“Sir Patrick Spens” and Dudley Randall’s “Ballad of
Birmingham” are two poems that many similarities. In “Ballad of Birmingham” the
little girl remains faithful to her mother. But she ends up dying despite her
mother’s efforts. In “Sir Patrick Spens” the sailor remains faithful to the
King and ends up dying at sea as he attempted to do what the King told him too.
The two main characters remain loyal and faithful but in the end it results in
their death. Another similarity that I noticed was both the poems are similar
in structure. Both poems have four lined stanzas and have a rhyme scheme of the
second and fourth lines rhyme together. The pomes also share imagery. In “Sir
Patrick Spens”, it says “Its fifty fathom deep,/ And there lies good Sir
Patrick Spens,/ Wi’ the Scots lords at his feet” (42-44. 650). And in “Ballad
of Birmingham, “She has combed and brushed her night-dark hair,/and bathed rose
petal sweet,/ And drawn white gloves on her small brown hands,/ And white shoes
on her feet.” (17-20. 956) This shows the vivid imagery. It gives us as readers
a good picture of what is going on between both of the poems. Another similarity
that I noticed between both of the poems is at the end of both of them they
both set a gloomy mood leading up to the tragic outcome. And when the lines are
revealed about the tragic such as in “Ballad of Birmingham” when it says “For
when she heard the explosion,/ Her eyes grew wet and wild./ She raced through
the streets of Birmingham/ calling for her child.” (26-28. 957) she knew in
what had happened. And in “Sir Patrick Spens” O long, long their ladies sit… O
long, long may the ladies stand,/ Wi’ their gold combs in their hair,/ Waiting
for their own dear lords,/ For they’ll see them no more.” (33-36. 650) And the
reason why I think that is important because, it was all leading up to the
tragic outcome of the poems.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI also did my blog on both of these poems. Although the poems appear to be very different, I was surprised by how many similarities they share in their content. I also agree that the loyalty of both characters is a very important factor that ultimately led to their death. I especially enjoyed the observation you made about how both poems set up a gloomy mood leading up to the death of the characters. At first I did not notice this, yet it is another similarity between both poems. Great post.
Amanda I am little confuse about your similarities. You mention that both characters of each poem died; even though, they are faithful, but I do not understand what makes you see faith in them.Could you give some examples? Also, you say that these poems are similar because both of them have vivid imageries, but I would like to know how these imageries are related each other with the poems' meaning. This is not a critit, I just have doubts about these poems and its similarities. I am asking this to understand better these poems. I like your post.
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