Zaid Asim's Lochinvar Notes
THIS NOTES WERE MADE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE AND SHALL NOT BE REPUBLISHED WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR (ZAID ASIM)
THIS COPY WAS MADE FOR HUSSAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL
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I. Answer briefly the following questions
Question 1.
Who was Lochinvar? Why did he ride to Netherby Hall?
Answer:
Lochinvar was a brave young knight who loved Ellen. But Ellen was being married to another man at Netherby Hall. Lochinvar came to claim her as his own.
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Question 2.
What qualities of Lochinvar are highlighted in the first stanza?
Answer:
Lochinvar was fearless and confident. He came alone and unarmed, carrying only his broadsword. He was faithful in love, so even at the last moment, he came to claim his beloved.
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Question 3.
Lochinvar rode passionately to meet Ellen. What actions in lines 7 and 8 show his haste?
Answer:
The lines are:
“He staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone.
He swam the Esk river where ford there was none.”
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Question 4.
What qualities of the bridegroom are described in stanza 2?
Answer:
The bridegroom was a “laggard in love” — too timid to express his feelings for Ellen — and a “dastard in war,” meaning cowardly and no match for Lochinvar.
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Question 5.
What evidence in stanza 3 shows that the bridegroom was a coward?
Answer:
When Lochinvar entered, Ellen’s father spoke with his hand on his sword. But the cowardly bridegroom did not say a single word.
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Question 6.
How did the bride’s father receive Lochinvar? What did he ask him?
Answer:
With his hand on his sword, the bride’s father asked whether Lochinvar had come in peace, for war, or to dance at the bridal.
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Question 7.
What answer did Lochinvar give the bride’s father?
Answer:
Lochinvar replied that he had long wooed Ellen but had been denied permission to marry her. He said he had only come to dance one last dance with her and drink a single cup of wine for the sake of their old love.
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Question 8.
What quality of love is highlighted when Lochinvar says,
a. “Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide.”
Answer:
He meant that his love for Ellen had once been strong, but after being denied permission to marry her, it had faded.
b. Does this truly reflect Lochinvar’s love for Ellen?
Answer:
No. It hides his true feelings for her.
c. Why does Lochinvar say what is not true?
Answer:
Ellen’s father was surrounded by kinsmen and armed men. If Lochinvar revealed his real intention, he would be attacked. So, he pretended his love had ended, waiting for the right moment to act.
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Question 9.
What other lies does Lochinvar tell Ellen’s father?
Answer:
He says he came only to drink a cup of wine and dance once with Ellen. He also pretends there are many other maidens in Scotland more beautiful than Ellen who would gladly marry him.
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Question 10.
How did Ellen express her love for Lochinvar?
Answer:
Ellen kissed the goblet before giving it to him. After he drank, she blushed, sighed, smiled with her lips, and had tears in her eyes.
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Question 11.
What did the bridesmaids think about Lochinvar and Ellen?
Answer:
Watching them dance so gracefully, the bridesmaids whispered that it would have been far better if their cousin had been married to Lochinvar.
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Question 12.
What mixed feelings are shown in stanza 5?
Answer:
Ellen was happy to see Lochinvar again but sad that she had to marry another man.
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Question 13.
What clues of his plan does Lochinvar give Ellen?
Answer:
While dancing near the door, Lochinvar touched Ellen’s hand and whispered a single word, signaling her to be ready to escape.
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Question 14.
a. What brings a smile to Ellen’s face?
Answer:
Seeing Lochinvar again, after losing hope, made her smile.
b. Why does she shed a tear?
Answer:
Because she regretted having to marry another man.
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Question 15.
Pick out adjectives that describe Lochinvar.
Answer:
Young, unarmed, faithful in love, daring in love, dauntless in war, stately, brave, gallant.
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II. Close Study
Extract 1
“Love swells like the Solway but ebbs like its tide.”
a. What is Solway?
Answer: Solway is a river separating England from Scotland.
b. To whom does Lochinvar speak this line?
Answer: He speaks it to Ellen’s father.
c. What figure of speech is used here?
Answer: Simile (love is compared to the Solway tide using “like”).
d. Explain the figure of speech.
Answer: Lochinvar says his love once rose like the swelling river Solway, but after Ellen’s marriage was arranged with another man, it ebbed like the receding tide.
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Extract 2
“Then spoke the bride’s father, his hand on his sword
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word).”
a. What did the bride’s father say?
Answer: He demanded to know why Lochinvar had come to the wedding.
b. Why did he keep his hand on his sword?
Answer: In case Lochinvar tried to take the bride, he was ready to fight.
c. Why did the bridegroom remain silent?
Answer: Because he was too cowardly to confront Lochinvar.
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III. Paragraph Writing
Question 1.
Pick out all the details from the poem which help Lochinvar to hide his real intentions.
Answer:
He came alone, with only a broadsword.
He pretended he no longer loved Ellen.
He said he came only to dance and drink a cup of wine.
Ellen silently blushed and sighed, giving no clue.
She danced with him willingly.
Paragraph:
When confronted by Ellen’s father, Lochinvar cleverly hid his true purpose. He admitted he had once wooed Ellen but said his love had faded like the tide. He explained he had only come to dance one last dance and drink a cup of wine in her honor. To avoid suspicion, he even said there were many more beautiful women in Scotland who would gladly marry him. Thus, everyone believed his words, and his real plan remained hidden.
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Question 2.
How did Lochinvar finally win Ellen for himself?
Answer:
Ellen kissed the goblet and showed her hidden love.
She blushed, sighed, and smiled with tears in her eyes.
Lochinvar whispered to her during the dance.
She cooperated with his plan to escape.
Paragraph:
Lochinvar pretended to come in peace. Before anyone could stop him, he danced with Ellen and slowly led her towards the door. There, his horse was waiting. Whispering his plan to her, he quickly lifted her onto the saddle and galloped away. The Netherby clan tried to chase them but failed. Lochinvar had won Ellen as his bride.
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Question 3.
“Only the brave deserve the fair.” Justify this with reference to the poem.
Answer:
Lochinvar truly loved Ellen, but his proposal was rejected.
Ellen’s father chose a cowardly man as her groom.
Lochinvar bravely attended the wedding, hiding his plan.
He tricked the family, danced with Ellen, and escaped with her.
The cowardly groom did nothing.
Paragraph:
The timid groom did not deserve Ellen. Lochinvar, on the other hand, proved that only the brave win love. Though Ellen’s father had rejected him, Lochinvar risked his life and entered Netherby Hall unarmed. By pretending peace, he tricked the family into lowering their guard. Then, with courage and cleverness, he escaped with Ellen. The cowardly groom stood silently, while Lochinvar, the brave knight, proved that courage is rewarded with love.
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