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Dated. 19.02.2023

ଓଡ଼ିଆ କବିତା "ଏକା ତୁ କାଳିଆ ସତ" / TRANSLATED ENGLISH POEM "KALIA, ONLY YOU ARE TRUE.

ଏକା ତୁ କାଳିଆ ସତ

ଦିନେ ଯିଏ ଥାଏ ଅତି ଆପଣାର ,

ହୁଏ ଦିନେ ସାତପର !

ଦିନେ ଯେ ବୁଣଇ ଖୁସିର ଫସଲ ,

ଝରାଏ ସେ ଲୁହଧାର !!

ମିଛ ଦୁନିଆରେ ସବୁ ଲାଗେ ମିଛ ,

ଏକା ତୁ କାଳିଆ ସତ !

ଯୁଆଡ଼େ ଟାଣୁଛୁ ସିଆଡେ ଯାଉଛି ,

ଲୀଳାମୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ !!

ଜୀବନ ପଥରେ କେତେ କାଚକଣ୍ଟା ,

ଲହୁଲୁହାଣ ଯେ କରେ !

ତୋ' ନାମ ଧରିଲେ ଫୁଲ ଫୁଟିଯାଏ ,

ଚଲାପଥ ଧାରେ ଧାରେ !!

ଚୋରାବାଲି ଦେହେ କେବେ ପାଦ ଖସେ ,

ଡାକିଚାଲେ ଜଗା ରଖ !

ସମୟ ଖେଳଇ ଲୁଚକାଳି ଖେଳ ,

ଦିଶେ ତୋ'ର ପଦ୍ମମୁଖ !!

ସାରୁ ପତରରେ ଜଳବୁନ୍ଦା ପରି ,

ଜୀବନ ଯେ ଢଳଢଳ !

ଏତେ ଇର୍ଷା କିଆଁ ମନରେ ପାଳୁଛ ,

ଜଳି ନିଜେ ତିଳତିଳ ।

ଜୀବନ-ପାତ୍ରରେ କେବେ ଭରିଯାଏ

ଅଗଣିତ ଖୁସି ଫୁଲ !

କେବେ ଢ଼ଳଢଳ ଲୁହ-ମୁକୁତାରେ ,

କିଏ ବା ଦେବ ତା' ମୂଲ ??

ଗୋଲାପର ଶେଯ ନୁହଁଇ ଜୀବନ ,

କେବେ ଖରା କେବେ ଛାଇ !

ଆବୁଡ଼ା ଖାବୁଡ଼ା ପଥଧାର ତା'ର ,

ପଡ଼ିଲେ ରଖିବୁ ସାଇଁ !!

କିଏ ଆପଣାର କିଏ ଏଠି ପର ,

ସମୟ ଚିହ୍ନେଇ ଦିଏ !

ତୁଇ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ଏକା ଅଟୁ ସତ୍ୟ ,

ତୋ' ଭାବରେ ଜିଉଁଥାଏ !!

THE SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF THE POEM “A CONSIDERABLE SPECK”

 

INTRODUCTION

‘A Considerable Speck’ is a poem written by Robert Frost, and published in the ‘Atlantic Monthly’ in July 1939. The poem captures the journey of a living mite on a white sheet of paper that the poet uses to write about a potential topic. The central theme of the poem explores the creativity and far-fetched imagination of the human mind. The mite being the smallest and almost insignificant creature has the power to change the perception of the poet to not kill it. The poet also highlights the struggle for survival that the mite has to endure, which suggests the ability of consciousness and reasoning even in the smallest of creatures. The title of the poem is an example of an oxymoron as two contradictory terms “considerable” which suggests significant or noteworthy and “speck” which indicates a tiny spot or mark are placed together. It also foreshadows the themes of the importance of the smallest or seemingly insignificant objects.

 

A Considerable Speck | Analysis, Lines 1 – 9 

A speck that would have been beneath my sight

 On any but a paper sheet so white

 Set off across what I had written there.

 And I had idly poised my pen in air

 To stop it with a period of ink

 When something strange about it made me think,

This was no dust speck by my breathing blown,

 But unmistakably a living mite

 With inclinations it could call its own.

 

In verse 1 of the poem, the poet describes a mite that he sees on his piece of paper. The white sheet of paper, on which the poet was going to write about a potential topic, has a little speck running around it. The poet holds his pen in the air while thinking about a writing topic. When he notices the mite on the page underneath him, he considers erasing it with his ink, but “something strange” occurs and he changes his perspective. He sees that it is a living mite “with inclinations” of its own, not a dust speck that would have emerged from his breathing.

The opening verse of the poem uses a heroic couplet and an AABBCCDED rhyme scheme to emphasize the idea that, in contrast to the mite, the poet is a mighty and all-powerful being. Frost makes use of powerful visual imagery to emphasize the contrast between the little insignificant “speck” and the purity of the “paper sheet so white.” The “period of ink” and the pen held in the air, which symbolizes the poet’s ability to remove the speck off the white page, are easily visualized by the readers. The poet refers to the speck as “a living mite” in a way that conjures up the idea of a tiny bug flying around. The poet uses the figure of speech of personification, as he personifies the speech, attributing human details like “inclinations it could call its own” to the speck. 

A Considerable Speck | Analysis, Lines 10 – 17 

It paused as with suspicion of my pen, 

 And then came racing wildly on again 

 To where my manuscript was not yet dry;

 Then paused again and either drank or smelt–

 With loathing, for again it turned to fly.

 Plainly with an intelligence I dealt.

 It seemed too tiny to have room for feet,

 Yet must have had a set of them complete

 

In Verse 2 of the poem, Frost describes the movements of the mite as he halts in suspicion of the speaker’s pen. Then, the mite races wildly where the manuscript is not yet dry. Further, the speck pauses again and it either drinks or smells the ink. Further, it does not like the ink and flies away. The poet notices that it is too tiny but has room for a set of his feet which are complete. 

Verse 2 of the poem has an AABCBCDD rhyme scheme, and it reveals the spontaneity and free flow of movements of the speck. The poet uses personification to personify the speck of having human qualities to drink and smell the ink and the ability to have a suspicion of its surroundings. It challenges the aspect of insignificance attached to the tiny creature and emphasizes that it has a mind of its own. The poet also employs Hyperbole to exaggerate the tiny nature of the mite- “it seemed too tiny to have room for feet”. The verse also consists of visual imagery to describe the interactions of the speck with their surroundings. 

A Considerable Speck | Analysis, Lines 18 – 29

To express how much it didn’t want to die.

It ran with terror and with cunning crept.

 It faltered: I could see it hesitate;

 Then in the middle of the open sheet

 Cower down in desperation to accept

 Whatever I accorded it of fate.

 I have none of the tenderer-than-thou

 Collectivistic regimenting love

 With which the modern world is being swept.

 But this poor microscopic item now!

 Since it was nothing I knew evil of

 I let it lie there till I hope it slept.

 

In Verse 3 of the poem, the mite expresses a desire to live and thus runs around the sheet of paper with terror. It cunningly creeps, falters, hesitates, and finally accepts its fate at the hands of the speaker. The speaker acknowledges that he does not have the emotion of “collectivistic regimenting love” which is very prevalent and can be easily found in the modern world. But the “poor microscopic item” is nothing sort of evil for the poet and thus it allows the mite to lie and he hopes for the speck to sleep. 

The third verse of the poem is written in free verse and does not have a rhyme scheme, which allows the poet greater autonomy to express his or her feelings and ideas. It deals with issues of life and death as well as the speaker’s recognition of the speck’s wish to live, which gives the mite agency. It emphasizes the idea that the poet continues to be a powerful and omnipotent character in contrast to the tiny creature and reflects the speck’s struggle for survival. The speck’s frantic effort to accept its fate by cowering down is a representation of its hopelessness. The phrase “It ran with terror and cunning crept” highlights the speck’s determination to survive as well as its situation of helplessness. 

A Considerable Speck | Analysis, Lines 30- 33

 I have a mind myself and recognize

 Mind when I meet with it in any guise

 No one can know how glad I am to find

 On any sheet the least display of mind.

 

Frost reveals that he has a mind and can perceive intelligence in any form, as indicated in the poem’s final line. He respects the capacity of a mind to reason and act, and he recognizes intelligence that can be found in even the most minute details and unexpected places. 

The poem’s main idea is conveyed in its final verse when the poet highlights the significance of seemingly trivial objects. He highlights his capacity for decision-making, saying, “I have a mind myself and recognize“. The speaker appears to value intelligence in all of its forms, as indicated by the phrase “Mind when I meet with it in any guise” The poet acknowledges a thinking mind, which is highlighted by the use of the word “mind” repeatedly. The poet also uses metaphor to compare “the display of mind” to a practical thing that could be found “on any sheet” of paper. The poet also gives the mind a material element, implying that intelligence can be perceived and takes on a physical shape. 

 N.B. This material, copyrighted by LITMARKED.COM, has been collected from Google for the purpose of self studies.

 

THE SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF POEM WHEN “GREAT TREES FALL.”

 

ANALYSIS OF POEM WHEN “GREAT TREES FALL.”

 

Analysis of the poem “When Greet Trees Fall” As a human being we often experience loss in our lives. It proves a source of despair and misery. Loss can be considering as red as an open wound that cannot be easily healed and memories proves to re-open that wound again and again. When we closely analyzed the text of the poem “Death is Nothing at All” we see that memories and regret of loss have been discussed in the poem. Through this poem Maya Angelou has tried to identify the speaker who is sharing the grief of his death and the pain they are feeling after losing him. This poem is clearly about the discussion of the death and the pain caused by the death. In this poem the speaker of the poem is effectively identifying the feelings of deep loss and anguish but also trying as well as through her powerful words she is offering hope for healing that great loss. With the help of simple style of syntax and diction used by the poet we can clearly understand the general mood of the text. In the starting mood shows the moments of despair and depression but with the development of the poem it transforms to the feelings of hope and peace that has been provided by the poet. We can get that Maya Angelou much too concerned about the topic of the poem. In between the lines of the poem, Maya Angelou used the tone that is well considered, gentle and calm in nature to explain her point of view about death. This poem “When Great Trees Fall” is about losing loved one in your life and it discussed the pain caused faced by the people on departing from each other. In the starting of the poem we see that Maya Angelou has used an extended metaphor that is describing the natural scene. In that natural scene there is a discussion about the reaction of animals on the moment when “great tress falls,” because in that situation animals hide themselves and run here and there to save their lives and “lumber after safety”. We see that metaphorically the fall of powerful and large trees in the forest is compared with the death of loved one when they depart from us. With this example we clearly understand that how beautifully May Angelou has applied the literary terms to make her work attractive for the readers. With the progress of the theme, the poem directly shifts on the topics of “great souls” and the reaction of human beings on that loss. In “The Republic of Poetry” (2014), Kim Fahner has praised about the poem “When Great Trees Falls” by considering it brilliant in terms of its structure and with respect the meaning, the poem is also of great magnitude. According to him, this poem is a source of comfort for you after losing someone who is very near to you. In the third stanza of the poem there is a feeling of people on suddenly loosing someone. Further poem is about the discussion on one’s inability in taking breath and the impact of one’s memory on the people left behind him/her. In the end of the poem there is a message that includes hope and renewal that provides the suggestions on the death of loved one’s that after death we have a chance to become more powerful and strong. This poem “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou consists of five stanzas. The stanzas of the poems are divided into uneven sets of lines. The stanzas consist of minimum 5 lines and maximum fourteen lines. Poem is without any specific rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. Through the use of several poetic techniques Maya Angelou has made this poem too much attractive and different from others as these are helpful in unifying the text of the poem and is creating a feeling of rhythm and rhyme. The poem has figurative language in the form of metaphors, alliteration, enjambment and repetition.

Conclusion To probe in between the lines what the poet intends to say and convey to the readers, stylistic analysis of the poem ‘When Great Leave Fall’ has been done through the lens of levels of stylistic analysis presented by Paul Simpson. Anyhow, only two levels: Graphological level and Phonological level were used by the researcher to achieve the objectives of the study. Both levels revealed the ideas of the poet garbed in literary techniques. Concept of death and the reality of the death have been presented by the poet in her own writing style. As the main concern of the research was the stylistic analysis of the poem, so going through the stylistic analysis we find the way of presenting ideas by the poet

  N.B. This material, copyrighted by World Wide Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development (Mar-2021), has been collected from Google for the purpose of self studies.

"When Great Trees Fall" is a poem written by Maya Angelou as a tribute to the assassinated civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The poem uses the metaphor of a fallen tree to describe the loss and impact of Dr. King's death.

 

"When Great Trees Fall" is a powerful and moving poem written by Maya Angelou in memory of her friend, the great musician and activist, Duke Ellington.

The poem speaks about the feeling of loss that comes with the death of someone significant in our lives, and how it can feel like a part of us has died with them. But it also reminds us that the impact of their life and legacy continue to live on, much like how the roots of a great tree continue to nourish the soil even after it falls.

The theme of the poem is that even though life may be fleeting, the influence and impact of great people on the world continue to live on even after their physical presence is gone. It encourages us to celebrate the life and accomplishments of those we have lost, and to find solace and strength in their legacies.

The poem inspires me because it captures the universal experience of grief and loss, while reminding us of the power of human connection and the impact of greatness on the world. It reminds me that even in the face of life's greatest challenges, we can look to the examples of those who have come before us and find inspiration and hope for the future.

  N.B. This material, copyrighted by BRAINLY, has been collected from Google for the purpose of self studies.

THE SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF THE POEM "THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS”

 

The Glove and the Lions Summary & Analysis - Poem by Leigh Hunt

King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport,
And one day as his lions fought, sat looking on the court;
The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride,
And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed:
And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show —
Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.

Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid, laughing jaws;
They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws.
With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another,
Till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thunderous smother;
The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through the air;
Said Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there!."

De Lorge's love o'erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame,
With smiling lips, and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same;
She thought, “The Count, my lover, is brave as brave can be,
He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me;
King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine;
I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine.’

She dropped her glove to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild;
The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place,
Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face!.
"By Heavens!" said Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat;
"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."

Poem by Leigh Hunt

The Glove and the Lions by Leigh Hunt- Summary

Glove and the Lions is simply about an incident that took place at a royal arena where the king, the nobles and their ladies had gathered to watch a show of combat between the royal lions. The king was a cheerful and sporty person who loved to watch these battles. The noblemen and their ladies also gathered there with pride of being part of this special gathering. There was a fine young nobleman seated among them with the lady whom he longed for. His name was Count de lorge.

In between the king and the beasts were a man with great bravery and the woman he loved.

Lions’ Combat

The fighting lions created a fierce scene. The lions rolled on each other and the pit was covered with wind. The sound of roars was equally terrifying. The blood with foam came whistling out from the pit. Looking at all this, the king makes a comment of reassurance to himself shaken by the ferocity. “Faith, gentlemen, we’re better here than there!” He is glad that they are seated up and far from the pit where the bloody combat was taking place.

Count de Lorge and the lady he longs for

The beautiful lady who is appreciated by Count de Lorge, overhears the comment by the king and thinks of a scheme through which she can show others how much she is sought after by the young man and to be glorious in front of the huge gathering. She thinks that it is the best time and place for her plan. Accordingly, she deliberately drops her glove to the fearful pit where the lions were in combat and looks at the face of the young man and smiles.

Count de Lorge’s reaction

Realizing her intentions, Count de Lorge jumps into the pit and quickly returns with her glove in his hand. His actions were proof of his bravery and the crowd was amazed. The crowd gets even more amazed when he throws the glove in the lady’s face with no love at all.

King’s Comment

What was happening was seen by the king as well and he again makes a comment on what he sees. This time he rises from his seat and applauds the actions of Count de Lorge; “By Heavens!” , “rightly done!”, “No love but vanity, sets love a task like that”. He also despises the act of the lady.

The Glove and the Lions - Analysis

The Glove and the Lions is a narrative poem. It relates an incident with elaborative information to discuss on a universal theme to convey an important message to the reader. The poet starts the poem by creating the background to his narration. Description and the visualization of the scene of combat and its audience communicates several aspects of human nature.

The Narrator and the Narration of The Glove and the Lions

It is a narration from a third person point of view. NArrator basically focuses on two happenings. The fierce combat of the lions in the pit and the combat of love and vanity in the relationship of Count de Lorge and the lady.

The comments made by the king on these two events play a vital role in the poem. These comments portrait a vivid picture of the king’s character whereas they do the work of a social critic.

The Setting of the poem The Glove and the Lions

The poet takes us back to the times of kings, queens, brave heroes, beauties and monsters. The king, noblemen and their ladies are seated round the arena watching royal lions fighting in the pit. One whole stanza is dedicated to establish the background in an effective and meaningful way.

The king’s fabulous royal presence, watching the combat from the highest position of the arena and the gathering of the noblemen and ladies seated below with their elegance and pride makes quite a scene. At the sametime, the fierce lions fighting in the pit creates quite a contrasting picture of blood and violence. Above all, the combat of love and vanity and expression of valour and rejection between a young nobleman and the lady is quite fascinating.

The poet says that it is a truly valuable and rare show which is not for just anyone to view. The poet becomes ironic here referring to the show of the lions and at the same time to the incident between a couple in love.

The Plot of the Poem The Glove and the Lions

The movement of the plot through the stanzas is quite interesting and methodical in this poem. The first stanza describes the atmosphere of the arena, the king, the noblemen and ladies and how they are seated. The characters of Count de Lorge and the lady are also introduced therein. It also mentions the event to which they all have gathered.

Stanza two creates a vivid picture of the combat between the royal lions, how they fight, how fearful they are and everything about the violent atmosphere there. The entire stanza is dedicated for this purpose and it serves its purpose. The king is enjoying the show and makes a comment about his experience.

The plot moves forward taking a different direction as the king gets distracted by the show of valour and vanity of two young lovers; Count de Lorge and the lady for whom he sighed.

The king and everyone who had gathered there witnessed how the lady threw her glove to the pit where the royal beasts were fighting expecting her lover to bring it back to her showing his love for her and thinking that she would own the glory of it. Everybody could witness the quick reaction of Count de Lorge who leaps to the pit and returns with the glove to throw it on her face showing his disapproval of her deeds. Having witnessed it all, the king again makes a comment. He approves the reaction by the young Count and despises how vanity could set love in such a position.

The focus of the poem

Even Though the very first two stanzas of the poem have been dedicated to describe the royal gathering at the arena and the combat between the royal beasts, the focus of the poem is not the royal sport.

It analyzes the absurdity of human nature in hunger of glory in any given circumstance. People can go beyond the basic values of life for their pride.

“The great glory will be mine”

The combat between the royal beasts is secondary to the combat going on in the minds of the audience who have gathered there. They are seated in their pride. They try hard to prove to themselves and to the rest of the noblemen that they are superior to the others who are gathered there. Each and every nobleman tries to win over the king. Ladies in particular, try to outshine each other.

There’s a much fierce combat going on in the mind of the lover of Count de Lorge. It is the battle between love and vanity and finally vanity wins, setting love at a difficult position.

Similarly, there is a battle between the feeling of love and realization of truth in the mind of Count de Lorge having to face the actions of his lady. Finally, his realization takes power to reject the unworthy. Accordingly, the focus of the poem is on the battles that are taking place in the human minds rather than the combat between the royal beasts.

The Climax of the Poem The Glove and the Lions

The climax is a surprising twist because Count de Lorge responds to the request of the lady without a word and just as she pleases. At the next moment, he frankly showcases his true feelings about her actions which no one would have expected. This scene is quite dramatic and creates a vivid visual imagery.

TheTone of the Poem The Glove and the Lions

The tone of the narrator is courteous and well-nurtured. The narrator does not use harsh words nor the characters utter hate speech. There is no in depth criticism, yet mild criticism through the comments uttered by the king. However, most of the time, actions speak more than words do.

The message of the Poem The Glove and the Lions

The Glove and the Lions poses a question about the real meaning of civilization / humanity. The first two stanzas focus on the blood sport and the poet looks down upon the idea of entertainment through the sorrow of others. Hunting is still considered a sport in some parts of the world and the poet raises the question whether it is humane to seek entertainment by killing a living being. There are several other sports which are meant for hurting the opponent for victory.

“Said Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there!."

The poet seeks the attention of the reader here and is cynical about how people could be so selfish that they think of their own safety, comforts and enjoyment at the cost of the lives of others.

“Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.”

There is also a hidden message in this poem which again poses the question of real glory. When the poet refers to the “royal beasts below”, one can refer to the nobles who fight for the king’s favour, nobles who fight for beautiful women, nobles who fight for their nobleness or vanity.

The incident between the lady and Count de Lorge hints us that it is in vain that one puts someone whom she loves at a task that threatens his life for the sake of mere glory.

The poet needs the reader to question themselves whether it is really necessary to become superior to others. Why do people consider themselves superior to others? Is it worthwhile proving oneself superior to others ?

Character Analysis

The character of King Francis

He is portrayed as a hearty king and a sports lover and not very different from the kings we have known in our history books. His occasional comments in the poem give the poet a voice to highlight certain facts and incidents in the plot.

The character of De Lorge

The character of Count de Lorge is portrayed as a person who is not lacking in valour. He is a man of action and a gentleman. He is also an intelligent person who is capable of understanding the sentiments and the real motive of the lady in this poem. Infact, he is capable of understanding the reality beyond the charms of the fine lady.

The Lady

“a beauteous lively dame, With smiling lips, and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same;’”

The lady is portrayed as someone who has all the outward beauty that one can get attracted to but lacking in the inner spirit that attracts a man with a heart. She is an indifferent, heartless and arrogant lady who is too confident of herself for someone who chooses her pride over the lover.

This poem exposes a daring character of a beautiful lady, equally daring young lord and a daring story of love and valour.

 N.B. This material, copyrighted by ceytopia.com, has been collected from Google for the purpose of self studies.

ANALYSIS TWO

The poem begins with the speaker describing the event that the royal court, the king included, are attending. It is a fight between two lions and all are there to see it play out. The king himself, Francis, is a fan of this particular “sport,” but his attention is split. He is amazed by the brutality of the fight and the fact that he is able to observe it from safety. On the other hand, he is distracted by the beauty of one for whom he “sighs.” She is the lover of another lord. 

The lady herself is distracted by the valor of the king and decided to set a task for her lover. She drops her glove into the lion pit in the hopes that he will jump in and retrieve it for her. He does just this but is not pleased with her actions. He throws her glove in her face and leaves the arena. He does not believe that any true lover would set “such a task.”  

Analysis of The Glove and the Lions

Stanza One

King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, 

And one day as his lions fought, sat looking on the court; 

The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride, 

And ‘mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed: 

And truly ’twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, 

Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below. 

 

‘The Glove and the Lions‘ begins with the speaker describing a king, Francis, and the courtesans that surround him. The reader enters the poem into a setting which is normal for the times, but outlandish seeming to a modern audience. One is immediately informed that the king is not a bad man, he is “hearty,” and seemingly good-natured.  

On this particular occasion, he is with the “royal… court” watching one of his favorite sporting activities, lion fighting. He is surrounded by aristocrats, lords, and “ladies in their pride.” Everyone is attending this event and is at their best. There is one couple among them that draws the special attention of the king. The Count de Lorge, and his “love.” She is the one for “whom [the king] sighed.” Francis is infatuated with the wife, or lover, of a noble in his court. 

AD

Taking a brief step back from the love story that is central to the plot of this short narrative, the speaker describes how the fight is progressing. He states that it is a “gallant thing” to see the “crowning show.” It is quite the royal event, something the common people would never have been able to see. The whole stadium like arrangement is filled with “Valour and love,” and topped off by the king, who is looking down on the “royal beasts,” below him. The “beasts” to which the speaker refers can reference both the lions and the nobles who must fight amongst themselves for the king’s favour. 

Stanza Two 

Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; 

They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws; 

With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another; 

Till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thunderous smother; 

The bloody foam above the bars came whisking through the air; 

Said Francis then, “Faith, gentlemen, we’re better here than there.” 

AD

The second stanza of ‘The Glove and the Lions‘ describes the atmosphere of the flight itself. The lions are quite vicious and “roared…with horrid laughing jaws.” They begin to fight and tear into one another. Their “blows” are strong like “beams” and the wind seems to move alongside their paws. They are rolling around on the floor and causing a serious commotion. From where the king is sitting he is impressed by the sublimeness of this moment. He is completely out of harm’s way but is able to experience the “bloody foam” that comes “whisking through the air.” 

In a distant and haughty way, he amusingly states that he, and those around him, are better off “here than there” in the pit with the lions.

Stanza Three 

De Lorge’s love o’erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame 

With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same; 

She thought, the Count my lover is brave as brave can be; 

He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me; 

King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine; 

I’ll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine. 

AD

One can assume, as is often the case, that the nobles chuckled at the king’s comment. One of these nobles, the lover of De Lorge, was especially entertained by the king’s whit. She turns and looks at him and smiles with her “beauteous…lips and sharp bright eyes.” 

She sees the king, and is perhaps struck by his grandeur and strength. She suddenly feels as if she must test her own lover, De Lorge, to see if he too is as brave as the king seems to be. She wants to be proven right that he is “brave as brave can be” and that he would “do wondrous things to show his love.” 

She comes to the conclusion that she will drop her glove into the pit with the lions in the hope that De Lorge will jump in and retrieve it for her. 

AD

Stanza Four 

She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled; 

He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: 

The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place, 

Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady’s face. 

“By God!” said Francis, “rightly done!” and he rose from where he sat: 

“No love,” quoth he, “but vanity, sets love a task like that.” 

AD

De Lorge does as she intended. He smiles at her, bows, and the leaps “among the lions wild.” He moves so quickly that they are unable to touch him. He is back, regaining “his place” as her lover before anyone has the time to react. 

So far things have gone to plan, but De Lorge was not amused by this gesture. He does not express his love at this moment. Instead, he throws the glove at her face and states that he is “rightly done” with her. He rises once more and leaves the arena. 

De Lorge seems to be the only one in this scenario that has a healthy outlook on what a relationship should be. He understands that she did not really make this gesture in the hopes of having his love for her validated, but instead as a way of getting attention and indulging her “vanity.” He states the same, and strides away from the king and nobles. He does not believe that “love” would “set…as task like that.” 

 N.B. This material, copyrighted by poemanalysis.com, and analyzed by Emma Baldwin has been collected from Google for the purpose of self studies.