William Morris, "The Haystack in the Floods"

1. Why do you think this title was chosen?
2. What do you make of the opening questions? What is symbolic in the fact that she was forced to part without a kiss?
3. Does the opening section prepare the reader for the events which follow? At what point can we tell the setting and main events of the story?
4. What are poem's rhyme scheme and rhythms? How do they contribute to its pace and tone?
5. What is the effect of narrating the story from Jehane's point of view, rather than Robert's?
6. Which of her reactions are emphasized in the second stanza, and how may this be intended to affect the reader?
7. What do we learn of Robert's character from his response to danger? Of hers? What fate does she fear, and is this fear justified?
8. In line 61 we learn the political situation which determines the lovers' fate. What is this conflict, and on which side are Robert and Jehane?
   
   Why might the young Morris have considered this a historically interesting situation?
9. What causes Robert's capture?
10. What do we learn about Godmar's character from the ultimatum he gives to Jehane?
11. What do you think of her refusal, and of the grounds she gives for not yielding/saving her lover's life? Do you think the author/poem is sympathetic to her position?
12. What physical responses indicate Jehane's state of mind? Is her threat to Godmar effective? Does it surprise you? What counterthreat does he make?
13. What is added by the detail that Jehane falls asleep before giving her final decision?
14. Is the murder narrated well? Which details make it especially horrible?
15. Why does Jehane gaze at her hands? Why do you think this is the last we see of her? Has she gone mad, and if so, why does the poem say, "as if this thing had made her mad," rather than, "because this thing had made her mad"?
16. In the fictive world of the poem, what do you think most probably happened to Jehane and Godmar?
17. Why do you think the poet chose to end the poem at this point? Do you think this was a good decision?
18. Is this an effective poem? If so, why?