Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead

By Alfred Lord Tennyson

Ballad
Home they brought her warrior dead: She nor swooned, nor uttered cry: All her maidens, watching, said, She must weep or she will die. Then they praised him, soft and low, Called him worthy to be loved, Truest friend and noblest foe; Yet she neither spoke nor moved. Stole a maiden from her place, Lightly to the warrior stepped, Took the face-cloth from the face; Yet she neither moved nor wept. Rose a nurse of ninety years, Set his child upon her knee Like summer tempest came her tears Sweet my child, I live for thee.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poignant poem presents a narrative of loss, grief and resilience. The theme is centered on the burial of a warrior, presumably a husband, and the stoic response of his widow. It's a solemn exploration of the private, personal cost of public conflict, with a tone that is deeply somber and quietly powerful. The structure is consistent across the four stanzas, each presenting a different scene or perspective and building on the emotional context.

The poet employs repetition to draw attention to the widow's silence and stillness in the face of her husband's death. The repeated phrase, "Yet she neither spoke nor moved", underscores her quiet strength and fortitude, while hinting at a profound internal struggle. The introduction of the child in the final stanza adds a layer of poignant complexity. The widow's tears are likened to a "summer tempest", a powerful metaphor that finally reveals her suppressed grief. Yet, even in her sorrow, she is resilient, expressing her determination to live for her child. Ultimately, the poem is a moving tribute to stoicism in the face of loss, underlining the power of unexpressed emotion and silent strength.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.