1. ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’ — John Keats
Summary:
A wandering knight tells his story to a passerby: he met a mysterious, enchanting woman who spoke to him in a strange language of love. She took him to her “elfin grot,” lulled him to sleep, and left him haunted by visions of pale kings and warriors who had suffered the same fate. Now, abandoned and broken, the knight is left to wander the cold hillside alone.
Analysis:
- The poem explores the seductive power of beauty and the dangers of romantic idealization.
- The knight’s obsession leads to his emotional and physical downfall.
- Nature reflects his emotional state — from “full of life” to “cold and desolate.”
- The cyclical structure (question-answer format) leaves the story unfinished and mysterious, emphasizing emotional paralysis.
Key Techniques:
- Ballad form: simple rhyme and repetition for a haunting effect.
- Symbolism: the “fading rose” and “withered sedge” mirror the knight’s decay.
- Dream-like imagery blurs reality and illusion.
- Use of dialogue to create immediacy.