Tam Lin

Tam Lin is the narrator of the poem, based on one of the central characters in an earlier traditional ballad. Here, he is portrayed as a married family man discontented with his mundane, everyday life. He reminisces about the time he was taken away to live in fairyland with the conniving faerie queen, where he was “mostly unhappy, but sometimes happy” (Line 44). Despite his negative experiences, however, he still longs to go back to this world. The poem progresses from an exploration of his memories to the present day, where he admits that he still reaches out to this place in hopes that it will take him back.

The Faerie Queen

The faerie queen is only present in the poem through the speaker’s memories. She is depicted as someone cruel, duplicitous, and seductive. However, she also displays moments of genuine affection for Tam Lin. She represents...