Chapter XXVII: Canto VI: The Guard-room

What are the main themes in this canto?

1. The rough soldiers
2. Ellen presents the ring
3. The battle of Beal' an Duine
4. Death of Roderick
5. Ellen's request to James
6. Happiness of the Douglases and of Malcolm Graeme
7. Farewell to the Harp.

Why are the rough soldiers introduced? This
passage furnishes a good description of the
character of the soldiers, and shows the power
of Ellen's quiet dignity and modesty.

What is the value of the battle of Beal' an
Duine? It affords an opportunity to the valiant
Roderick to imagine himself in battle, so that
when death comes he does not realize that it
finds him a prisoner and his clan vanquished.

How does the poem end? Ellen, her father, and
Malcolm Graeme are united and happy, and
Fitz-James reveals his identity and shows his
magnanimity.

What should be read in connection with the last
three stanzas? The first three stanzas of the
poem. They are an Invocation to Scottish
minstrelsy. We now have the Farewell.

Which cantos do you consider are the best? The
first and the fifth.

Why? The first contains such wonderful
word-pictures and the fifth seems to be the
crisis of the story. The interest is not
sustained in the sixth canto, as one knows
matters are sure to be adjusted.