The Highwayman The wind was a torrent of

“The Highwayman” The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor, And the highwayman came riding up to the old inn-door. Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard, And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred; He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord's daughter. "One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, I shall be back with the gold before the morning light. " They had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear; In the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear? The highwayman came riding Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high! When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway, And he lay in his blood on the highway. . He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon; And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon, A red-coat troop came marching; King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door. They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead, But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed; They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest; This page is for sets 1 -3

“The Highwayman” The wind was a torrent of darkness And the highwayman came riding up to the old inn-door. He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord's daughter. "One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, I shall be back with the gold before the morning light. " The highwayman came riding, His rapier brandished high! Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway, And he lay in his blood on the highway. . King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door. They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead, But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed; Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear; In the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear? This page is for sets 4 -6

“The Highwayman” The wind was a torrent of darkness And the highwayman came riding up to the old inn-door. He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there But the landlord's daughter. “My sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, I shall be back with the gold before the morning light. King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door. " Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear; In the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear? The highwayman came riding, His rapier brandished high! Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky, When they shot him down on the highway, Down like a dog on the highway, And he lay in his blood on the highway. . They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead, But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed; This page is for sets 7 -9

LESSON 1 The poem, set in 18 th century rural England, tells the story of an unnamed highwayman who is in love with Bess, the landlord's daughter. Bess is tied up and held hostage by the King’s men, who wait for the highwayman to arrive. Learning of her death, he dies in a futile attempt at revenge, shot down on the highway by the King’s soldiers. It is considered a Gothic poem because it is set in a dark and windy place, there is murder and violence and it does not end well for the ‘hero’. Read the Highwayman poem and create a storyboard of what is happening in the story. Film and theatre directors, cartoonists and even music video directors do this to plan or propose their ideas. It is a visual and colourful way of explaining a story in a short space of time. 1. 2. 3. 4. Show me as many ‘moments’ as you can from the poem. Please use lots of colour. Please use speech bubbles for the dialogue. Stick people is completely acceptable.