'The Bread-Knife Ballad' by Robert Service
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Bar-Room BalladsA little child was sitting Up on her mother's knee
And down down her cheeks the bitter tears did flow.
And as I sadly listened I heard this tender plea,
'Twas uttered in a voice so soft and low."Not guilty" said the Jury And the Judge said "Set her free,
But remember it must not occur again.
And next time you must listen to you little daughter's plea,"
Then all the Court did join in this refrain.Chorus:"Please Mother don't stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,Remember 'twas a gift when you were wed.But if you must stab Father with the BREAD-KNIFE,Please Mother use another for the BREAD."
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Bread-Knife Ballad by Robert Service: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Wow, just wow. Have you ever read a poem that made you want to stand up and applaud? That's how I felt after reading The Bread-Knife Ballad by Robert Service. This classic poem is not only entertaining, but it also has a deeper meaning that is worth exploring. So let's dive in and see what makes this poem so special.
Overview
First of all, let's give some context to the poem. The Bread-Knife Ballad was written by Robert Service, a Canadian poet who was known for his ballads and poems that celebrated the rugged lifestyle of the North. The poem was first published in 1912 and it tells the story of a man who is caught stealing a loaf of bread and is sentenced to death.
Structure
The Bread-Knife Ballad is structured as a ballad, which means it has a specific rhyme scheme and rhythm. The poem consists of 12 quatrains, which are four-line stanzas. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which means that the first and third lines rhyme with each other, and the second and fourth lines rhyme with each other. This creates a musicality to the poem that makes it easy to read and remember.
The rhythm of the poem is also important. The poem is written in trochaic tetrameter, which means that each line has four trochees. A trochee is a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. This creates a strong, pounding rhythm that mirrors the action of the poem.
Themes
Now, let's talk about the themes of the poem. The Bread-Knife Ballad is about justice, mercy, and the human condition. The poem explores the idea of what it means to be human and how we should be treated by society.
The main character of the poem is the thief who is caught stealing the loaf of bread. He is a sympathetic character who is driven to steal because he is hungry and desperate. He is caught and sentenced to death, but the judge offers him a chance to have his sentence commuted if he can survive a fight with the hangman's assistant.
This is where the poem takes a turn. The thief is given a chance to fight for his life, and he takes it. He fights with all his strength and manages to defeat the hangman's assistant. The judge is impressed with the thief's bravery and spares his life.
The poem is about the power of mercy and the importance of giving people a second chance. The thief is given a chance to redeem himself, and he takes it. He fights for his life and proves that he is more than just a thief. He is a human being who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Symbolism
The Bread-Knife Ballad is also full of symbolism. The bread, for example, represents survival and sustenance. The thief is stealing bread because he is hungry and needs to survive. The bread also represents the basic needs of human beings, and the poem explores the idea of how society should provide for those needs.
The knife in the title of the poem represents danger and violence. The thief is caught with a bread knife, which shows that he is willing to use violence to get what he needs. The knife also represents the danger that the thief is in, as he is sentenced to death for his crime.
The hangman's assistant represents the forces of authority and punishment. He is the one who is tasked with carrying out the sentence of death, and he is the one who the thief must fight to survive. The fight between the thief and the hangman's assistant is a metaphor for the struggle between the individual and society.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Bread-Knife Ballad is a powerful poem that explores the themes of justice, mercy, and the human condition. The poem is structured as a ballad, which creates a musicality that makes it easy to read and remember. The poem is full of symbolism, including the bread, the knife, and the hangman's assistant.
The poem is a reminder that we are all human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It is a call for mercy and a second chance, and it is a testament to the power of the human spirit. Robert Service has created a masterpiece that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Bread-Knife Ballad: A Classic Poem by Robert Service
If you're a fan of poetry, you've probably heard of Robert Service. He was a Scottish-Canadian poet and writer who became famous for his ballads and poems about the Yukon and the Klondike Gold Rush. One of his most famous works is "The Bread-Knife Ballad," a poem that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman who is already engaged to another man. In this article, we'll take a closer look at this classic poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.
The Bread-Knife Ballad tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman named Mary. Mary is engaged to another man, but the young man is determined to win her heart. He decides to steal her away from her fiancé and take her to a new life in the West. To do this, he uses a bread knife to threaten Mary's father and force him to let them leave. The poem ends with the young couple riding off into the sunset, with the young man promising to love and protect Mary forever.
One of the most striking things about this poem is its structure. The Bread-Knife Ballad is written in ballad form, which means that it has a simple, repetitive structure that is easy to remember and sing. The poem is made up of four-line stanzas, with the second and fourth lines rhyming. This gives the poem a sing-song quality that makes it easy to read aloud and remember.
The language of the poem is also very simple and straightforward. Service uses plain, everyday language to tell the story, which makes it accessible to a wide audience. However, he also uses some poetic devices to add depth and emotion to the poem. For example, he uses repetition to emphasize certain phrases and ideas. The phrase "bread-knife" is repeated throughout the poem, which gives it a sense of urgency and danger. The phrase "I'll love you true" is also repeated several times, which emphasizes the young man's commitment to Mary.
Another poetic device that Service uses is imagery. He uses vivid descriptions to create a picture in the reader's mind. For example, he describes Mary's father as "a man of might and main," which gives the reader a sense of his strength and power. He also describes the young couple riding off into the sunset, which creates a romantic and hopeful image.
The themes of the poem are also worth exploring. One of the main themes is love and devotion. The young man is willing to risk everything to be with Mary, and he promises to love and protect her forever. This theme is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "I'll love you true." Another theme is the power of determination. The young man is determined to win Mary's heart, and he uses his wits and his bread knife to achieve his goal. This theme is reinforced by the description of Mary's father as "a man of might and main."
However, there are also some problematic themes in the poem. For example, the young man's actions could be seen as violent and abusive. He uses a bread knife to threaten Mary's father and force him to let them leave. This could be interpreted as a form of domestic violence, which is not a healthy or acceptable way to express love. Additionally, the poem reinforces traditional gender roles, with the young man being the aggressor and the protector, and Mary being the passive object of his affection.
In conclusion, The Bread-Knife Ballad is a classic poem by Robert Service that tells the story of a young man who falls in love with a woman who is already engaged to another man. The poem is written in ballad form, with a simple, repetitive structure that is easy to remember and sing. The language of the poem is simple and straightforward, but Service also uses poetic devices like repetition and imagery to add depth and emotion. The themes of the poem include love and devotion, determination, and traditional gender roles. However, there are also some problematic themes, such as violence and the reinforcement of traditional gender roles. Overall, The Bread-Knife Ballad is a fascinating and complex poem that is worth exploring in more detail.
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