Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Hogg (1770-1835) was a Scottish poet and novelist, often referred to as the "Ettrick Shepherd" due to his humble origins as a shepherd. He was a contemporary of poets such as William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and is best known for his contributions to the Romantic literary movement. "Queen Mary's Return to Scotland" was published in 1819 and is part of Hogg's collection of poems titled "The Queen's Wake". The poem is based on the historical event of Mary, Queen of Scots, returning to Scotland after years of exile in France.

Content:

"Queen Mary's Return to Scotland" is a narrative poem that tells the story of Mary, Queen of Scots, as she returns to her homeland after many years of living in France. The poem begins with Mary's departure from France, and describes her journey across the sea to Scotland. As she arrives on Scottish soil, Mary is greeted by the people who have gathered to welcome her back. The poem goes on to describe Mary's emotions as she returns to her homeland and the sense of nostalgia she feels for the country she left behind.

Form:

The poem is written in rhymed couplets and is structured in a way that resembles a ballad. The lines are written in iambic tetrameter, with four stressed syllables per line, which creates a regular and rhythmic flow to the poem.

Poetic Elements:

Hogg makes use of vivid imagery and personification throughout the poem, as he describes the Scottish landscape and the emotions felt by Mary. The sea is personified as a living creature, with "waves that rose in angry might" and "billows bursting into spray". Hogg also uses imagery to create a sense of the Scottish landscape, describing "mountain high" and "darkling glen", and personifies the land itself as "Scotland's rocks".

Summary:

"Queen Mary's Return to Scotland" is a well-crafted poem that captures the sense of emotion and nostalgia that would have been felt by Mary, Queen of Scots, upon her return to Scotland. Hogg's use of vivid imagery and personification helps to bring the landscape and characters to life, and the regular and rhythmic flow of the poem adds to its ballad-like quality. The poem also highlights Hogg's talent for storytelling and his ability to weave historical events into his poetry in an engaging and meaningful way. Overall, "Queen Mary's Return to Scotland" is a fine example of Hogg's contributions to the Romantic literary movement and Scottish poetry.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...