The Highwayman

The Highwayman

by Alfred Noyse

Learning Challenge

To be able to say how a poet uses figurative language

The poem is set in the 18th Century (the 1700s)when travelling by road was dangerous!

Highwaymen and women lay in wait for travellers! Their aim was to steal from anyone who passed by.

The Highwayman

by Alfred Noyse

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.   

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.   

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,   

And the highwayman came riding—

         Riding—riding—

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door

Glossary

torrent

noun

a strong and fast-moving stream of water or other liquid."rain poured down in torrents"

Galleon

A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by the nations of Europe from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with cannons.

Inn

An inn is a small hotel where travellers would stay to get food and rest.

Read the poem again and find the figurative language.

The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees.   

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas.   

The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,   

And the highwayman came riding—

         Riding—riding—

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door

Figurative language-the poet uses metaphors to describe the scene.He uses was to compare

• The wind was a torrent of darkness

• The moon was a ghostly galleon

• The road was a ribbon of moonlight,

Multiple Choice

When was the poem set?

• A In the present day

• B In the 19th Century

• C In the 18th Century

• D In Victorian Britain

Multiple Choice

What is a galleon?

• A type of food

• A type of boat

• A drink

• A hotel

Multiple Choice

What is the wind compared to?

• The rain and darkness

• A galleon

• The moon

Multiple Choice

In the poem the moon is...

• An old inn door

• A ghostly galleon

• A ribbon

Multiple Choice

What do you think "tossed upon stormy seas " means?

• The moon was bright

• The moon was small

• The clouds looked like the sea

You can read the whole poem here!

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43187/the-highwayman