Poetry · Chapter
The Gypsy explained
The narrator encounters a Gypsy woman and her brother at a Christmas fair, giving them tobacco and witnessing the boy's lively music.
What happens
The narrator encounters a Gypsy woman and her brother at a Christmas fair, giving them tobacco and witnessing the boy's lively music. The encounter leaves a lasting impression, evoking a sense of mystery and otherworldliness as the narrator reflects on the Gypsy's wild, dark eyes and the haunting tune 'Over the hills and far away.'
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional peak occurs when the speaker, despite physical pain from the storm, experiences a transcendent m…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Place and Belonging
The Gypsy's transient life contrasts with the settled fair, evoking a sense of wandering and not belonging.
- Solitude and Reflection
The narrator's solitary search of the hollow wooded land after the fair, feeling like a 'ghost new-arrived,' emphasizes introspection.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The narrator who interacts with the Gypsy woman and boy, reflecting on the encounter.
- The Huckster
Mentioned among the fair's figures, including farmer, auctioneer, cheap-jack, balloon-man, and drover.
Key passages
“My gentleman, said one, you've got a lucky face.”
A Gypsy woman tells the narrator he has a fortunate appearance.
The Gypsy woman's opening remark to the narrator.
“Over the hills and far away.”
A phrase from the Gypsy boy's music, suggesting distant, wild places.
The tune played by the Gypsy boy on his mouth-organ.
“That night he peopled for me the hollow wooded land, More dark and wild than stormiest heavens, that I searched and scanned Like a ghost new-arrived.”
The Gypsy boy's image filled the dark, wooded landscape for the narrator, who felt like a newly arrived ghost exploring it.
The narrator's haunting vision after the fair.
