"A Warlock, A Cow with Leather Horns... muckle sorrow"

Created by

Charlie Owens

Cards (25)

In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", according to Ian Duhig “the cow with leather horns” is equivalent to a hare with its tall pointed ears, an idea drawn from witchcraft, Duhig is referring to a tradition he’d heard of where witches were said to turn into hares
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "warlock" means a male practitioner of necromancy, highlighting themes of arcane knowledge & mystical supernatural
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "warlock" are often depicted as practitioners of forbidden magic, delving into realms of knowledge beyond the comprehension of ordinary mortals (hinting at a powerful supernatural capacity)
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "warlock" has connotations of deceit & malevolence, underscoring eerie forces
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "warlock" are often associated with devilish practices, implying there are darker impulses to the poem
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "cow" often symbolise domesticity and fertility as they provide for society, showing the importance of these animals in the festival and to the speaker
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "cow" embodies maternal care and nurturing qualities, showing their importance
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical phrase "cow with leather horns" has animalistic imagery as the hireling is hiding its true image
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical phrase "cow with leather horns" could be a metaphor for homoeroticism as the hireling is trying to be something its not
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical phrase "cow with leather horns" conjures a surreal & paradoxical image due to its strange blending of elements
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical phrase "cow with leather horns" cows are typically associated with traits such as gentleness and docility, the addition of "leather horns" subverts this image, introducing an element of grotesqueness and ambiguity
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "leather" has strong and durable qualities, evoking an image of toughness
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "leather" has connotations of craftsmanship (ironic as it comes from cows)
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical phrase "a cow with leather horns" is a subversion of societal norms, showing the dismantling of the speaker's psychological equilibrium
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "cow" has Greek Mythological connotations, as Zeus transforms Io into a cow to protect Hera's jealousy, reflecting the eerie transformation in the poem
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "cow" has Celtic Mythological connotations, white cows were considered sacred, symbolising the supernatural
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "horns" has connotations of the Devil, reflecting the supernatural themes of the poem
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "horns" has religious connotations of the Devil, highlighting the sin of Homosexuality in the Catholic Church
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "horns" has religious connotations of the Devil, suggesting the speaker is experiencing the forces of temptation & evil (sin of homosexuality)
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "horns" could be a Phallic Symbol emphasising the homoerotic undertones of the poem
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "horns" have connotations of violence as they are often used to hurt other animals
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "muckle" comes from the 'Allansford Pursuit', a 17th Century Witch Chant, suggesting a transgression of limit
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", the lexical choice "muckle" comes from the 'Allansford Pursuit', a 17th Century Witch Chant, this confuses the reader through its use of archaic language (parallels the psychological instability)
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", this encompasses Freudian Psychoanalytical Theories of Eros & Thanatos
In 'The Lammas Hireling', the quote "A Warlock, a cow with leather horns... muckle sorrow", this encompasses Freudian Psychoanalytical Theories of Eros & Thanatos, the "cow" symbolises fertility and the life force (Eros), whilst the "Horns" symbolises the malevolence, demonic & violent actions, inherent to the death force (Thanatos)