The slave dealer – Thomas Pringle - Full summary and Questions

The slave dealer – Thomas Pringle




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, The slave dealer – Thomas Pringle

R Line Analysis
Stanza 1:
 Tone: despondent/ hopeless
1 From ocean's wave a Wanderer came,  The poem introduces a Wanderer, who arrives from the sea. The
Wanderer represents the slave dealer. From a boat on the ocean
the slave dealer came. He felt lost after his antics at sea.
 Ocean’s wave : suggests that the slave trade happened at sea.
 “Wanderer:” A person who travels aimlessly.
 W- Alliteration suggests that the slave trade happened at sea.
 Metaphor: The Wanderer came from the ocean- typically where
slave trade took place. As if riding wave.
 Metaphor: slave trader compared to wanderer to emphasise the
extreme loss he feels- albeit the guilt.
 Imagery: Imagery provokes feelings of sadness, shock, or
disbelief ‘wanderer’ (image of no purpose)
2 With visage tanned and dun:  “Dun”: A dull greyish-brown colour.
 “Visage”: A person’s face, with reference to the form and
proportions of the features.
 “tanned” : Grey-brown colour
 His appearance is tanned, and his features are plagued with years
of harshness by the weather, by his job
 Metaphor : The Wanderer's face is described as "tanned and
dun," using metaphor to compare his complexion to the colour of
tan and dun, possibly symbolizing the effects of his morally dark
deeds. The Wanderer's face is described as tanned and dark,
possibly reflecting the effects of exposure to the sun.
3 His Mother, when he told his name,  Metaphor: metaphor for all the mothers of the colonialists who
took part in slave trade. The mothers did not approve what their
sons were doing. The Wanderer reveals his identity to his mother,
who barely recognizes her long-lost son due to the drastic
changes in his appearance caused by the immoral life he has led.
4 Scarce knew her long-lost son;  “Scarce”: Did not recognise him. Left young, now a man.
 “Long lost son“: Biblical reference.
 Metaphor : Son has been away for a long time. Biblical reference.
Her son has been away for a long time. The mother can barely
recognize her son because he has been transformed physically
and morally by his actions, and the harshness of the sun has
altered his outward appearance.
 l-Alliteration – emphasizes that her son have been away for a
long time
5 So altered was his face and frame  The Wanderer's face and body have undergone significant
changes, indicating the impact of his immoral activities.
 “So altered”: To change in a small, but significant way.
 f-Alliteration: His journey’s was harsh, took a toll on his outward
appearance as well. His journey’s was harsh, took a toll on his
outward appearance as well.




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