La Belle Dame Sans Merci summary by John Keats

"La Belle Dame sans Merci" is a poem written by John Keats in 1819. It tells the story of a knight who meets a beautiful and enchanting lady in a meadow. The knight is captivated by her beauty and falls in love with her. However, the lady is described as "sans merci," which means "without mercy" in French, suggesting that she is heartless.

The lady lures the knight into her world, where he sees many other pale and forlorn knights who have also fallen under her spell. She gives the knight "roots of relish sweet" and "honey wild" to eat, which causes him to have strange and vivid dreams. He awakens to find himself alone in the meadow, abandoned by the lady.

The poem is a ballad that explores themes of love, beauty, and the destructive power of enchantment. It suggests that love and desire, when taken to excess, can lead to suffering and abandonment. The title, "La Belle Dame sans Merci," can be translated as "The Beautiful Lady without Mercy," emphasizing the lady's cruel and unfeeling nature.

Overall, the poem is a haunting and melancholic exploration of the darker aspects of love and desire.

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