> Understanding the text
1. Complete the text with the words listed below.

eels • forest • gold and silver • heart • hell and fire • hunting • meet • mother • poisoned • true-love

Lord Randal has returned from hunting in the forest. His mother is waiting for him and sees that there is something wrong, he looks unwell. She questions him and learns where he has been. She suspects that he did not just go hunting but went to meet someone. He reveals that he met his true-love and that she gave him some eels to eat. Then he gave some of the meal to his animals, and they died. The mother concludes that Lord Randal has been poisoned. He agrees and says that not only is he sick but also sick at heart and wants to lie down. The mother is worried about the consequences of his death and wants to know what he will leave to his family. He replies that he will leave twenty milk cows to his mother, gold and silver to his sister, his houses and lands to his brother. When she asks him what his true-love will get, he answers he will leave her hell and fire.

> Closer reading
2. Answer the questions.

a. Is the story told in detail or in general terms?

The story is not detailed, probably to the ballad’s style indeed they had to be very simple in order to allow an easier memorization.

b. Which expressions in the first stanza hint at Lord Randal's death?

Wearied, in fact this expression hints at death because before dying we feel tired, we want to lie down.

c. The climax of the story is in the only stanza of the poem which does not contain a question. Identify it and explain why it marks an important turning point.

That’s the sixth stanza, here Lord Randal’s mother understands her son has been poisoned. It marks an important turning point because the core of the plot becomes a homicide.

d. The dialogue focuses on two topics. Which stanzas are about:

           • Lord Randal's meeting in the woods?
                     Stanzas two and three
           • Lord Randal's oral testament?
                     Stanzas seven, eight, nine and ten

3. Lord Randall's oral testament is very important because of the social class he belongs to.

a. Which words in the text point out his position in medieval society?

The fact he went to hunting, because it was a noble activity; then we have the number of possessions he quotes while the testament such as the cows and the lands.

b. Can you explain why a testament is important in this context?

Firstly, because the reader understands the richness of the protagonist, secondly, it’s useful to know Lord Randal’s family and its relationships.

4. Is the mother-son dialogue emotional or factual? Can you guess the characters' feelings? Give reasons.

The mother’s dialogue seems factual, she doesn’t seem to be sad while staring at the dying son. She appears totally interested, but not from the emotion aspect, indeed, the first thing she asks concerns the heredity. Moreover, the reader may be also led to consider the mother as a partner in crime of the true-love.

5. In the Middle Ages, woods and forests were considered as mysterious, dangerous places, often inhabited by supernatural creatures, wizards and witches. What does this suggest about Lord Randal's true-love, who lived in the greenwood?

The reader might identify the girl as a wicked witch thanks to the cultural medieval contest. Therefore, during Middle Ages, forests became places full of brigands and non-recommended people. Furthermore, the great growing of the trees created a dense undergrowth and usually darkness was associated to devil. These are the reasons why the mediaeval reader may interpret the true love as an evil creature.

6. Lord Randal thought that the woman he loved was "true" to him, but she betrayed him. What is the symbol of her false love?

The expression to be sick at the heart.

> Rounding it up
7. The table below summarises the typical features of the ballad. How does Lord Randal reflect them?
Complete the table with your notes.