La Belle Dame Sans Merci (John Keats)

La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats is a ballad narrating a conversation between the speaker and a knight who is in a state of distress. The knight recounts his encounter with a mysterious woman known as "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" (The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy). The knight describes how he fell under the spell of the beautiful lady, who seduced him with her otherworldly charm. However, the lady's love proves to be deceptive and ultimately leads to the knight's downfall, leaving him in a state of desolation and despair. You can read the poem below and find analysis further down the page.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats

I see a lily on thy brow,

With anguish moist and fever-dew,

And on thy cheek a fading rose

Fast withereth too.

I met a lady in the meads,

Full beautiful – a faery’s child,

Her hair was long, her foot was light,

And her eyes were wild.

I made a garland for her head,

And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;

She looked at me as she did love,

And made sweet moan.

I set her on my pacing steed,

And nothing else saw all day long,

For sidelong would she bend, and sing

A faery’s song.

She found me roots of relish sweet,

And honey wild, and manna-dew,

And sure in language strange she said –

‘I love thee true’.

She took me to her elfin grot,

And there she wept and sighed full sore,

And there I shut her wild wild eyes

With kisses four.

And there she lulled me asleep

And there I dreamed – Ah! woe betide! –

The latest dream I ever dreamt

On the cold hill side.

I saw pale kings, and princes too,

Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;

They cried – ‘La Belle Dame sans Merci

Thee hath in thrall!’

I saw their starved lips in the gloam,

With horrid warning gapèd wide,

And I awoke and found me here,

On the cold hill’s side.

And this is why I sojourn here

Alone and palely loitering,

Though the sedge is withered from the lake,

And no birds sing

Analysis

Themes:

Love and Desire: Keats explores the theme of love and desire, portraying the knight's infatuation with the beautiful lady.

Deception and Betrayal: The poem examines the idea of deception and betrayal in love, as the beautiful lady leads the knight to his downfall through her seductive charms.

Isolation and Despair: "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" depicts the knight's sense of isolation and despair following his encounter with the beautiful lady. He is left alone and abandoned, with his dreams shattered and his heart broken.

Nature and Supernatural: Keats employs natural and supernatural imagery to create an otherworldly atmosphere, reflecting the mysterious and enchanting nature of the beautiful lady.

Language and Imagery:

Keats uses rich and evocative language, coupled with vivid imagery, to create a sense of mystery and enchantment. Phrases such as "wild wild eyes" and "faery's child" evoke the otherworldly beauty of the lady and the supernatural quality of her allure.

Tone and Mood: 

The tone of the poem is melancholic and haunting, with a sense of foreboding underlying the knight's recounting of his encounter with the beautiful lady. The mood is one of unease and uncertainty, as the knight grapples with the consequences of his ill-fated love affair.

Structure and Form: 

"La Belle Dame Sans Merci" is structured as a ballad, with alternating rhymed and unrhymed lines. This traditional form lends a sense of rhythm and musicality to the poem, enhancing its emotional impact and reinforcing its narrative structure.

Symbolism:

The beautiful lady serves as a symbol of temptation and deceit, representing the ephemeral nature of human desire and the dangers of succumbing to worldly pleasures. The knight, in turn, symbolises vulnerability and innocence, as he falls victim to the lady's charms.

Narrative Perspective: 

The poem is narrated from the perspective of the knight, offering readers insight into his thoughts and emotions. This perspective allows Keats to explore the complexities of love and desire within the context of a romantic encounter gone awry.

Relevance to the Anthology:

"La Belle Dame Sans Merci" provides students with an opportunity to explore the theme of relationships from a Romantic perspective, focusing on the idea of love as both enchanting and deceptive.

The poem invites readers to consider the consequences of succumbing to temptation and the transient nature of human desire.

Conclusion:

La Belle Dame Sans Merci by John Keats is a haunting exploration of love, deception, and the transient nature of human relationships. Through vivid imagery and rich language, Keats creates a sense of mystery and enchantment, drawing readers into the world of the knight and the beautiful lady. Ultimately, the poem serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of succumbing to temptation and the ephemeral nature of human desire, inviting readers to contemplate the complexities of love and the consequences of its pursuit.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Relationships Poetry Anthology Poems here.