La belle dame sans merci Flashcards

(4 cards)

1
Q

Themes of La belle dame sans merci

U… or f… love:
-poem is c… about how a k… has been s… and abandoned
-knight is left to a s… of emotional and p… decline
-shows that when love is u… it can lead to d… and d…

The s…:
-woman is presented as a f… or supernatural f…
-her ability to l… him and then l… him points to the mysterious and d… nature of some f… of l…
-implies l… can be both e… and unhealthy

I… and d…:
-described as being in a s… of isolation before and a… he meets this woman
-c… as he begins the poem a…, and e… all alone
-he is trapped in an e… cycle of l… and regret

N… and b…:
-uses n… imagery to r… the knights e… state
-the l… around mirrors internal d…
-the lady is also linked to n…, embodying a haunting, e… beauty

A

Unrequited or fatal love:
-poem is centred about how a knight has been seduced and abandoned
-knight is left to a state of emotional and physical decline
-shows that when love is unreciprocated it can lead to despair and destruction

The supernatural:
-woman is presented as a fairy or supernatural figure
-her ability to lure him and then leave him points to the mysterious and dangerous nature of some forms of love
-implies love can be both enchanting and unhealthy

Isolation and despair:
-described as being in a state of isolation before and after he meets this woman
-cyclical as he begins the poem alone, and ends all alone
-he is trapped in an endless cycle of longing and regret

Nature and beauty:
-uses natural imagery to reflect the knights emotional state
-the landscape around mirrors internal desolations
-the lady is also linked to nature, embodying a haunting, ethereal beauty

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2
Q

Tone of La belle dame sans merci

-tone is m…, m… and s…
-speaker creates an a… of s… and loss
-s… of tone when he meets the w…, from one of l… to one of a… of the woman

A

-tone is melancholic, mysterious and somber
-speaker creates an atmosphere of sadness and loss
-shift of tone when he meets the women, from one of loneliness to one of awe of the woman

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3
Q

Purpose of La belle dame sans merci

-p… purpose is to explore the d… power of love and l…, especially when it’s is u…
-tells a c… tale about the d… of unrequited love, and the e… impact it can have on s…
-the knights f… represents the c… between the idealised view of t… love and the painful r… that comes from such u… desires

A

-primary purpose is to explore the destructive power of love and longing, especially when it’s is unattainable
-tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of unrequited love, and the emotional impact it can have on someone
-the knights fate represents the contrasts between the idealised view of transcendent love and the painful reality that comes from such unattainable desires

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4
Q

Structure La belle dame sans merci

-b… form, composed of q… with an …. rhyme scheme, this r… structure reflects u… nature of their r…

-v… in line l… contributes to the unsettling a…, and reflects the r… and fall of the knights e… journey from h… and desire to d…

-r… of “and no birds sing” reinforces the b… and emotional i… on the knight
-repetition of the knights s… creates a c… feeling as the knight b… and ends with suffering

A

-ballad form, composed of quatrains with an ACBC rhyme scheme, this rhythmic structure reflects unsettling nature of their relationship

-variation in line length contributes to the unsettling atmosphere, and reflects the rise and fall of the knights emotional journey from hope and desire to despair

-repetition of “and no birds sing” reinforces the bleakness and emotional impact in the knight
-repetition of the knights suffering creates a cyclical feeling as the knight begins and ends with suffering

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