* Tragic: The poem tells the story of a doomed voyage, with the loss of the ship and all its crew. This creates a sense of overwhelming sadness and inevitability.
* Grim: The language is often bleak and evocative of death, with imagery of storms, waves, and the ship sinking.
* Melancholic: The ballad paints a picture of the beauty and fragility of life, highlighting the transient nature of existence and the inevitability of fate.
* Foreboding: From the beginning, there is a sense of impending doom. The reader is aware of the danger the ship faces, adding tension to the narrative.
* Romantic: While tragic, the poem also carries a romantic element in the bravery of the sailors and the beauty of the sea.
Overall, "Sir Patrick Spens" is a poem with a somber, melancholic, and tragically romantic tone.