Characters
This character is the main love interest of the highwayman and dies tragically in the poem.
Who is Bess?
The highwayman comes to visit Bess at this time of night.
What is midnight?
The poem makes use of this device when describing the "tapping of the drums" and "the beating of the horse's hooves."
What is onomatopoeia?
The primary theme of the poem revolves around the intensity of this emotion between the highwayman and Bess.
What is love?
This word means "a strong rushing force often of water or air."
What is Torrent?
This character is the highwayman's enemy who betrays him and leads to Bess's death
Who is Tim, the ostler?
Bess sacrifices her life to warn the highwayman about this event.
What is the soldiers coming to capture him?
The highwayman is described as wearing a hat "with a feather of red," which is an sample of this literary device.
What is imagery?
The poem explores this dark and inevitable outcome, where violence and betrayal lead to tragedy.
What is death?
This word means "a heavy square rigged sailing ship."
What is Galleon?
The highwayman's horse, described as "a French one" in the poem.
What is a mare?
This is the tragic fate of Bess at end of the poem.
What is she shoots herself to warn the highwayman?
The use of "the moon was a ghostly galleon" is an example of this type of figurative language.
What is a metaphor?
This theme is highlighted by the highwayman's revenge after Bess's death.
What is loyalty or vengeance?
This word means "having a orange brown or yellow brown color."
What is Tawny?
The highwayman's occupation.
What is a highwayman/robber?
After Bess dies, the highwayman does this in response to her sacrifice.
What is he returns to the inn and is shot by the soldiers?
"Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard" an example of this literary device.
What is alliteration?
The poem presents the idea that this emotion can transcend death.
What is eternal love?
This word means " a man employed to look after the horses of people staying at an inn."
What is an Ostler?