GCSE (9-1): Literature: Poetry: AQA Love and Relationships: The Farmer's Bride: Quotes

I chose a maid'

the verb 'chose' almost makes it sound like a business transaction; he chooses her as he would his cattle, seeing no need to woo her

Too young maybe'

Too is an adverb that can mean "excessively" - the farmer recognises that she may be excessively young but he does not consider this for more than a moment

Too young maybe - but more's to do'

he is a hopeless romantic; insensitive toward the young, frightened girl and ignorant of a woman's needs and humanity

'We caught her, fetched her home at last / And turned the key upon her, fast.'

The imagery suggests she is out of control and needed to be locked up; there seems to be an allusion to madness, which Victorians were preoccupied with

'Should properly have been abed;'

the farm people's expectations and actions are based on what "should properly" be done, a reference to convention

We chased her, flying like a hare'

Although they run after her and bring her home forcibly, they are acting, in their minds, according to what is socially, and even naturally, prescribed; they do not see it as cruel

We chased her, flying like a hare / Before our lanterns.'

the imagery of lanterns and hunting a woman at night is reminiscent of the witch hunts of the 1600s, which were mainly aimed at women

Happy enough to chat and play / With birds and rabbits and such as they, / So long as men-folk keep away'

the imagery paints a picture of a child ('too young, maybe'), someone who enjoys talking to animals and is afraid of men

Sweet as the first wild violets, she, / To her wild self. But what to me?'

ironically, the farmer cannot understand why his love for his bride is unrequited, despite forcing her to marry him, chasing her around the farm and locking her away

One leaf in the still air falls slowly down,'

Sad, lonely image — symbolises his sinking hope that she will ever come to him freely.

She sleeps up in the attic there / Alone, poor maid'

poor maid' suggests that he feels sympathetic towards her

the down, / The soft young down of her, the brown, / The brown of her - her eyes, her hair, her hair!'

the farmer's speech and syntax is unintelligible, which suggests panic - perhaps she has died in the attic after having being forgotten there