Question 1
What does the young man mean by “great honey-coloured / Ramparts at your ear”? Why does he say that young men are “thrown into despair” by them?
Meaning: The “great honey-coloured ramparts” refer to Anne Gregory’s beautiful yellow hair that falls over her ears. The poet uses a metaphor, comparing her hair to the high walls (ramparts) of a castle or fort.
Reason for Despair: Just as ramparts protect a fort and prevent people from looking inside, Anne’s beautiful hair “protects” her inner self. Young men are so captivated by her physical beauty (her hair) that they cannot look beyond it to see her true character or soul. They fall in love with her looks, not her real self, which causes despair because such love is superficial.
Reason for Despair: Just as ramparts protect a fort and prevent people from looking inside, Anne’s beautiful hair “protects” her inner self. Young men are so captivated by her physical beauty (her hair) that they cannot look beyond it to see her true character or soul. They fall in love with her looks, not her real self, which causes despair because such love is superficial.
Question 2
What colour is the young woman’s hair? What does she say she can change it to? Why would she want to do so?
Current Colour: Her hair is yellow (honey-coloured).
Change to: She says she can dye it brown, black, or carrot.
Reason: She wants to show that her external beauty is temporary and changeable. She desires to be loved for “herself alone” (her inner personality and heart) and not merely for her yellow hair or physical attractiveness.
Change to: She says she can dye it brown, black, or carrot.
Reason: She wants to show that her external beauty is temporary and changeable. She desires to be loved for “herself alone” (her inner personality and heart) and not merely for her yellow hair or physical attractiveness.
Question 3
Objects have qualities which make them desirable to others. Can you think of some objects (a car, a phone, a dress…) and say what qualities make one object more desirable than another? Imagine you were trying to sell an object: what qualities would you emphasise?
People desire objects because of their qualities or utility. For example:
Selling Strategy: If I were selling a phone, I would emphasize its durability and performance (internal qualities) rather than just its color or look (external qualities), similar to how Anne wants to be valued for her internal worth.
- A Car: Speed, safety, design, brand value.
- A Phone: Camera quality, battery life, screen resolution.
- A Dress: Fabric, color, fit, style.
Selling Strategy: If I were selling a phone, I would emphasize its durability and performance (internal qualities) rather than just its color or look (external qualities), similar to how Anne wants to be valued for her internal worth.
Question 4
What about people? Do we love others because we like their qualities, whether physical or mental? Or is it possible to love someone “for themselves alone”? Are some people “more lovable” than others? Discuss this question in pairs or in small groups, considering points like the following.
(i) A parent or caregiver’s love for a newborn baby, for a mentally or physically challenged child, for a clever child or a prodigy
A parent’s love is perhaps the closest human example of loving someone “for themselves alone.” A mother loves her newborn or a challenged child unconditionally, regardless of their abilities, looks, or intelligence. This love is instinctive and selfless.
(ii) The public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker
This love is usually conditional. It is based on their “yellow hair” (external qualities)—their acting skills, athletic ability, charisma, or good deeds. If they lose these qualities, the public’s love often fades.
(iii) Your love for a friend, or brother or sister
This is a mix. We love them for their qualities (humor, kindness) but also share a bond that goes deeper than surface traits. However, as the poem suggests, true unconditional love that ignores all external attributes is extremely rare among humans and is attributed only to God.
A parent’s love is perhaps the closest human example of loving someone “for themselves alone.” A mother loves her newborn or a challenged child unconditionally, regardless of their abilities, looks, or intelligence. This love is instinctive and selfless.
(ii) The public’s love for a film star, a sportsperson, a politician, or a social worker
This love is usually conditional. It is based on their “yellow hair” (external qualities)—their acting skills, athletic ability, charisma, or good deeds. If they lose these qualities, the public’s love often fades.
(iii) Your love for a friend, or brother or sister
This is a mix. We love them for their qualities (humor, kindness) but also share a bond that goes deeper than surface traits. However, as the poem suggests, true unconditional love that ignores all external attributes is extremely rare among humans and is attributed only to God.