Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Form and Structure

“Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Form and Structure”

Stanzas and Rhyme

• MacLean employs a four-stanza structure for this poem, with each stanza consisting of four lines, thus creating a concise and compact form.
• There is a regular rhyme scheme following an ABBA format, giving the poem a sense of balance and harmony. This mirrors the poet’s idealized vision of the girl with red-gold hair.
• The regularity of the form is juxtaposed with the intensity and depth of the emotions expressed, creating a subtle tension within the poem.

Rhythm and Pace

• The lines frequently end in one-word or short phrases, giving a punchy rhythm and aiding the emotional impact.
• The enjambment in the third and fourth stanzas creates a swift pace, mirroring the intensity of the poet’s feelings and the hastiness of their expression.
• The natural rhythm of the poem reflects MacLean’s deep and passionate emotion for the girl, making the poem feel earnest and sincere.

Use of Repetition

• The repetition of “red-gold” and key emotional words adds emphasis and allows the poem deeply entrenched in the motifs of love and passion.
• Repetition also works to create an incantatory, almost hypnotic effect, mirroring the poet’s captivation with the girl’s beauty.
• By repeating phrases and words, MacLean also underscores the idea of constant, enduring love, reinforcing the emotional depth of the poem.

Balance and Symmetry

• The perfect symmetry of the structure reflects the sense of perfection the poet associates with the girl, further enhanced by the regular rhyme scheme.
• The mirrored structure also serves to intensify the impact of the poem’s ending, as the final echoing sentiment harks back to its beginning.
• Even though the passion expressed in the poem is overwhelming, the highly structured form offers balance, reflecting the composer’s attempt to contain and harness these powerful emotions.