“Waverley”

1. “Waverley” “The Hold of a Highland Robber”

2. “The Hold of a Highland Robber” The following passage is about Waverley’s visit to a Highland robber who is also a supporter of the Jacobite cause. Ex 1 Consider lines 1-32. Make notes about the setting in the chart below. sound light aspects of aspects of the landscape the people • silence; • chant of a • Gaelic song; • dash of the • oars; • hissing noise; • hum of voices • broader • redder more • irregular • splendour; • large fire; • red glaring • orb; • faintly and • partially • illuminated • by pallid • moonlight ; • red reflection • of its light • isle or mainland; • lake • huge dark crag or • rock rising abruptly • from the very edge • of the water; • jaws of a lofty • cavern; • mouth of the cave • two figures • four or five active • arms

3. Focus on the narrative technique. • Is the description based more on objective details or on sense impressions? • The passage is rich in objective detailsbut mainly coloured by Edward’s impressions since it is his viewpoint which dominates the narrative. For example, the phrase “dark crag or rock” conveys something of his anxiety. • What atmosphere is conveyed and through what linguistic and rhetorical devices? • The use of personification (e.g. “jaws”, line 17, “mouth” line 20), simile (“resembled the fiery ...” line 9) and the abundance of sense impressions contribute to an atmosphere of nervous expectation and fear. • From whose point of view is the scene described? Give evidence. • The scene is described from Waverley’s point of view, e.g. “Edward could not determine” (line 7), “he saw it” (lines 7-8),”Edward could discover” (line 15), “he conjectured” (line 18).

4. Does Waverley seem to be deeply and actively involved in the events? Support your answer. • The verbs and phrases used to describe the way Edward looks at things (see list in ex. c: “Edward could not determine” (line 7), “he saw it” (lines 7-8),”Edward could discover” (line 15), “he conjectured”) do not convey deep involvement. Moreover, he seems to be very passive when at his arrival he is lifted and carried into a cave (see lines 28-29). • Consider lines 33 – 47. Is the atmosphere of anxiety confirmed in the description of the interior of the cave? Give examples. • The atmosphere is confirmed in the way expectations are built up: e.g. Edwards first hears a hum of voices which seem to sound from the centre of a rock (lines 30 – 31); then, “the interior of the cave .... is illuminated by torches ..... which emit .... a bickering light” (line 33 – 34); afterwards, Edward sees a large charcoal fire, round which are seated five or six armed Highlanders, while others are... couched on their plaids” (lines 36 – 37); next, he sees the carcasses of a sheep, or ewe, and two cows slaughtered and hanging by their heels etc (lines 39 – 40). All these elements are used to increase the atmosphere of anxiety and fear in the guest as it is clearly said in lines 43 – 45 where we read: “ The profession which he (i.e. Donald Bean Lean) followed - the wilderness in which he dwelt – the wild-warrior forms that surrounded him, were all calculated to inspire terror”.

5. Consider lines 48 to the end. • Underline all the adjectives and phrases that refer to Donald Bean’s physical appearance. What effect does the description create after the previous expectations? • Adjectives and phrases that describe Donald Bean Lean : • “thin person”; • “low in stature”; • “with light sandy-coloured hair”; • “small pale features”: • “his form was light”; • “well proportioned and active”; • “a diminutive and insignificant figure”; • “with an old blue red uniform and a feather hat”. The rather ridiculous appearance of Donald Bean Lean creates a sort of anticlimax after Waverley’s initial expectations, which suggests that Waverley’s expectations were only a projection of his imagination. • What is Waverley’s reaction to the meeting ? • Waverley’s reaction to Donald Bean Lean’s enthusiastic welcome is rather reserved. He responds “with a very general reply”.

6. Consider the whole passage. What does it tell us about the Highlands and the Highlanders? The wildness of the Highland landscape and the primitiveness of the clan life are described vividly in the passage. The “dressing up” of Bean Lean to meet his English guest suggests a sense of inferiority on the part of the Highlanders towards the more refined and civilized English.