23 pages 46 minutes read

John Keats

La Belle Dame sans Merci

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1819

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Symbols & Motifs

The Speaker and the Knight-at-Arms

The poem contains several enigmas, such as the identity of the speaker, the knight-at-arms, and the faery lady. Its premise itself is strange and draws attention to itself. Is the speaker just a passerby who has glimpsed the knight? Why is the speaker himself visiting a desolate landscape? Why is it important to describe the knight as a knight-at-arms? If the poem is read as an allegory, the speaker and the knight-at-arms can be seen as symbols that provide insights into these questions. In a symbolic reading, the speaker may not just be a random stranger but the alter-ego of the knight. Since the reader only sees the knight through the speaker’s eyes, the speaker may well be describing himself through a poetic framing device. The speaker—a stand-in now for the poet himself—is using the knight as a symbol for his own torments and creative journey.

The knight-at-arms represents the beleaguered creative and human spirit. He is in full armor because he is prepared to undertake a grand quest or a heroic journey. This journey could be the journey of life, or the poet’s delving into imagination. However, on this journey the knight encounters death and illness, or the excesses of the imagination, all personified in the lady.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 23 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools