# Legend of the Corrievrechan explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

Prince Breacan of Denmark, a lord of both land and sea, seeks to marry the Maid of the Isles but is challenged by her father to anchor his ship for three nights in a dangerous whirlpool. Guided by wise women, he constructs a cable from hemp, wool, and maidens' hair, with the golden strand binding the others. After the hemp and wool break on the first two nights, the hair cable holds until the golden strand snaps on the third morning, and Breacan's ship is lost.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love as Ultimate Strength

Breacan's quest is driven by love for the Maid of the Isles, and the cable of maidens' hair—symbolizing love and sacrifice—holds longest against the whirlpool.

### Suffering and Purification

Breacan endures three nights of storm and whirlpool, a trial that purifies his intent but ultimately leads to his loss.

## Character check-ins

### Prince Breacan

The Danish prince who attempts to win the Maid of the Isles by anchoring in the Corrievrechan whirlpool.

### Maiden

The Maid of the Isles, sought by Prince Breacan, whose father sets the whirlpool challenge.

### Lord

The lord of the Western Isles, father of the Maid, who demands Breacan hold his ship in the whirlpool for three nights.

## Key lines

> Make a cable of hemp and a cable of wool / And a cable of maidens’ hair, / And hie thee back to the roaring pool / And anchor in safety there.

Construct a rope from hemp, wool, and maidens' hair, then return to the whirlpool to secure your ship.

_The wise women's instructions for building the anchor cable._

> The golden strand in the cable stout / Was not all of maidens’ hair.

The golden strand that broke was not made entirely of maidens' hair, implying a flaw in its composition.

_The revelation that the golden strand's failure caused Breacan's doom._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/legend-of-the-corrievrechan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters