Poems

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Narrative Poetry

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A summary of ‘The Inchcape Rock’ by Robert Southey
These are in the right order, as numbered.

1.

10.

One day, out at sea, when there was no wind The bell sank and Sir Ralph said, ‘The next person who comes to the rock won’t thank

the water.

the Abbot’.

2.

11.

The day was so still that there were no

He then rowed back to his boat and sailed

sounds or signs as the water moved around

away. He was gone a long time, during

and over the Inchcape Rock. In fact, the

which he became very rich by stealing from

waves were so small that they did not move

other ships, but eventually he decided to

enough to ring the Inchcape Bell.

return to Scotland.

ea

rn

ing

and no waves, a ship lay silently and still in

12.

3.

As he came closer to shore, there was a

rel

The Abbot of Aberbrothok had placed the

bell on a buoy on the Rock so that in stormy weather it would float and swing.

Sailors were very grateful to the Abbot for this because they could hear the bell even when they couldn’t see the Rock in rough

13.
The Rover stood on deck; unable to see land he reassured himself that the moon would soon light the way.

ww

w.

seas.

although it had been windy in the day, the sea was flat calm by evening.

mo

4.

haze in the sky that blocked the sun and,

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14.
5.

Another sailor asked, ‘Can you hear the

On this particular day, the sun was shining

waves breaking on the shore? I think we

and seagulls screamed with joy.

should be near land but I can not tell. I wish

ing

we could hear the Inchcape Bell.’

15.

Sir Ralph the Rover, walking on the deck of

There was no sound and, although the wind

his ship, watched the buoy carefully. He

had died away, the ship drifted along.

could see it because it was a