“Barbara Allen” analysis

1. “Barbara Allen” analysis Noah-Greggory Holston Avery

2. This poem is a folk ballad • Rather than having a singular author, it was passed down by oral tradition until it was eventually recorded as a poem.

3. The Genre is Ballad • A ballad is a poem telling a story that usually involves or ends with the death of the main characters

4. Interpretation • A man is dying and asks for the company of his beloved. She comes but leaves him to die without her because she was scorned or offended by him. He dies as she walks away and she commits suicide from grief. She is buried alongside him and over her grave a bramble grow while a rose grows over his and they grow into knots together, symbolizing their love even after death.

5. Theme • Forgive swiftly, for tomorrow you may lose your chance, and live with the guilt and regret.

6. Difficult words • I found none of the words or phrases in this poem especially challenging or even moderately so, as I have read poetry of this level for over a decade.

7. Allusions • This poem lacks them.

8. Modern translation. • So this guy was dying, and he wanted his ex wife to be there for him and sent his buddy to get her. She drove over and saw he was about to die. She said, “whatever, should have thought of this when you slept around.” She leaves and drives away. As she does she gets a call that he died saying her name in his fever. She feels bad and drives off a bridge. They are buried together and have stuff planted on their graves to symbolize their love.