Le Belle Dame Sans Merci

Question 1

Quotes linking to water and setting

Answer 1

“sedge has wither’d from the lake

Question 2

Quotes for Imagination and reality

Answer 2

“language strange”, “elfin grot”

Question 3

Quotes for Death

Answer 3

‘alone’, ‘palely loitering’,“Pale kings and princes”, “death pale”,‘no birds sing’

Question 4

Quotes for life

Answer 4

‘bracelet’, ‘garland’ (Circular Imagery)

Question 5

Quotes for Love/obsession

Answer 5

‘lily’, ‘rose’, “Nothing else…all day”, ‘Manna’

Question 6

Quotes for Supernatural

Answer 6

“Faery’s child”
“Pale kings and princes”

Question 7

Structure of the play

Answer 7

Cyclical structure – repetition ‘ and no birds sing’ (1st and last stanzas)
First e lines of each stanza are iambic pentameter and each final line is shortened to 4 or 5 syllables- creates start-stop rhythm- could represent life and death

Question 8

Effect of it being a Ballad poem

Answer 8

Ballad- fairytale like, ballads are known for there romantic nature

Question 9

Effect of the poem being set in medieval time

Answer 9

Keats uses romanticism- through the mediaeval setting he’s able to explore his theory of ‘negative capability’, Uses mediaeval setting to create a tone that matches other-worldly nature of love
Keats seems to be saying love does not change with times- its absorbing and destructive no matter what time or by whom is experiencing it

Question 10

Evidence that the poem was set in medieval time

Answer 10

“thee” immediately hints at time and setting