... The contrast between nature's bounty and loneliness, desolation and desertion is already apparent. ` The twa corbies looks towards the prospects of death, and what they may gain by scavenging through the remains of a body. A man killed in his prime; "bonny blue een" and "gowden hair" the features of a recently killed, young man almost described like part of the treasures that they may take. The crows spy from the trees, gossiping and plotting their next moves. There even seem to be undertones reminiscent of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', as the birds hear the character of Macbeth remind himself that it was he that murdered Duncan. The mythical undertones would also contribute to that of Macbeth. The poem is slightly dismissive of the theme if death which would generally dominate such a ballad; ironically the dark perceptions and interpretations of death contribute to the removal of the negative theme and reinforce ...

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