Lord Randall and Get Up Bar the Door

“Lord Randall” and “Get Up & Bar the Door” Ballads Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Ballads • A song or songlike poem that tells a story in a regular pattern of rhythm and rhyme and uses simple, direct language. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Characteristics • Sensational or tragic subject matter – Domestic tragedy – False love – True love – The absurdity of husband-wife relationships – The supernatural • Omitted details • Supernatural events Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Characteristics • Refrain • A repeated word, line or group of lines • Incremental Repetition • A phrase or sentence is repeated with a new element added each time until the climax is reached in order to build up suspense. • Question-and answer format • The facts of the story are gradually presented in this format in order to build suspense. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

“Lord Randall” • Structure – Question and answer format between Lord Randall’s mother and Lord Randall Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Question/Answer #1 • Where have you been? • I have been in the woods hunting. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Question/Answer #2 • Where did you eat your dinner? • I ate with my true love. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Question/Answer #3 • What did you eat for dinner? • I ate eels boiled in broth. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Question/Answer #4 • What happened to your bloodhounds? • They swelled up and died. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Final Stanza • Functions as conclusion • His mother concludes he has been poisoned. • Lord Randall agrees Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Symbolism: The Bed • “…mother, make my bed soon, / For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down. ” • These lines end the first three stanzas • “…mother, make my bed soon, / For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down. ” • Ends the fourth stanza • The bed symbolizes his death bed • He has been poisoned by his true love Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Symbolism: The Eels • Most likely, this is what has been poisoned • Eels are the most snakelike of fish • Snakes symbolize evil Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Variations • “Lord Randall” is supposed to have 103 known variations. • Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

“Get Up and Bar the Door” – Setting • Around Martinmas time (the feast of Saint Martin of Tours) – November 11 – Usually celebrated with a big feast – Much like our modern holidays » A lot of work needs to be done around the house Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Conflict • The door needs to be barred • The husband wants the wife to do it • The wife wants the husband to do it Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Conflict: Conclusion • “They made a paction tween them twa, They made it firm and sure, That the first word whaeer should speak, Should rise and bar the door. ” • The first person to speak has to go and lock the door Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Characterization • Stubborn • Silly • Theme – Battle of the sexes Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Plot • Two men come into the house and eat all the food • Neither the husband nor the wife say anything because they do not want to lose the wager • The two intruders then decide to cut off the man’s beard and kiss the wife • The man finally responds: • “Will ye kiss my wife before my een And scad me wi pudding-bree? ” Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar

Plot • The woman responds after the man: • “Goodman, you’ve spoken the foremost word, Get up and bar the door. ” • Humorous ending • Her priority is winning the bet. Geschke/English III "Lord Randall" & "Get Up & Bar