Lord Ullin's Daughter

Lord Ullin's Daughter

1.‘And I'll give thee a silver pound to row us over the ferry!’

a) Who said this to whom?

b) Whom were they running away from?

a) The lover, the chief of Ulva's tribe said this to the boat man.

b) Lord Ullin

2. ‘By this the storm grew loud apace. The water wraith was shrieking.’

a) Why was the storm terrifying?

b) What does the 2nd line mean?

a) They had to cross the loch and this was dangerous during a storm.

b) The water wraith is the water ghost or spectre. The poet is describing

the loud noise made by the storm and the water.

3. ‘I'll meet the raging of the skies

But not an angry father,’

a) Why is the father angry?

b) How does she meet the raging of the skies?

a) The daughter has chosen to marry the chief of Ulva’s isle. Lord Ullin is

unhappy with the choice.

b) She goes into the loch or lake in a boat during a terrible storm.

4. ‘The boat has left a stormy land

A stormy sea before her’

a) Why is the land said to be stormy?

b) Why is the sea stormy?


a) Lord Ullin, has a bad temper. He is chasing his daughter and her lover

and is prepared to kill him. So the land is 'stormy'.

b) The weather has suddenly changed. There is a strong tempest.

5. ‘When O! too strong for human hand,

The tempest gathered around her’

What do these lines mean?

The wind and rain was strong and soon overturned the boat. The

humans in the boat could not save themselves.

6. 'Twas vain: the loud waves lashed the shore

Return or aid preventing’

a) What was in vain?

b) What does line 2 convey?

a) Lord Ulin called out to his daughter that he forgave her, and he

accepted her lover. This was in vain.

b) It was not possible for the boat to return, nor was it possible for Lord

Ullin's men to help those in the boat.

What do you know about the boatman?

The boatman is a brave and loyal man. He offers to help his chief in

times of danger. He is chivalrous as he offers to do it free for the lady.

8. What kind of a man is Lord Ullin?

He is a strong and authoritative man. He has many soldiers and expects

his daughter to obey his orders. He cannot accept a poor chief's son as

his daughter's lover. But he also loves his daughter dearly.

9. Do you think the punishment received by Lord Ullin is justified?

Lord Ullin loved his daughter dearly. He was harsh and he considered

her choice of a husband as unworthy of her. The death of the daughter is

a harsh punishment for him.

10. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

‘A Chieftain, to the highlands bound,

Cries, 'Boatman, do not tarry!

And I'll give thee a silver pound,

To row is o'er the ferry!'

a) Who is the 'chieftain' here?

b) What does the Chieftain tell the boatman?

c) Why is the Chieftain in such a hurry?

a) The 'Chieftain' is the chief of Ulva's isle. He is with his beloved, Lord

Ullin's daughter.

b) The Chieftain tells the boatman not to linger and waste time, to hurry

and take them in his boat.

c) The Chieftain is in a tearing hurry because Lord Ullin along with his

armed men, have been chasing them. Both have eloped and Lord Ullin

does not like that fact and wants to get his daughter back.