Question

Which pair of lines in this excerpt from Walter Scott’s "Lochinvar" brings out the theme of courageous heroism?

O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,
Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;
And save his good broadsword he weapons had none,
He rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,
There never was knight like the young Lochinvar.

He staid not for brake, and he stopp'd not for stone,
He swam the Eske river where ford there was none;
But ere he alighted at Netherby gate,
The bride had consented, the gallant came late:
For a laggard in love, and a dastard in war,
Was to wed the fair Ellen of brave Lochinvar.

So boldly he enter'd the Netherby Hall,
Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword,
(For the poor craven bridegroom said never a word,)
"O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war,
Or to dance at our bridal, young Lord Lochinvar?"

"I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied;—
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide—
And now I am come, with this lost love of mine,
To lead but one measure, drink one cup of wine.
There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."

A) He rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war

B) Among bride's-men, and kinsmen, and brothers and all:
Then spoke the bride's father, his hand on his sword

C) "I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied;—
Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide—

D) There are maidens in Scotland more lovely by far,
That would gladly be bride to the young Lochinvar."

Answer 1

he rode all unarm'd, and he rode all alone.

Answer 2

Heroism has been a recurrent topic used in literature for centuries, but most tyipically in novels. The definition, in itself, is a person who dares to undertake actions that far surpass the capacities of normal human beings. Be it through physical strength, daring actions that defy basic and natural human fear, or through moral actions and decisions that surpass the baseline actions of people, heroes are those who are constantly portrayed as being, in some form, superior to others. In this particular poem, written by Sir Walter Scott, in his "Ballads: Netherby Halls Lochinvar", the image of a hero, especially a courageous one, is put forth through the description of a man who dare to face danger and hardship to claim his loved one. The correct answer in this case then is: A: He rode all unarm´d, and he rode all alone, So faithful in love, so dauntless in war because it shows a man who fears nothing and faces everything just to get where he wants and needs to be, despite the danger that he might face and also because of the mention of how he behaves when in battle, without any fear. This, as said before, is the definition of a courageous hero.