The Highwayman
Storyboard Text
- "The wind was a torrent of darkness upon the gusty trees, the moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas, the road was a ribbon of moonlight looping the purple moor."
- "And the highwayman came riding-- riding-- riding--- The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn door."
- "He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, and a bunch of lace at his chin; He'd a coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of fine doe-skin. They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to his thigh!"
- The poem "The Highwayman" opens with imagery of a road under a dark, cloudy sky. The road is surrounded by many trees and a ghostly fog. It wraps around open land covered in soil. The beginning of this poem creates a sense of mystery and entices the reader to want to know more about where this story takes place.
- "Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard, he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred, but the landlords black-eyed daughter-- Bess, the landlord's daughter-- plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair."
- The first character introduced in the poem is "The Highwayman." He rides with his horse along the dark road. And eventually he then arrives at an old Inn building.
- "Dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked where Tim, the ostler listened-- his face was white and peaked-- His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay, but he loved the landlords."
- 'Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day...'
- The Highwayman is dressed in a French hat and fancy lace. He also has a velvet coat and boots that reach up to his thigh. His clothing suggests that he is a rich man because he is able to afford such fine clothing.
- "'One kiss, my bonny sweetheart; I'm after a prize tonight, But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light. Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, then look for me by moonlight, watch for me by moonlight, ill come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way.'"
- '...watch for me by moonlight, ill come to thee by moonlight...'
- The Highwayman on his horse arrives at the Inn and taps on the shutters. He finds that they are all locked and barred but there is someone inside. This is the landlord's daughter, Bess, who is putting a red love-knot into her dark hair.
- Bess is not the only person in the Inn that night. Tim, the ostler is also there and he is listening into the room that the Highwayman had entered to find Bess. Tim is also in love with the daughter of the landlord and seems to be crazy for her. He is jealous that Bess does not return his affections and waits for the highwayman.
- The Highwayman loves Bess and tells her about his plans for the night. He will be going out in search of "a prize" and will return back to her the next morning. It seems that this prize is gold and that he might have trouble taking it. But if he is killed or captured, he tells her to wait for him by moonlight and that he will find a way to return back to her.
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