“The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad): A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

“The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad) first appeared in 1783 in Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, a collection compiled by Sir Walter Scott. The ballad’s main ideas revolve around two ravens discussing where to feast on the body of a slain knight. The knight’s hound and hawk have abandoned him, and his lady has taken another lover, leaving his corpse unguarded. The ravens plan to make a meal of his remains, even using his golden hair to line their nest. The ballad’s macabre theme of death and betrayal is paired with the cold indifference of nature, reflected in the ravens’ casual conversation about their grim feast. Its popularity as a textbook ballad stems from its simple, direct narrative style, vivid imagery, and the way it explores the stark realities of death and abandonment. As a piece of folklore, the ballad captivates with its bleak, yet starkly poetic portrayal of the human condition, making it an essential example of the traditional ballad form.

Text: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
The tane unto the t’other say,
‘Where sall we gang and dine to-day?’

‘In behint yon auld fail dyke,
I wot there lies a new-slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.

‘His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk, to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady’s ta’en another mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.

‘Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane,
And I’ll pike out his bonny blue een.
Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair,
We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.

‘Mony a ane for him makes mane,
But nane sall ken whare he is gane:
O’er his white banes, when they are bare,
The wind sall blaw for evermair.’

Annotations: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

Line	Annotation	Literary Devices
1. As I was walking all alane,	The speaker is walking alone, setting the tone of isolation.	Alliteration (repetition of “a”), Imagery (walking alone)
2. I heard twa corbies making a mane;	The speaker hears two crows making a sound, suggesting ominous events.	Alliteration (repetition of “m”), Personification (crows “making a mane”)
3. The tane unto the t’other say,	One crow speaks to the other, implying a conversation.	Dialect (use of “tane” for one), Personification (crows talking)
4. ‘Where sall we gang and dine to-day?’	The crows are planning where to go and eat.	Dialogue (direct speech), Personification (crows talking)
5. ‘In behint yon auld fail dyke,	One crow suggests they go behind an old stone wall.	Dialect (use of “yon” for “that”), Imagery (old stone wall)
6. I wot there lies a new-slain knight;	One crow knows about the dead knight’s body lying there.	Archaic language (“wot” for “know”), Imagery (dead knight)
7. And naebody kens that he lies there,	No one knows the knight is there, heightening the sense of secrecy.	Dialect (“naebody” for “nobody”), Imagery (hidden body)
8. But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.	The knight’s hawk, hound, and lady know, but have abandoned him.	Alliteration (“hawk,” “hound”), Contrast (nature vs. human betrayal)
9. ‘His hound is to the hunting gane,	The hound has gone hunting, abandoning the knight.	Alliteration (“hound,” “hunting”), Personification (hound “going hunting”)
10. His hawk, to fetch the wild-fowl hame,	The hawk is hunting for birds, further abandoning its owner.	Alliteration (“hawk,” “hame”), Personification (hawk “fetching”)
11. His lady’s ta’en another mate,	The knight’s lady has taken another lover.	Alliteration (“lady’s,” “ta’en”), Metaphor (lady as “mate”)
12. So we may mak our dinner sweet.	The crows plan to eat the knight’s body, indicating a grim satisfaction.	Metaphor (“mak our dinner sweet”)
13. ‘Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane,	One crow suggests sitting on the knight’s white neck bone.	Imagery (sitting on the bone), Symbolism (white = purity, death)
14. And I’ll pike out his bonny blue een.	The other crow will pick out the knight’s blue eyes.	Imagery (blue eyes), Alliteration (“pike,” “bonny”)
15. Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair,	The crows will use a lock of the knight’s golden hair for their nest.	Imagery (golden hair), Symbolism (gold = value, beauty)
16. We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.	They’ll line their nest with his hair when it becomes bare.	Metaphor (“theek our nest”), Symbolism (nest as a home, death in the nest)
17. ‘Mony a ane for him makes mane,	Many mourn the knight, but they don’t know where he is.	Alliteration (“many,” “makes”), Irony (mourning without knowing)
18. But nane sall ken whare he is gane:	No one will know where the knight’s body has gone.	Irony (knowing vs. not knowing), Foreshadowing (mystery of the knight’s fate)
19. O’er his white banes, when they are bare,	The wind will blow over the knight’s bones when they are uncovered.	Imagery (white bones), Personification (wind blowing)
20. The wind sall blaw for evermair.’	The wind will continue to blow forever, symbolizing the knight’s eternal loss.	Repetition (“blaw”), Symbolism (wind as eternal presence)

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

Literary Device	Example from Poem	Explanation
Allusion	“His lady’s ta’en another mate”	Implies the abandonment of the knight by his lady, a common theme in traditional ballads, referencing themes of betrayal.
Antithesis	“His hound is to the hunting gane” / “His hawk, to fetch the wild-fowl hame”	The contrast between the hound going hunting and the hawk fetching birds highlights the abandonment of the knight.
Assonance	“And naebody kens that he lies there”	Repetition of vowel sounds (“a”) in “naebody” and “kens” gives a smooth, flowing sound to the line.
Colloquial Language	“Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane”	The use of colloquial language, “ye’ll,” connects the dialogue to an everyday conversational tone.
Consonance	“His hound is to the hunting gane”	Repetition of consonant sounds (“h”) in “hound” and “hunting” creates a rhythm and emphasis.
Dialogue	“‘Where sall we gang and dine to-day?'”	The conversation between the two crows is an example of direct dialogue, making the poem feel more dynamic and engaging.
Imagery	“His hound is to the hunting gane”	The description of the hound hunting creates a visual image of abandonment, enhancing the theme of death and isolation.
Imagery	“And I’ll pike out his bonny blue een”	Vivid imagery of the crow picking out the knight’s blue eyes emphasizes the gruesome scene.
Irony	“Mony a ane for him makes mane”	The irony that people mourn for the knight but do not know where he lies adds depth to the theme of abandonment and loss.
Metaphor	“We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare”	The crow using the knight’s hair for their nest is a metaphor for life going on in the face of death and the cycle of nature.
Onomatopoeia	“making a mane”	The word “mane” mimics the sound that the crows might make, adding to the auditory experience of the poem.
Oxymoron	“new-slain knight”	The juxtaposition of “new” and “slain” creates a contrast that heightens the sense of tragedy.
Personification	“His hound is to the hunting gane”	The hound is personified by being described as “going hunting” as if it has intent, a human-like action.
Repetition	“O’er his white banes, when they are bare”	Repetition of “white” and “bare” creates a rhythmic and haunting effect, emphasizing the bare bones left behind after death.
Rhetorical Question	“Where sall we gang and dine to-day?”	The question posed by the crow reflects the casual, indifferent tone toward death, suggesting a dark sense of humor.
Simile	“Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane”	The crow’s sitting on the knight’s neck bone is compared to sitting on a “hause-bane,” a type of bone, emphasizing the grim nature of the scene.
Symbolism	“His lady’s ta’en another mate”	The knight’s lady taking another mate symbolizes betrayal and the abandonment of the knight, adding to the poem’s theme of death and loss.
Symbolism	“The wind sall blaw for evermair”	The wind blowing over the knight’s bones symbolizes the eternal passage of time and the unchanging nature of death, giving a sense of finality.

Themes: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

• Death and Abandonment: One of the central themes of “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad) is death and the isolation that accompanies it. The knight, who has been slain, is left alone and forgotten by those who should care for him. His hound has gone hunting, his hawk is fetching wildfowl, and his lady has taken another lover. The poem starkly illustrates how death leads to abandonment, not only by loved ones but also by the creatures that were once loyal to him. This theme is underscored by the chilling fact that the only beings that still take any interest in the knight are two crows, who are preparing to feast on his body. As the poem says, “naebody kens that he lies there, / But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair,” suggesting the profound loneliness of death. The knight’s abandonment by all other figures emphasizes the theme of death as an isolating, unceremonious event.
• Nature’s Indifference: Another prominent theme in “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad) is nature’s indifference to human suffering and death. In the poem, the crows speak without emotion or remorse as they discuss where they will dine on the knight’s remains. Nature is presented as a force that is unaffected by human emotions or struggles. The crows, who symbolize nature’s opportunistic side, talk matter-of-factly about their feast, with no regard for the knight’s fate or the grief of those who might have cared for him. The line, “The wind sall blaw for evermair,” reinforces the idea that, in death, the knight becomes part of an indifferent natural world, with the elements continuing their cycles regardless of human life. This theme portrays nature as both a life-giver and a taker, unmoved by human experiences of love, loyalty, and loss.
• Betrayal: Betrayal is a crucial theme explored in “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad). The knight’s lady, who should have been by his side, has instead chosen another mate, leaving him to die alone. The crows, in their conversation, reveal this cold betrayal: “His lady’s ta’en another mate.” This reflects the brutal abandonment of the knight not only by those who should have protected him but also by someone he trusted. The lady’s act of betrayal amplifies the harshness of the knight’s fate, illustrating the emotional and social consequences of human disloyalty. This theme of betrayal is also mirrored in the natural world, where loyalty is absent, and survival depends on opportunism and self-interest, as seen in the crows’ indifference to the knight’s death.
• The Cycle of Life and Death: The theme of the cyclical nature of life and death is evident throughout “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad), particularly in the crows’ use of the knight’s body to build their nest. “Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair, / We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.” This act represents the continuation of life through death. The knight’s remains, once symbols of life and human achievement, are now material for the crows to use for their own survival. This cycle is inevitable and indifferent, as death serves as a means for new life to emerge, much like the crows’ nest built from the knight’s hair. The poem highlights that death is not an end but rather a transition to something else, and nature continues its cycle, untroubled by the specific events or lives that pass through it. This theme suggests a bleak acceptance of the inevitability of death, where all things return to nature and are repurposed for the continuation of life.

Literary Theories and “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

Literary Theory	Explanation	References from the Poem
New Historicism	This theory examines historical context and how texts reflect the values and ideologies of their time. “The Twa Corbies” can be analyzed through the lens of the medieval period, focusing on death, survival, and abandonment. The social and historical realities of life and death in this period, where survival was uncertain and betrayal common, influence the ballad’s themes.	“His lady’s ta’en another mate,” highlights the historical view of betrayal and abandonment, prevalent in medieval society. The knight’s solitary death also reflects the harsh realities of the time.
Structuralism	Structuralism focuses on understanding the underlying structures that govern texts. In “The Twa Corbies,” the structure of the ballad—two crows discussing the knight’s death—follows a pattern of nature versus human actions, illustrating a binary opposition. This juxtaposition of nature’s indifference to human suffering suggests the cyclical nature of life and death.	The repetition of nature’s indifference: “The wind sall blaw for evermair,” creates a binary opposition between human life and nature’s ongoing cycles, central to structuralist analysis.
Feminist Theory	Feminist theory explores gender roles and the representation of women in literature. In “The Twa Corbies,” the lady’s betrayal of the knight is a key moment that reflects societal views on women’s roles, infidelity, and loyalty. This action can be analyzed as a commentary on the traditional role of women in medieval society.	“His lady’s ta’en another mate,” shows the betrayal and abandonment by the lady, which can be seen as a critique of women’s agency in relationships during the time.
Ecocriticism	Ecocriticism studies the relationship between literature and the natural environment. “The Twa Corbies” can be analyzed through ecocriticism by focusing on the natural world as both a force of life and death. The crows symbolize nature’s indifference, and the knight’s body becomes part of the natural cycle of life and decay.	“Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair, / We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare,” symbolizes nature’s recycling of life through death, an idea central to ecocriticism. The crows’ act of nest-building is a direct interaction with the natural world.

Critical Questions about “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

1. What is the significance of the knight’s abandonment by his companions in “The Twa Corbies”?
   The knight’s abandonment by his hound, hawk, and lady is crucial to understanding the theme of isolation in the ballad. The poem starkly contrasts the knight’s previous life, where he was presumably loved and cared for, with his grim fate in death. The abandonment by his hound and hawk, who go on their own separate paths of survival (“His hound is to the hunting gane, / His hawk, to fetch the wild-fowl hame”), underscores the idea that even loyal animals, once bound by duty, will abandon their master when death strikes. The final act of betrayal by his lady, who “ta’en another mate,” adds another layer of abandonment, suggesting that even love can be transient in the face of death. The knight is left entirely alone, with no one to mourn him or tend to his body, symbolizing the ultimate solitude that comes with death.
2. How does “The Twa Corbies” reflect the natural world’s indifference to human suffering?
   “The Twa Corbies” portrays nature as indifferent to human suffering and death, a perspective that highlights the brutality of existence. The crows, symbols of nature’s opportunistic side, discuss their feast on the knight’s body with no remorse or emotional attachment. Their casual conversation reveals the coldness with which they approach death: “Where sall we gang and dine to-day?” and “We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.” These lines reflect nature’s indifferent attitude toward death, where survival and continuation of life take precedence. The wind’s eternal blowing over the knight’s bones, “The wind sall blaw for evermair,” further exemplifies how nature moves on unceasingly, regardless of human loss. The poem suggests that human suffering and death are inconsequential to the natural world, which continues its cycle of life and decay.
3. What role does betrayal play in the ballad, and how is it represented?
   Betrayal is a central theme in “The Twa Corbies,” particularly in the knight’s abandonment by his lady. The knight’s lady, who should have remained faithful, has instead “ta’en another mate,” a cruel act of infidelity that leaves the knight abandoned and unavenged. This betrayal, while not explicitly stated in the poem, is implied as a harsh reality of life, showing that loyalty and commitment are fragile in times of crisis. The lady’s disloyalty amplifies the tragic loneliness of the knight’s death, contrasting sharply with the supposed love and loyalty he once received. The crows themselves, while not human agents of betrayal, serve as a symbol of nature’s opportunism, feeding off the knight’s remains without any remorse or guilt, suggesting that betrayal and abandonment are themes that transcend human relationships and pervade the natural world as well.
4. What does the imagery of the knight’s body being used by the crows symbolize in the poem?
   The imagery of the crows using the knight’s body for their nest in “The Twa Corbies” symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and death. The crows, creatures of nature, take what they need from the knight’s remains, using his golden hair to line their nest: “Wi’ ae lock o’ his gowden hair, / We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.” This act of repurposing the knight’s body for their own survival represents how death is a part of the larger natural cycle, where all things are eventually recycled into the ecosystem. The knight’s hair, once a part of his living identity, is now used for something as mundane as nest-building, reinforcing the idea that death serves as a transition to something else. This transformation of the knight’s body into a part of nature’s continuous cycle suggests the inevitable, impartial process of life and death, where human bodies become part of the environment that sustains other life.

Literary Works Similar to “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

1. “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe
   Similar to “The Twa Corbies,” both poems explore death, abandonment, and the presence of birds (ravens and crows) as symbols of mortality and the inescapable cycle of life and death.
2. “The Ballad of Reading Gaol” by Oscar Wilde
   Like “The Twa Corbies,” this ballad reflects on themes of death, isolation, and the harsh realities of human existence, underscored by the emotional detachment of nature and society.
3. “The Lament of the Border Widow” (Anonymous)
   Similar to “The Twa Corbies,” this poem focuses on abandonment, grief, and loss, with a strong connection to death and the sense of being forsaken by loved ones.
4. “The Deserted Village” by Oliver Goldsmith
   Both poems convey a sense of abandonment, though “The Deserted Village” focuses on the destruction of a village and its inhabitants, while “The Twa Corbies” examines personal betrayal and death.
5. “The Highwayman” by Alfred Noyes
   Similar to “The Twa Corbies,” “The Highwayman” portrays themes of love, betrayal, and death, where the knight’s tragic fate mirrors the untimely demise of characters in both ballads.

Representative Quotations of “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“As I was walking all alane,”	The narrator sets the scene, indicating loneliness and isolation, foreshadowing the knight’s abandonment in death.	Existentialism (focus on isolation and human experience)
“I heard twa corbies making a mane;”	The presence of the crows signals the impending death, emphasizing the natural world’s indifference to human suffering.	Ecocriticism (relationship between nature and human experience)
“Where sall we gang and dine to-day?”	The crows’ casual conversation about their meal highlights the indifference of nature to the consequences of human death.	Naturalism (human death as part of the natural world)
“In behint yon auld fail dyke,”	The description of the location behind an old wall sets the scene for the knight’s lonely death, adding to the theme of abandonment.	New Historicism (historical context of medieval society and its views on death)
“I wot there lies a new-slain knight;”	The crows reveal the knight’s body, symbolizing death’s finality and the disregard for the knight’s previous life.	Structuralism (death as a universal concept in ballad structures)
“And naebody kens that he lies there,”	The knight’s death is unnoticed by society, reinforcing the theme of abandonment.	Postmodernism (alienation and the idea of the invisible death)
“But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair.”	The knight’s companions have abandoned him, symbolizing the betrayal and isolation that death brings.	Feminist Theory (betrayal by the knight’s lady)
“His lady’s ta’en another mate,”	The knight’s lady’s infidelity is revealed, highlighting the theme of betrayal and the fragility of human relationships in the face of death.	Feminist Theory (disloyalty of women in traditional contexts)
“Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane,”	The crows plan to sit on the knight’s neck bone, emphasizing the grotesque repurposing of the human body in nature’s cycle.	Ecocriticism (nature repurposing human remains in the cycle of life)
“The wind sall blaw for evermair.”	The wind blowing over the knight’s bones symbolizes the eternal passage of time, suggesting that life continues while the knight is forgotten.	Philosophical Naturalism (inevitable passage of time and death)

Suggested Readings: “The Twa Corbies” (Traditional Ballad)

1. Montgomerie, William. “‘The Twa Corbies’.” The Review of English Studies 6.23 (1955): 227-232.
2. Hamer, Douglas. “‘The Twa Corbies.'” The Review of English Studies, vol. 23, no. 92, 1947, pp. 354–55. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/509679. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
3. Montgomerie, William. “‘The Twa Corbies.'” The Review of English Studies, vol. 6, no. 23, 1955, pp. 227–32. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/511203. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
4. BAGLOW, JOHN. “Twa Corbies.” Murmuration: Marianne’s Book, vol. 78, McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2023, pp. 56–56. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.6879734.53. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
5. Coffin, Tristram P. “‘Mary Hamilton’ and the Anglo-American Ballad as an Art Form.” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 70, no. 277, 1957, pp. 208–14. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/538318. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.