Q&A from Lochinvar by Sir Walter Scott

1. What do learn about Lochinvar from the first verse? From the first verse, we learn that Lochinvar had just come out of the West and had a good steed that served him throughout his long journey on the Border. We also learn that he had no weapons besides his broadsword, he was riding unarmed and all alone and he was faithful in love and dastardly in war.

2. Read the lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry. What was the cause of the hurry. The lines that tell you Lochinvar was in a great hurry are: “He staid not for brake, and he stopp’d not for stone, He swam the Eske river where ford there was none.”
He was in a hurry to get to Netherby Hall.

3. What was happening at Netherby Hall? The wedding for Lochinvar’s love – Ellen was happening at Netherby Hall.

4. Why did the bride’s father question Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18? The father questioned Lochinvar as he did in lines 17 and 18 because the bridegroom hadn’t said anything and the father wanted to know if Lochinvar was there to watch the wedding in peace, if he had come to make a fuss and ruin the wedding or if he had just come to dance and enjoy himself.

5. What did Lochinvar say he had come to do? Was he speaking the truth or was he being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer? Explain. Why do you think he rode he rode all unarmed and he rode all alone?

Lochinvar said he had come to dance one dance and have one cup of wine. He was being careful not to give the bride’s father a direct answer because he knew the brides father would not approve of his plans and would kick him out of the wedding right then. I think he rode unarmed and alone because he was not going to the wedding to fight but instead wed and he was alone because he didn’t need anyone else to ride with him and because he was going about his private love life.

6. How do you think the bride felt about Lochinvar? Read the lines which tell you.
I think the bride felt the same way Lochinvar felt about her. She loved him just as much but didn’t show it as he did. The lines which tell me are : “ She look’d down to blush, she look’d up to sigh, With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye”.

7. What were the different onlookers doing while Lochinvar danced with the bride? What did he do with the bride?

While Lochinvar danced with the bride, the bride’s mother was fretting and her father was very angry, the bride’s rightful groom was simply shocked and the bridesmaids were wispering about how they didn’t think Lochinvar was the right choice for the bride. Lochinvar quickly ran out of the hall and mounted upon his steed with her.

8. Who are Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves?
The Grames, Forsters, Fenwicks and Musgraves were all different families that had gone to see what was happening and who chased Lochinvar to try and get him to return the bride.

9. What happened at the end?
In the end Lochinvar eluded all the people who were chasing him and finally got to be with his true love Ellen.