Vocabulary in The Brook

The noun “mallow” refers to a species of purple flowering plants that commonly grows in England. Tennyson includes such plants to convey a romantic, nostalgic image of the English countryside that starkly contrasts with the industrialization that was taking place as he was writing.

The noun “fallow” is a plot of farmland that has been plowed but is left unplanted, usually in order to allow the soil to restore its fertility.

The verb “to eddy” means to move in a circular motion. The speaker’s description of the swirling water in the bays reinforces the personification of the brook by underscoring its lively movements and musical sounds.

A “thorp” is a village. Using such short words to describe these settlements—thorp, town—emphasizes the relatively small effect of human presence on the course of the brook.

The noun “sally” usually refers to the abrupt rushing or attacking of an enemy during battle. In this context, the speaker’s “sudden sally” simply refers to the abrupt beginning of a journey. The military connotations of Tennyson’s word choice, or diction, suggests that the brook is strong.

The nouns “coot” and “hern” refer to types of birds that live in and around the brook. A coot is a species of waterbird that is similar to a duck, while a hern is a heron, or a fish-eating bird with long legs, a large wingspan, and a long pointed bill.