Poetry · Chapter
Lovers explained
Two men, George and Jack, are startled by the sudden appearance of lovers emerging from a wood.
What happens
Two men, George and Jack, are startled by the sudden appearance of lovers emerging from a wood. The woman's striking contrast of white skin and black hair catches their attention, and they debate the man's intentions, noting he is unarmed. The woman runs off, prompting a reflection on the act of picking may blossoms.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Loss
The sudden appearance of lovers and the woman's flight evoke themes of fleeting romance and the complexities of desire.
Nature and the Seasons
The setting in a wood and the reference to 'picking may' (hawthorn blossoms) tie the encounter to the natural world and springtime.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator describes the scene and the reactions of the two men.
- Old Jack Noman
Jack is one of the two men in the road, commenting on the lovers and the man's lack of a gun.
Key passages
“The two men in the road were taken aback. The lovers came out shading their eyes from the sun, And never was white so white, or black so black, As her cheeks and hair.”
Two men on the road were surprised when a couple emerged from the woods, shielding their eyes from the sunlight. The woman's complexion was strikingly pale and her hair intensely dark.
Describes the sudden appearance of the lovers and the vivid contrast of the woman's features.
““There are more things than one A man might turn into a wood for, Jack,” Said George; Jack whispered: “He has not got a gun. It’s a bit too much of a good thing, I say. They are going the other road, look. And see her run.””
George remarked that there are many reasons a man might enter a wood, while Jack noted the man was unarmed and expressed that the situation was excessive. He pointed out that the couple was taking a different path and watched the woman run away.
Dialogue between George and Jack reveals their wariness and observation of the lovers' actions.