brandished
Use the words in the box below to complete the story. trigger
taps soldiers rifle darkness morning daughter jealous highwayman warn bed
ghosts
Bess moor
inn
The highwayman rides across the _____________. He arrives at an old ___________. It is late at night and the inn is in _____________. His is in love with the landlord’s _______________.
She is called Bess. He __________ on her window. She opens the window. Tim is the man who looks after the horses. He is also in love with ___________. He is ______________ of the highwayman. He hears them talking. The highwayman says he will be back before
________________. Tim tells the soldiers. The_______________ arrive. They plan to ambush the highwayman. They tie Bess to the foot of her _________ so that she can see out of the window. They fasten a _____________ to her. She is gagged. She cannot ___________ the highwayman. When the highwayman arrives Bess pulls the ______________ of the rifle. She is killed but the ______________ is warned. He rides off. When he finds out what has happened he returns. The soldier shoots him down. On winter nights the _________ of the two lovers return to the old inn.

Poetic Devices
In the poem The Highwayman , the poet uses several poetic devices (figurative language) to give the reader a good picture of the things he is describing.
Remember the following figurative language/poetic devices we have studied:
Simile - uses “like” or “as” to compare Ex: She sings like an angel.
Metaphor – a comparison that does not use “like” or “as”. Ex: His smile is my sunshine.
Hyperbole - exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect.
Ex: My suitcase weighs a ton.
Alliteration - repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words. Ex: Some stars sparkle.
Onomatopoeia - words that imitate the sounds. Ex: The rain plopped noisily on the tin roof.
Personification - non-human things given human qualities. Ex: The grass danced in the wind.
Find the following lines in the poem, then write on the line which poetic device is being used. Some of the lines will have more than one poetic device .
The first one has been done for you.
1) "The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas."
metaphor
2) "The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor." ____________________________
____________________________
3) "His eyes were hollows of madness." ____________________________
4) "his hair like moldy hay." ____________________________
____________________________
5) "His face burnt like a brand."
6) “Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed”
7) “There was death at every window”
____________________________
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Rhyme Scheme:
What is the rhyme scheme/pattern of the stanza below?
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees ,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas ,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor ,
And the highwayman came riding --
Riding-riding --
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inndoor .
Circle one column
B
B
B
A
A
B
A
A
B
C
C
B
:
A C
B C
A B
C A
C A
A B

In “The Highwayman,” Bess is portrayed as both a victim and a hero. Do you believe
Bess is a hero or a victim? Use details from the poem to support your answer.
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How could you describe Tim the Ostler? Use details from the story to support your answer.
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