Edward, Edward
(A Scottish Ballad)
By Anonymous
‘Why does your sword so drip with blood,
Edward, Edward?
Why does your sword so drip with blood?
And why so sad are ye, O?’
‘O, I have killed my hawk so good,
Mother, mother:
O I have killed my hawk so good:
And I had no more but he, O.’‘Your hawk’s blood was never so red,
Edward, Edward:
Your hawk’s blood was never so red,
My dear son I tell thee, O.’
‘O, I have killed my red-roan steed,
Mother, mother:
O, I have killed my red-roan steed,
That once was so fair and free, O.’‘Your steed was old, and we have got more,
Edward, Edward:
Your steed was old, and we have got more,
Some other evil ye fear, O.’
‘O, I have killed my father dear,
Mother, mother:
O, I have killed my father dear,
Alas! and woe is me, O!’‘And what penance will ye suffer for that,
Edward, Edward?
And what penance will ye suffer for that?
My dear son, now tell me, O.’
‘I’ll set my feet in yonder boat,
Mother, mother:
I’ll set my feet in yonder boat,
And I’ll fare over the sea, O.’‘And what will ye do with your towers and your halls,
Edward, Edward?
And what will ye do with your towers and your halls,
That were sae fair to see, O?’
‘I’ll let them stand till they down fall,
Mother, mother:
I’ll let them stand till they down fall,
For here never more may I be, O.’‘And what will ye leave to your children and your wife,
Edward, Edward?
And what will ye leave to your children and your wife
When ye go over the sea, O?’
‘The world is large, let them beg through life,
Mother, mother:
The world is large, let them beg throw life,
For them never more will I see, O.’‘And what will ye leave to your own mother dear,
Edward, Edward?
And what will ye leave to your own mother dear?
My dear son, now tell me, O.’
‘The curse of hell from me shall you bear,
Mother, mother:
The curse of hell from me shall you bear,
Such counsels you gave to me, O.’
Summary of Edward, Edward
- Popularity of “Edward, Edward”: The poetic piece translated from Scottish, “Edward, Edward” into modern English was written by some anonymous Scottish folk writer whose identity has not been verified as yet. It first appeared in its present shape without translation in Reliques of Ancient Poetry as edited by Thomas Percy, a bishop. The first edition of this collection appeared as back as in 1765. Percy, however, reports that Sir David Dalrymple dispatched him this ballad who stated that he heard some Scottish lady singing it. The ballad narrates the beautiful conversation between a son and a mother, who admonishes her son about the patricide and his future plan.
- “Edward, Edward” As a Representative of Mother-Son Relationship: Although the ballad has been interpreted from several perspectives, the major story lies in its mother-son dialogue. The son has come home with his sword soaked in blood at which the mother inquires him about the reason. He first states that he has killed a hawk and when his mother does not believe, he states that he has killed their steed. She does not believe in that story either. The mother strongly admonishes him to speak the truth at which he states that he has killed his father. His mother becomes aghast at this patricide and asks him what would become of their halls, towers, and other property and what he would leave for his family. The son replies that the world is too much before him and that his family members would go and beg in the world but the mother curses him to go to hell for this crime.
- Major Themes in “Edward, Edward”: Mother-son relationship, patricide and future concerns are three major themes of this ballad. Although mother and son are conversing with each other about the crime that the son has committed, it is clear that mother is worried about the future of her son and his family. However, she also knows that her son has committed a grave sin, as well as a crime and how he would cope with it, is a question of significance. When the son states that he has a future plan, she curses him to go to hell with the claim that she got the same counsel from her son.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Edward, Edward”:
literary devices are tools used to better poetic writing. The analysis of these devices in the ballad as given below shows this fact.
- Anaphora: It is a device in which some words or phrases are repeated in successive clauses or verses such as “Why does your sword…”, “O, I have killed…” and “Your steed was old…”
- Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /o/ in “Why does your sword so drip with blood?”, /a/ in “O I have killed my hawk so good” and the sound of /e/ in “O, I have killed my red-roan steed.”
- Apostrophe: The apostrophe is a device that shows the poet calling some dead or living person or thing or object or an idea such as “O, I have killed my hawk so good” or “My dear son I tell thee, O.”
- Alliteration: It is the use of successive consonant sounds in the initials of the successive words such as /s/ in “sword so”, /r/ in “red-roan” and /w/ in “what will.”
- Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /s/ and /d/ in “Why does your sword so drip with blood”, /d/ and /r/ in “’Your hawk’s blood was never so red,” and the sound of /t/ and /s/ in “’And what will ye do with your towers and your halls.”
- Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. The ballad shows the use of imagery such as “’The world is large, let them beg through life”, “’And what will ye do with your towers and your halls” and “I’ll let them stand till they down fall.”
- Juxtaposition: The ballad shows the juxtaposition of opposite ideas such as “I’ll let them stand till they down fall” which means standing and falling have occurred together.
- Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The ballad shows the use of metaphor such as the blood, begging and falling.
- Personification: The poet has shown the use of air and old walls as if they have life and emotions of their own. He has personified them.
- Rhetorical Question: Rhetorical question is a question that is not asked to receive an answer; it is just posed to make the point clear. The ballad shows the use of a rhetorical question such as;
‘Why does your sword so drip with blood,
Edward, Edward?
Why does your sword so drip with blood?
And why so sad are ye, O?’
- Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the literal meanings. The ballad shows the use of the symbols of hawk, killing, blood, steed and towers to show the old conventions of Scotland.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Edward, Edward”
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
- Diction and Tone: The ballad has very good figurative language, poetic diction, and a serious tone.
- Rhyme Scheme: The ballad follows the ABACDEDC rhyme scheme that lasts until the end.
- Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some verse. There are seven stanzas with each having eight verses.
- Repetition: The ballad shows several repetitions such as;
Why does your sword so drip with blood.
O I have killed my hawk so good.
Your hawk’s blood was never so read.
Your steed was old, and we have got more.
Quotes to be Used
These lines from “Edward, Edward” are relevant to use when teaching about the family relations to the young generation.
‘And what will ye leave to your own mother dear,
Edward, Edward?
And what will ye leave to your own mother dear?
My dear son, now tell me, O.’
