1. Rhyme Scheme 1st & 3rd = 8 syllables 2nd & 4th = 6 syllables Narrative
Iambic Meter—the stress in each
line falls on every other syllable
Rhyme Scheme Q U A T R I N
1st & 3rd =
8 syllables
2nd & 4th =
6 syllables
It was in and about the Martinmas time When the green leaves were a-falling, That Sir John Graeme, in the West Country, fell in love with Barbara Allan He sent his men down through the town To the place where she was dwelling “O haste and come to my master dear, Gin ye be Barbara Allan” O hooly, hooly rose she up, To the place where he was lying And when she drew the curtain by, “Young man, I think you’re dying.” O it’s I’m sick, and very sick, And it’s a’ for Barbara Allan”; “O the better for me ye’s never be, Though your heart’s blood were a spilling. A B C
Language is
Simple and
straightforward
Narrative
Style
REPETITION
The young man
is love sick

2. In the tolling of the bell, she hears warning that she too will die.
“ O dinna ye mind, young man,” said she, “When the red wine ye were fillin,’ That ye made the healths gae round and round, And slighted Barbara Allan?” He turned his face unto the wall; And death was with him dealing; “Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all, And be kind to Barbara Allan.” And slowly, slowly raise she up, And slowly, slowly left him, And sighing said she could not stay, Since death of life had reft him. She had no gane a mile but twa, When she heard the dead-bell ringing, And every jow that the dead-bell gied, It cried, “woe to Barbara Allan!”
Passing nature
uncertainty of life
Barbara Allen’s
Hard-heartedness
Will now come
back to haunt her.
In the tolling of the bell,
she hears warning that she too will die.

3. O mother, mother, make my bed. O make it saft and narrow
O mother, mother, make my bed! O make it saft and narrow! Since my love died for me today, I’ll die for him tomorrow.” They buried her in the old churchyard And Sir John’s grave was nigh her. And from his heart grew a red, red rose, And from her heart a brier They grew to the top o’ the old church wall, Till they could grow no higher Until they tied a true love’s knot— The red rose and the brier.
This means that
the speaker is
dying
Foreshadowing:
Left loveless,
Barbara predicts
her own death
Symbol:
The two lovers
are joined in death