1. Romantic Elements: The poem embodies romantic features such as an adventurous setting, idealization of love and the portrayal of nature as majestic and mysterious.
2. Narrative-Verse Structure: "The Highwayman" features a narrative format, telling the story of the highwayman, Bess, Tim the ostler, and the landlord. The poem conveys the plot and character's actions in a poetic style.
3. Lyrical Quality: The poem has a lyrical quality with its melodic and rhythmic patterns. Noyes uses repetition, assonance, and alliteration to create a musical effect. The poem's meter and rhyme scheme contribute to its lyrical nature.
4. Symbolism and Imagery: The poem contains symbolic elements. For instance, the moon and the stars symbolize time, while the wind symbolizes nature's response to events. Noyes also uses imagery to create vivid descriptions, such as "The moon was a ghostly galleon" and "The wind was a torrent of darkness."
5. Dramatic Elements: "The Highwayman" incorporates elements of drama. The poem contains dialogue, building up to the dramatic conclusion where the highwayman is betrayed and killed. The use of dramatic elements creates a sense of suspense and tension.
6. Ballad Tradition: The poem is structured in the traditional ballad form. It consists of four-line stanzas with a consistent rhyme scheme (ABCB). This ballad structure aligns with traditional oral storytelling practices.
7. Tragic Conclusion: The poem culminates in a tragic event as the highwayman is betrayed by Tim and slain. This tragic ending is a common motif in traditional ballads.