Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Overview

Girl of the Red-Gold Hair: Overview

“Girl of the Red-Gold Hair”: Overview

The Poem at a Glance

• Sorley MacLean’s ‘Girl of the Red-Gold Hair’ is a love lyric addressed to a woman whose identity is unknown.
• The poem represents the intensity of the poet’s love and his inner turmoil due to his resistance to feel such a potent emotion.
• Central to the poem is the red-gold hair of the woman which the poet uses to symbolise the strength and vibrancy of his love.

Structure and Style

• The poem does not follow a consistent rhyme scheme, reflecting the changeability and unpredictability of love.
• The descriptive language vividly paints a picture of the woman and the poet’s love for her, employing emotive and sensual imagery.
• MacLean’s use of natural imagery lends the poem an air of timelessness and universality, with references to landscape features like the mountains, the sea and the sky.

Theme of Love

• The most prominent theme within ‘Girl of the Red-Gold Hair’ is love, specifically unadulterated, passionate love.
• This deep love is shown to be all-consuming, overwhelming, and at times, unsettling for the poet.
• The love presented in the poem transcends physical beauty, suggesting a deeper emotional and spiritual connection.

Symbolism

• The woman’s vibrantly coloured hair is often referred to as ‘red-gold’, capturing both its physical appearance and its symbolic significance as a token of love and passion.
• Natural elements are frequently used as symbols to reflect the poet’s turbulent emotions and the intensity of his love.

Key Figures of Speech

• The repetition of ‘red-gold’ emphasises the poet’s fixation on the woman’s hair and by extension, his fascination and love for her.
• The poet uses simile when comparing the intensity of his love to the brightness of the sun.
• Exquisite imagery captures the natural beauty of the woman, thereby enhancing the reader’s understanding of the poet’s admiration and affection for her.