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'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the assessment objectives (AO) for writing about ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A
  • AO1: Articulate informed, personal responses
  • AO2: Analyse meanings in literary texts
  • AO3: Demonstrate understanding of context
  • AO4: Explore connections across literary texts
  • AO5: Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations

These objectives guide the analysis and interpretation of the poem.

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2
Q

What is the plot of ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The poem tells the story of a knight who meets a beautiful lady, becomes enchanted, and ultimately finds himself in despair after she abandons him.

The knight’s encounter leads to themes of love, enchantment, and the intertwining of beauty and death.

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3
Q

How does ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ follow the structure of a tragedy?

A
  • Exposition: Introduction of the knight’s desolate state
  • Rising Action: Encounter with the enchanting lady
  • Climax: Realization of the lady’s true nature
  • Falling Action: Knight’s abandonment and despair
  • Dénouement: Continued desolation of the knight

This structure reflects the knight’s tragic downfall.

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4
Q

What is the form and meter of ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The poem is a ballad consisting of 12 quatrains with a strong iambic pentameter and a start-and-stop rhythm.

The ballad form reflects its origins in dance and music.

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5
Q

What is the rhyme scheme of ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The rhyme scheme is ABCB, with even-numbered lines rhyming.

This structure contributes to the poem’s rhythm and lyrical quality.

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6
Q

What type of narration is used in ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The poem uses a third-person objective narrator initially, shifting to a first-person narrative from the knight’s perspective.

This dual narration enriches the exploration of themes like empathy and understanding.

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7
Q

What is the significance of flower imagery in ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The poem employs flower imagery to represent themes of life and death, particularly through the metaphors of the rose and lily.

The rose symbolizes life, while the lily represents death, emphasizing the inseparability of beauty and mortality.

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8
Q

What poetic device is used in lines 23 and 24 of the poem?

A

Polyptoton is used, emphasizing the knight’s imprisonment through variations of the word ‘sing’.

This device highlights the knight’s enchantment and eventual entrapment.

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9
Q

What is the role of dialogue in ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The dialogue serves to deepen character development and provides context for the knight’s emotional state.

It contrasts the knight’s focus on fantasy with the speaker’s observations of reality.

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10
Q

What is an example of anaphora in ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’?

A

The phrase ‘O what can ail thee’ is repeated at the beginning of stanzas, highlighting the theme of understanding emotions.

This repetition underscores the challenge of articulating feelings.

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11
Q

How does the metaphor of the rose and lily function in the poem?

A

The rose symbolizes the knight’s vitality, while the lily represents his death-like state, illustrating the theme of beauty intertwined with despair.

The contrasting imagery highlights the knight’s emotional and physical deterioration.

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12
Q

What does the lily symbolize in the poem?

A

The lily symbolizes a type of life that coexists with death, indicating that life can feed off death.

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13
Q

What is the effect of alliteration in the poem?

A

Alliteration prompts the reader to linger over words, enhancing the themes of enchantment or horror.

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14
Q

Give an example of alliteration from stanza 3.

A
  • fever-dew * fading * fast
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15
Q

How does alliteration connect the knight and the lady?

A

Alliteration connects the knight and the lady by focusing the reader’s attention on their interactions, enhancing the knight’s experience.

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16
Q

What is an end-stopped line?

A

An end-stopped line is a line of verse that ends with punctuation.

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17
Q

How many lines in the poem are end-stopped?

A

All but five lines in the poem are end-stopped.

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18
Q

What does caesura do in the poem?

A

Caesura isolates characters, connects key lines, and lingers over images.

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19
Q

What is the significance of the word ‘manna’ in line 26?

A

Manna signifies supernatural, life-giving sustenance that also has layers of ambiguity.

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20
Q

What literary device is used in line 31 with ‘wild wild eyes’?

A

Epizeuxis is used to emphasize the word ‘wild’.

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21
Q

What does the refrain ‘On the cold hill side’ symbolize?

A

The refrain connects the knight’s dream world with his cold, despairing reality.

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22
Q

What is diacope as used in line 38?

A

Diacope is the repetition of the word ‘pale’ with intervening words, emphasizing its significance.

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23
Q

What does enjambment do in poetry?

A

Enjambment creates a sense of continuation from one line to the next, enhancing the flow of the poem.

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24
Q

True or False: The knight’s experience is devoid of any connection to death.

A

False

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25
Fill in the blank: The poem depicts a painful beauty in _______.
[death]
26
What does the term 'gloam' suggest in the poem?
'Gloam' conveys an inescapable gloominess.
27
How does the poem reflect the knight's emotional state?
The poem's structure, including end-stopped lines and caesura, mirrors the knight's emotional highs and lows.
28
What does the word 'relish' imply in the context of the poem?
Relish implies flavor and enjoyment, enhancing the knight's experience with the lady.
29
What is the effect of using a semicolon in line 18?
The semicolon encourages the reader to puzzle over the image of 'fragrant zone' longer.
30
What is the relationship between the knight and the lady depicted in the poem?
The relationship evolves from enchantment to horror as the knight experiences both love and decay.
31
What does the knight's paleness symbolize in the poem?
A lack of color that contrasts with his earlier vivid experiences, highlighting the line between euphoria and despair. ## Footnote The knight's paleness reflects his emotional and spiritual decline after his encounter with the Lady.
32
Define enjambment.
A poetic technique where a sentence runs over to the next line without a pause. ## Footnote Enjambment is used to create flow and emphasize certain emotions or themes in poetry.
33
How many cases of enjambment are present in the poem?
Five cases at lines 11, 23, 31, 35, and 39. ## Footnote Each case serves a specific emotional or thematic purpose in the poem.
34
What effect does enjambment have between lines 11 and 12?
It emphasizes the knight's lack of control over his fate as the still-living rose withers without pause. ## Footnote This suggests inevitability in the knight's decline.
35
What does consonance refer to in poetry?
The repetition of consonant sounds within a line or passage. ## Footnote Consonance can enhance the musical quality and emotional impact of the poem.
36
Identify a key aspect of the knight as a tragic hero.
He possesses heroic traits but also flaws that lead to his downfall. ## Footnote The knight's infatuation with the Lady and subsequent despair illustrate this duality.
37
What characteristic of the knight suggests his isolation?
The phrase 'alone and palely loitering' indicates his alienation. ## Footnote This reflects a common trait of tragic heroes.
38
What is the knight's hamartia in the poem?
His overwhelming obsession with the Lady, leading to his emotional downfall. ## Footnote This obsession prevents him from recognizing the illusionary nature of his relationship.
39
Who is the tragic villain in 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci'?
La Belle Dame Sans Merci, the Lady who enchants the knight and leads to his downfall. ## Footnote Her enchanting nature masks her mercilessness.
40
What does the setting of late autumn symbolize in the poem?
The transition from life to death, mirroring the knight's emotional decline. ## Footnote The setting reflects themes of decay and despair.
41
What literary device is used in the phrase 'the harvest is done'?
Imagery and symbolism, representing the end of a cycle. ## Footnote This emphasizes themes of completion and the inevitability of decline.
42
What is a significant theme in 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci'?
The blurring of illusion and reality, leading to the knight's desolation. ## Footnote This theme underscores the dangers of obsessive love.
43
Fill in the blank: The knight's emotional state is reflected in the imagery of _______.
withered sedge. ## Footnote This imagery conveys decay and emotional desolation.
44
What role does the Lady play in the knight's downfall?
She captivates him with beauty but ultimately leaves him in despair. ## Footnote Her actions serve as a cautionary tale about obsessive love.
45
True or False: The knight's experience with the Lady is entirely positive.
False. ## Footnote The knight's infatuation leads to his emotional and spiritual ruin.
46
What is the significance of the imagery in the phrase 'Elfin grot'?
It creates an enchanted setting and highlights the shift in power dynamics between the knight and the Lady. ## Footnote This shift emphasizes the knight's growing vulnerability.
47
What does the knight's interaction with 'pale kings' and 'princes' signify?
It reflects a pattern of victimization and the inevitability of despair. ## Footnote This suggests that the knight's fate is part of a larger cycle.
48
What does 'Elfin grot' suggest in the poem?
'Elfin grot' creates an enchanted, mystical image and suggests a cave, enhancing the poem's fantastical elements. ## Footnote The term 'grot' implies earthy and mysterious qualities.
49
How does the character dynamic shift in the poem?
The Lady leads the knight, showcasing her dominance and the knight's growing vulnerability. ## Footnote This contrasts with earlier moments when the knight placed her on his horse.
50
What theme does 'Elfin grot' blur?
The theme of imagination vs. reality. ## Footnote It can represent a literal magical place or a metaphor for the Lady's beauty.
51
What does 'Elfin grot' symbolize?
'Elfin grot' symbolizes the connection and intimacy between the knight and the Lady, while foreshadowing danger. ## Footnote The cave's dark nature suggests entrapment.
52
What is the dual meaning of 'And there she lulled me asleep'?
It captures both the literal act of lulling the knight to sleep and the metaphorical sense of lulling him into a false sense of security. ## Footnote This highlights the Lady's power over the knight.
53
What literary device is used in the line 'And there'?
Anaphora. ## Footnote The repetition creates a rhythmic effect, emphasizing the knight's entranced state.
54
What surprising role reversal occurs in the poem?
The Lady comforts the knight instead of the knight comforting her, flipping traditional gender roles. ## Footnote This showcases her dominance in the relationship.
55
What does the ambiguity of 'there' signify?
It refers to multiple places and states—physical, emotional, and dreamlike. ## Footnote This reflects the knight's disoriented state.
56
What does the quote 'They cried - ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’ signify?
It shows the knight's peripeteia and realization of the Lady's seduction and deception. ## Footnote This marks a critical turning point in the narrative.
57
What is the effect of the caesura in the poem?
It creates a pause, emphasizing the revelation of the Lady's identity and mirroring the knight's emotional shock. ## Footnote This underscores the dramatic nature of the moment.
58
How does dialogue enhance the narrative?
The use of direct speech adds immediacy and urgency, allowing readers to hear ghostly figures warning the knight. ## Footnote This makes the scene more vivid.
59
What does 'La Belle Dame sans Merci' symbolize?
It symbolizes the dual nature of beauty and danger. ## Footnote This encapsulates the poem's central theme of enchantment leading to despair.
60
What does the phrase 'Thee hath in thrall' contrast?
It contrasts the knight's initial joy with his current state of entrapment. ## Footnote This underscores the theme of love's fleeting and destructive nature.
61
What is the significance of the knight's emotional investment?
His intense emotional investment makes him vulnerable, leading to an abrupt transition from enchantment to nightmare. ## Footnote This symbolizes the collapse of his idealized love.
62
What does the repetition of the opening language in the final stanza suggest?
It suggests the knight is trapped in an endless loop of memory and longing. ## Footnote This highlights the unending nature of his suffering.
63
What does the phrase 'O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms' establish?
It establishes the speaker's character as curious and empathetic, inquiring into the knight's condition. ## Footnote This sets a tone of lament and concern.
64
What imagery is created by the words 'haggard and woe-begone'?
It vividly describes the knight's distress and emotional state, suggesting deep trouble and exhaustion. ## Footnote This reflects the speaker's empathy.
65
What does 'And no birds sing' symbolize?
The absence of birdsong symbolizes death and desolation. ## Footnote It creates a lifeless atmosphere, contributing to the poem's somber tone.
66
How does the knight's behavior affect his surroundings?
His internal turmoil creates a contrast with his external environment, highlighting his isolation. ## Footnote This emphasizes the tragedy of his downfall.
67
What does the knight's fixation on the lady symbolize?
It symbolizes his ongoing mental entrapment and inability to escape her influence. ## Footnote This blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
68
What do moments of happiness in the poem highlight?
They highlight the stark contrast between the knight's initial joy and subsequent despair. ## Footnote This emphasizes the tragic nature of his downfall.
69
What literary devices are used in the quote 'She found me roots of relish sweet, And honey wild'?
Alliteration and sibilance enhance the sensuousness of the knight's experience. ## Footnote This draws attention to pleasure and intimacy.
70
What does 'language strange' suggest about the Lady's words?
It suggests ambiguity and leaves readers questioning the knight's understanding of her declaration of love. ## Footnote This complicates the knight's perception of her intentions.
71
What is the structural pattern of the poem?
The poem consists of quatrains with an ABCB rhyme scheme, creating a rhythmic quality. ## Footnote This enhances the storytelling aspect and underscores somber themes.
72
How does the poem's repetition affect the knight's emotional state?
It reinforces the knight's ongoing suffering and mirrors the repetitive nature of his tragic experience. ## Footnote This emphasizes his inability to move past his encounter.
73
What does the knight's pale appearance symbolize?
It symbolizes death or a ghostly existence, hinting at the life-draining impact of his experience. ## Footnote This reflects his emotional decline.
74
How does the poem evoke pity and fear in the audience?
It illustrates the knight's downfall and the difficulty of distinguishing between imagination and reality. ## Footnote This serves as a cautionary tale about obsessive emotions.
75
What marks the knight's peripeteia?
His realization of the Lady's true nature marks his transition from enchantment to despair. ## Footnote This is a dramatic shift in the narrative.
76
What is the conclusion of the poem regarding restoration of order?
There is no restoration of order; the poem concludes with cyclical despair and unresolved tension. ## Footnote The knight remains in a state of limbo.
77
What metaphors highlight the link between beauty and death?
The knight is described as a 'lily' and a 'fading rose,' symbolizing death and the fleeting nature of life. ## Footnote This underscores the inevitability of his downfall.
78
What does the metaphor of the lily on the knight's brow signify?
The lily symbolizes impending death and fragility of beauty. ## Footnote This highlights the poem's theme of the closeness of beauty and mortality.
79
What does the lily symbolize in Romantic literature?
Death ## Footnote Lilies often symbolize the fragility of beauty and mortality.
80
What does the fading rose represent in the poem?
The knight's vitality and life slipping away ## Footnote Roses symbolize life, love, and beauty.
81
How does the imagery of a lily on the knight's brow contribute to the poem?
It creates a visual representation of the knight's weakened state and impending death.
82
What theme is highlighted by the juxtaposition of the lily and the rose?
The inseparability of beauty and death.
83
What literary device is used when the line continues into the next without a pause?
Enjambment.
84
What does the knight's brow being compared to a lily suggest?
The trace of death in the knight's face, yet a hint of life remains.
85
What does the knight use flowers for in stanza 5?
To weave a garland and bracelets for the Lady.
86
What does 'manna-dew' symbolize in the poem?
It suggests nourishment but also acts as a poison related to the knight's fate.
87
What is the main narrative of the poem?
A knight becomes obsessed with La Belle Dame sans Merci and ultimately faces abandonment.
88
What are the two linked warnings about intense romantic love expressed in the poem?
* Obsession drains emotional energy * Spiritual death occurs when the object of obsession disappears.
89
How does the knight's love for the Lady begin?
As a kind of enchantment that consumes him completely.
90
What does the knight's devotion to the Lady lead to?
A spiritual death when she disappears.
91
What does the knight see in his dream?
The Lady's former victims, who are all death-pale.
92
What does the phrase 'death-pale' imply about the knight's fate?
He will become captivated by memories of the Lady to the point of enslavement.
93
What does the Lady's merciless behavior consist of?
The love and joy she provides, contrasted with her sudden disappearance.
94
What does the poem suggest about imagination and reality?
Imagination can shape reality so profoundly that they become indistinguishable.
95
How does the poem's setting at the beginning contrast with the knight's story?
The setting is harsh and barren, while the knight's story is colorful and imaginative.
96
What does the knight's experience reveal about the relationship between fantasy and reality?
At the deepest moment of his imaginative experience, he learns the truth about his situation.
97
What happens to the knight at the end of the poem?
He wakes up 'Alone and palely loitering' by the lifeless lakeside.
98
What does the repetition of the first stanza at the end signify?
The knight's acceptance of his desolate reality.
99
Fill in the blank: The poem warns against intense, obsessive love, arguing that it can lead to __________.
Agony and spiritual death.

English Lit (2 decks)

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