La Belle Dame Sans Merci

Question 1

When was the poem written and who by?

Answer 1

John Keats, 1818

Question 2

Give a brief summary of the plot

Answer 2

The poet talks to the knight and asks why he looks so pale, the knight explains he met a beautiful lady and made her garlands. He tells of how they went for a ride on his horse and he Ould not take his eyes off her.
The lady gave him presents and took him to her elfin grot. The knight describes his nightmare about the other knights’ warning. He than wakes up.

Question 3

What does “alone and palely loitering?” mean.

Answer 3

Sets up a dilemma for the start of the poem, it also is a rhetorical question.

Question 4

What does “I set her on my pacing steed” mean.

Answer 4

All one part of his story as he explains what he does with the girl, show is on his horsing having fun, this is all.

Question 5

What does “no birds sing” mean.

Answer 5

This is the last words of the play, this means that all the hope and happiness is gone, as birds represent hope,