The narrative begins: Ayr, that evening
The opening stanza captures the atmosphere at the end of a busy market day. The first six lines create the sense of relaxed relief that follows a working day, but an ominous turning point comes in Line 7, We think na onâŠ
splitting the stanza in two.
The narrator then provides a list of the obstacles, put out of Tam's mind because he has been drinking, between the inn and home. The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles
.
There follows a portrait of the archetypal neglected and indignant wife, which shows a disconnection between the carousing male and the sober, reliable, isolated female. Gathering her brows like gathering storm
is a simile which foreshadows the weather ahead. Nursing her wrath to keep it warm
reminds us metaphorically of her responsible role in looking after the children and home, but transforms this into a picture of her as a symbol of vengeance.
The narrator returns to honest Tam
before gleefully repeating an entire lengthened, sage advice from Kate - he is a blethering, blustering, drunken blellum
. The combination of alliterationA sound feature; the repetition of the same sounds (mainly consonants) usually at the beginning of words., onomatopoeic heavy sounds and assonanceThe repetition of vowel sounds in a series of two or more words. convey her magnificent dismissal of him as a clumsy and self-deluding oaf. There follows her grim prophecy about his fate, which puts the idea of warlocks
and the auld, haunted kirk
of Alloway into our minds.
The tavern scene is memorable in itself. Its flowing feminine rhymes help to show this alcohol-fuelled evening racing along. The triumphant description of Tamâs friendship with Souter Johnny, They had been fou for weeks thegither
comes at the sceneâs mid point and sums up the drunken, comradely mock-heroic mood.
The second half is full of hints of dramatic irony as we doubt the sincerity of the landladyâs favours secret, sweet and precious
and the landlordâs ready chorus
of laughter. Believing this is genuine friendship is as foolish as ignoring the growing storm, which Tam does.
Next comes wonderful use of juxtaposition and contrast. Care is personified as a cautious companion who gives up trying to influence Tam and the word choice of glorious
and victorious
underline the sense of carefree celebration. However, as if remembering his moral duty, the speaker provides a list of similes in âpoeticalâ English, rather than Scots, advising that pleasures pass quickly: the rainbowâs lovely form/Evanishing amid the storm
.
The tone changes suddenly with the fateful metaphor:
Nae man can tether time nor tide
The hour approaches Tam maun ride
Alliteration ties tether
, time
, tide
and Tam
together and there is a feeling of monosyllabic doom of Tam maun ride
.