Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Charlie Is My Darling" is a Jacobite ballad written by Carolina Oliphant Nairne in the 19th century. The ballad tells the story of a young woman who is in love with Charles Stuart, also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, and her lamentations over his absence.

Context:

Carolina Oliphant Nairne was a Scottish poet who lived from 1766-1845. She is best known for her collection of Jacobite songs and poems, which express sympathy for the exiled Stuarts and the cause of Scottish independence. "Charlie Is My Darling" was written during a period of renewed interest in Jacobite history and culture in Scotland in the 19th century.

Content:

The ballad begins with the narrator declaring her love for Charlie, and expressing her sadness that he is absent from her. She longs for him to return to Scotland, and describes the joy that would come with his arrival. The second stanza describes the beauty of the Scottish landscape and the narrator's happiness in it, but notes that it is incomplete without Charlie's presence. In the third stanza, the narrator describes the love that Charlie's followers have for him, and declares that his enemies cannot stop their devotion. The final stanza expresses the narrator's hope that Charlie will return and the joy that would bring.

Form:

"Charlie Is My Darling" is written in ballad form, with four-line stanzas and a simple rhyme scheme (ABCB). The poem is structured around the repeated refrain "Charlie is my darling."

Poetic Elements:

The poem makes use of repetition, with the refrain "Charlie is my darling" serving as a unifying element. The use of natural imagery, such as "the lintwhite and the throstle-cock," creates a sense of the beauty of Scotland and the narrator's connection to it. The poem also employs alliteration, such as "the laverock lo'es the lift" and "braw bridal bed."

Summary:

"Charlie Is My Darling" is a poignant and emotional ballad that captures the longing of Jacobite sympathizers for the return of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Nairne's use of natural imagery and repetition helps to create a sense of the Scottish landscape and the narrator's deep attachment to it. Overall, the poem is a powerful expression of devotion to a lost cause and a reminder of the enduring legacy of the Jacobite movement in Scotland.

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