IV. Study of the Poem as a Whole
Setting.—When and where did the events of this story take place?
Are we interested in the descriptions because they are beautiful, or because of historical associations?
What caused the trouble between the Highlanders and the Lowlanders?
What do you learn from the poem about Highland hospitality? (See Canto I, lines 576-601; II, 585-604, etc.) Customs of dress? (I, 362-372; II, 534-539; III, 478-499, etc.) Devotion to leaders? (III, 410-451; IV, 397-400, etc.) Superstition of the people? (III, 123-178; IV, 79-99.)
What foundation in fact was there for James's treatment of Douglas (V, 609-631), and for Ellen's visit to court? (VI.) (See Introduction to The Lady of the Lake, pp. 27-31.)
Plot.—How is the story introduced?
At the end of Canto I what do we think the story is to be?
What is brought into Canto II to complicate the plot or to make it less simple?
How is the main action of Canto III foreshadowed in Canto II?