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La belle Dame Sans Merci (Structure ((Stanza 1 - A stranger encounters a…
La belle Dame Sans Merci
Structure
Stanza 1 - A stranger encounters a pale knight by a lake. There is something wrong with the man. Sedge grass has died, the birds are quiet - is this a winter scene or an integral part of the atmosphere?
Stanza 2 - The stranger repeats his enquiry. This knight looks miserable and sick. It's the back end of autumn, approaching colder weather.
Stanza 3 - There is a direct observation by the stranger. The lily and the rose are both symbols of death (in a Petrarchan sense). Is the knight so close to meeting his Maker?
Stanza 4 - The knight replies. He met a woman in the meadows (Meads), no ordinary woman but a beauty, an otherworldly figure.
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Stanza 7 - She knew just where to look for sweet and heavenly foods. I ate them and she loved me for it, even though I didn't really understand what was happening.
Stanza 8 - She took me to her special place, deep in a grotto, where she became so emotional I had to reassure her, so wild were her eyes. I kissed them 4 times.
Stanza 9 - She calmed me down too, so much so I feel asleep and had a dream. There was trouble brewing. That was my last ever dream.
Stanza 10 - In the dream I saw pale kings, warriors and princes, near to death. They were warning me about the beautiful woman.
Stanza 11 - Their mouths were gaping open in that dreamy twilight gloom. Then i woke up on a cold hill side.
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4 - 6 stanzas... the knight answers, repeating I met, I made, I set.
7 - 9 stanzas. the knight progresses, repeating She found, She took, And She lulled.
10 - 12 stanzas... the knight reverts, repeating I saw, I saw, I sojourn.
Imagery
- biblical imagery
- romance
- nature
- supernatural
Language
And in certain sections of the poem there is the suggestion of a sexual liaison which is perhaps drug inspired. Notably, stanzas five and seven stand out, with mention of the man making garlands and bracelets and a fragrant girdle (Zone) whilst the woman made sweet moan. And later she finds sweet roots, honey wild and manna dew (manna is the food from heaven as stated in the Bible), most certainly the food of love.
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Themes
- Supernatural
- Heavenly beings
- Romance