Treasure Trove Poem - 8 The Patriot Extract 4 1. 'I' refers to the speaker. He is going to the Shambles' Gate or by the scaffold's gate. In the context, rain symbolises speaker's inner crisis and sadness. It also creates a tense atmosphere in the poem. 2. The speaker's hands were tied from behind with a rope. This rope cuts his wrist. It signifies how the speaker is treated now. A year earlier, he was a hero, but now he is tied like a criminal, without any kindness. 3. The phrase adds to the ambiguity in the poem as the speaker is depicted as innocent by the poet. The reader tends to sympathise with him, but his own reference to his 'year's misdeeds' creates ambiguity in the poem. 4. The poem shows the fickleness of the people. A year ago, he was regarded as a hero. Now the same public throes stones at him. The crowd that wanted to fulfill the speaker's wishes, now wants him executed. The poem portrays how the love, respect and honou...
