The Ballad of the White Horse

The Ballad of the White Horse (1911) is an epic poem written in ballad form by English poet, novelist, essayist, and journalist G. K. Chesterton. Many people consider it to be Chesterton’s masterpiece. The ballad consists of 2,684 lines divided into stanzas of four to six lines each. It tells the story of the struggles between Alfred, king of Wessex in southwest England, and the Danish Viking invaders who were taking over large areas of England in the late 9th century. Much of the story is fictionalized, including all the characters other than Alfred and the Danish king Guthrum. The tale reaches its climax with the historical battle of Ethandune (also known today as Edington) in 878, in which Alfred overcomes great odds and a near- defeat before emerging triumphant. The battle resulted in Guthrum’s conversion to Christianity, thus ensuring the survival of Christianity in England. The poem explores good versus evil, the importance of perseverance, and what makes an ideal Christian king. 

The edition of the poem used in this study guide is The Ballad of the White Horse, with notes by Sharon K. Higby, illustrated by Ben Hatke, Seton Press, 2023. 

POET BIOGRAPHY

Journalist, essayist, novelist, short-story writer, and poet Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born on May 29th, 1874, in London. He studied at St. Paul’s school in Hammersmith and then started working for a publisher, George Reday. In 1900, he published his first books, the comic verse Greybeards at Play and The Wild Knight and Other Poems. In 1901, he married Frances Alice Blogg. In that year also, he published The Defendant, a collection of essays. From 1901 to 1913, Chesterton was a columnist for the Daily News. 

Chesterton was a prolific writer, turning out a large number of books in various genres. He wrote several studies of poets and writers, including Robert Browning (1903), Charles Dickens (1906), and George Bernard Shaw (1909). The Napoleon of Notting Hill, his first novel, was published in 1904. This was the first of seven novels; the last was The Return of Don Quixote in 1927. In 1905, Chesterton became a weekly columnist for the Illustrated London News, a position he retained until his death. 

In his books and journalism, Chesterton was known for his original style, his gift for a witty, memorable phrase, and his insightful approach to contemporary cultural issues. He was also a renowned debater and orator. In 1908, he wrote Orthodoxy, a defense of Christianity, which was to become one of his best-known works. The Ballad of the White Horse, on which he worked for several years, followed in 1911. In the same year, Chesterton turned to detective fiction and wrote the first of his short stories about Father Brown, a Catholic priest with a gift for solving crimes. This was The Innocence of Father Brown. Four more Father Brown books were to follow between 1914 and the publication of The Scandal of Father Brown in 1935. Today, the Father Brown stories are the best-known of all Chesterton’s works and have twice been made into TV series. Chesterton also wrote The Man Who Knew Too Much: And Other Stories (1922), another book of detective stories. This was one of seven volumes of short stories by Chesterton, in addition to the Father Brown volumes.  

In 1922, Chesterton converted to Roman Catholicism. Among his later nonfiction works were Eugenics and Other Evils (1922), The Everlasting Man (1925), and The Well and the Shallows (1935), a collection of essays. His Collected Poems was published in 1927. He started his own newspaper, G.K.'s Weekly, in 1925. In 1930, he became the first president of the Detection Club.

Chesterton died in Beaconsfield, England, from heart and kidney failure, in 1936. 

POEM TEXT

Chesterton, G. K. The Ballad of the White Horse. 1911. Project Gutenberg. 

SUMMARY

The ballad tells of the 9th-century English king Alfred and his triumph over the invading Danes at the battle of Ethandune in 878. Chesterton begins with a dedication addressed to his wife in appreciation of her for showing him the truth of Christianity. 

In Book I, the Danes, also known as the Vikings, are triumphant, and Alfred and his chieftains have suffered many defeats. Alfred is in hiding on the island of Athelney in Somerset when he has a vision of the Virgin Mary. He asks her what the future holds for him, and she replies that he is not permitted to know. However, she encourages him to do battle, and to affirm joy and faith, even though the situation will get much worse. 

Inspired by his vision, in Book II Alfred leaves Athelney and sets about building an army. He visits three Christian leaders, Eldred, Mark, and Colan, to recruit them. Eldred, a Saxon farmer and experienced warrior, is reluctant to leave his farm but agrees to join the struggle. Mark, a Roman and also a farmer, assesses the military situation and offers Alfred his support. Finally, in southwest Wales, Colan, a Celt, also agrees to join the fight. Alfred asks all three men to meet at a place called Egbert’s Stone. 

In Book III, Alfred disguises himself as a minstrel. Carrying his harp, he wanders near the Danish camp, where he is captured by Danish soldiers who take him into King Guthrum’s presence. The king orders Alfred to play for them. Alfred sings about the difficult history of his own people, after which three Danish earls—Harold, nephew of the king, Elf, and Ogier—also sing, expressing their own views of life. Guthrum also sings, expressing his pessimistic vision. Finally, Alfred sings of the superiority of Christianity, after which he leaves the Danish camp to the sound of the Danes’ mocking laughter. 

In Book IV, when Alfred arrives at the hut on the river at Egbert’s Stone to meet his fellow warriors, he encounters an old woman, who thinks he is a beggar. She offers him food if he will watch the fire to make sure the cakes do not burn. Alfred, however, gets lost in his thoughts about God and his compassion for the woman, and he forgets about the cakes, which burn. The woman slaps him for his negligence. Soon after, the three chieftains, Eldred, Mark, and Colan arrive with their armies. 

In Book V, Alfred’s army advances toward the Danes, who are well-prepared for the assault. As dawn breaks, Alfred’s men are downcast, fearing their own weakness, although they remain committed to the battle. Alfred confesses his sins. As the two armies get closer to each other, Harold mocks Colan for the ragged appearance of his men. He strings his bow, ready to shoot Colan, but the Celt is too quick for him. Colan hurls his sword at Harold, killing him. Alfred gives his own sword to Colan and grabs an axe for himself. The battle of Ethandune begins. 

In Book VI, Eldred kills many Danes, but his sword breaks and he is killed by Elf’s spear. The Christian warriors waver, fearing the spear of Elf, which they believe has magical properties. Mark, however, rallies his men; he kills Elf, and the Christians rejoice. Shortly thereafter, Mark is killed by Ogier. Ogier rejoices in the destruction he is bringing, and the Danes gain the upper hand. Alfred and Colan fight valiantly but are beaten back, their forces get separated, and Colan is killed. 

In Book VII, the Christian army seems to be facing defeat, but Alfred rouses his bedraggled men to one last effort, as the Danes, thinking it is all over, scatter and relax their guard. The Virgin Mary appears again to Alfred, holding a sword in her hand. The battle resumes, and Alfred kills Ogier. The tide turns, and the Danes are forced back. Alfred kills many enemy soldiers, and the remnants of Colan’s men cause havoc when they attack the Danes from the rear. Against the odds, Alfred’s army is victorious, and after the battle, King Guthrum is baptized as a Christian. 

Book VIII describes the many years of peace that follow in Wessex, as Alfred rules wisely, making just laws and looking after the poor. He is content ruling his small kingdom and has no ambition to expand into other areas. However, the Danes invade England again, and Alfred summons an army. He marches eastward and takes London back from the Danes.