Poem- The Glove and the Lions- Question and Answers

I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport,
….Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.

(i) Where was King Francis? Why was he there? Which characteristic traits of Francis are
described in this stanza?

Ans. King Francis was watching the royal sport of a lion fight in an arena along with members of
his royal court.

King Francis enjoyed watching the spectacle of blood sports especially the royal sport of a lion
fight and therefore he is witnessing the fight sitting far away from the pit of the arena where the
two lions were fighting along with the members of his royal court.

King Francis has been described as a good-hearted king, a kind and just ruler. “King Francis Was
A Hearty King”.

(ii) Who all are present in the audience, besides King Francis? Who sighed and for whom?
What is suggested by the phrase ‘the ladies in their pride’?

Ans. Aristocrats, lords and “the ladies in their pride” are all around King Francis seated in the
arena.

The Count de Lorge, one of King Francis’ noblemen and his beauteous lady-love are seated on
seats below the King. The beautiful companion of the Count has captured the King’s special
attention and he ‘sighed’ obviously in envy of the Count.

The well-dressed ladies of the royal court have been referred to as “the ladies in their pride”.
They have been compared to a “pride of lions”. This is suggestive of the notion that the ladies
can be as vicious, spiteful and cruel as the lions who are fighting in the pit of the arena.

(iii) What is ‘it’ referred to as ‘a gallant thing’? Why is it so?

Ans.’it’ refers to the spectacle of the lions fighting in the arena. It is being witnessed by the King
and his Court consisting of noblemen and their lady companions.

‘it’ is referred to as a ‘gallant thing’ because it combines elements of bravery, love and royalty.
The presence of the King, along with the display of courage and beauty symbolised by the gallant
noblemen and their beautiful ladies. The ‘beasts’ which are referred to in the poem are suggestive of
both the lions and the nobles who fight amongst themselves to seek the King’s favour.

(iv) Explain in your own words the last line of the given extract.

Ans. The last line suggests that the spectacle of the lions fighting symbolise a hierarchy with the
King seated high up in the stadium, the members of the royal court seated a little below and
finally the royal beasts, the lions below in the pit or the arena. It emphasises the contrast
between the royal figures and the wild beasts, highlighting the grandeur of the scene.

(v) Explain briefly how this poem is a ballad.

Ans. The poem, “The Glove and the Lions” is a ballad because it tells a story in a rhythmic and
narrative form. It has a rhythmic and narrative form. It has a regular meter and rhyme scheme,
contributing to its musical quality. Additionally, it contains elements of love, bravery and dramatic
tension, which are typical themes found in ballads.

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

(i) Where were the lions? Who all were watching them? Explain briefly the lions’ fight as
described in the first line of the extract.

Ans. The lions were in the pit of the arena fighting each other.

King Francis and his gallant nobles accompanied by their beautiful ladies were watching the
royal spectacle.

The lions’ fight as described in the first line, depicts them roaring aggressively and loudly with
their monstrous jaws wide open in a frightening manner.

(ii) How can you say that the fight between the two lions was quite ferocious and brutal?

Ans. The fight between the lions is portrayed as ferocious and brutal through vivid imagery and
intense action as described in the lines. They ‘ramped and roared with horrid laughing jaws’,
‘They bit each other’, ‘gave blows like beams’, and ‘rolled on one another with wallowing might’.
The description evokes a sense of violence and aggression indicating a fierce battle between the
animals.

(iii) Give two poetic devices used in this extract with one example of each.

Ans. Poetic devices used in this extract are:

. Alliteration: “Ramped and Roared the lions” – repetition of the consonant sound of ‘R’ in a
single line of a poem.

. Simile: “Gave blows like beams” – Comparison of the force of the lions’ blows to beams of
wood.

(iv) What did King Francis tell the audience? What is revealed about the King by his remark?

Ans. King Francis tells the audience, “Faith, gentlemen, we’re better here than there.”

This remark suggests that King Francis and the audience feel safer and more comfortable
watching the lions fight from a safe distance than being directly involved or in close proximity to
the dangerous animals. It reveals the King’s pragmatic nature and concern for his and the court’s
safety. It also suggests that the King believes he is superior to the lions- the king of the jungle. He
seems distant and superior as he arrogantly declares, better ‘here than there’.

(v) Explain briefly the imagery used in this extract.

Ans The imagery in this extract vividly depicts the intensity and brutality of the lions’ fight.

Visual Imagery: The poem presents a series of powerfully drawn visual images. The
description of King Francis’ Court, along with his courtiers, nobles and ladies in their pride, to
watch the royal sport of a lions’ fight is so vividly described that readers can visualise the fight.

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

Auditory Imagery: The roar of the lions in the pit and the ferociousness of their fight is
displayed through auditory imagery.
 . ramped and roared the lions, stifled roar, thunderous smother

III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
De Lorge’s love o’erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame
I’ll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine.

(i) What did de Lorge’s lover overhear the King say? What did she think about the King?

Ans. The love of the Count heard the King remark that they were better off sitting where they
were rather than closer to the pit where the lions were fighting.

The lady found the King’s wit to be exceptionally amusing. She looked at the King and
appeared to be amazed by the King’s royal demeanour and power. She gives him a ‘beauteous’
smile. The majesty and might of the King has obviously impressed her.

(ii) How has the speaker described de Lorge’s beloved? Why has she been described as
‘always seemed the same’?

Ans. The speaker has been described as ‘a beauteous lively dame’ having smiling lips and sharp
bright eyes, which always seemed the same.

The phrase, ‘always seemed the same’ has been used to describe the Count’s beloved
because she was a lively beautiful young woman. She had smiling lips and sharp bright eyes,
which always looked the same in beauty. She was an exceptionally beautiful lady who had
caught the eye of King Francis.

(iii) What did she think about de Lorge? What was she sure about?

Ans. The young lady is aware that she has caught the eye and the admiration of the King.
Witnessing the thrilling show of a lion fight which displays raw might and power between the
two royal and majestic lions, she thinks of her lover, the Count de Lorge. She feels he is ‘as brave
as can be’ and he would do some wondrous things to show his love for her.

(iv) Which idea struck her? What was her real intention in implementing her idea?

Ans. The lady was struck by an idea. She was aware that the King and all the nobles of the royal
court were present there. The occasion was ripe to grab attention. She thought of dropping her
glove into the pit amidst the hungry and savage lions to prove her beloved’s love for her.

The lady knew that the Count would accept her unspoken challenge and jump into the pit and
retrieve it for her. If he succeeded, she would become the centre of attraction and glory.

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

(v) Explain briefly the characteristic traits of de Lorge’s lover as revealed in this extract?

Ans. The lady, De Lorge’s lover, was a vain and a shallow woman. She was a person who would
go to any length to seek attention or to show off. Her actions were guided by her need for
attention and praise for her beauty. She was uncaring and insensitive and ignorant of the fact
that she risked the life of her beloved.

IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled;
“No love,”quoth he, “but vanity, sets love a task like that.”
(i) Who is ‘She’ referred to in this extract? Where did she drop her glove? Why did she do
so?

Ans. Repeat of Extract III (iv)

(ii) Why did she look at him and smile? What does it reveal about her?

Ans. De Lorge’s beloved seems to have least value for the love which the Count has for her. She
just wants to seek attention of the King and the audience. Therefore, she has no qualms in
asking or literally challenging her lover to leap down into the pit to retrieve her glove, which she
deliberately throws there. She expresses her challenge not in words but simply conveys it by a
look and a smile.

This action of hers reveals her vanity, arrogance and attention seeking shallow nature.

(iii) How did de Lorge react to her smile? What forced him to do so?

Ans. The Count was a brave gallant warrior. He unhesitatingly accepts his lady’s unspoken
challenge and jumps into the pit without a second thought.

The presence of the King and the nobles along with their ladies forced the Count to take up the
lady’s challenge. He could not cut a sorry figure in front of his King and peers by ignoring the
challenge which required him to prove his gallantry and prowess.

(iv) How did de Lorge come back from the pit unharmed? How did he react after coming
back? How did King Francis react to it?

Ans. The Count jumps into the pit in a flash, retrieves her glove, without being harmed by the
lions.

However, the things did not turn out as the lady had expected. The Count could see through
the lady’s cunning motive and threw the glove at her face in an insulting manner. It seemed the
spell the lady had cast over him had broken. It was apparent that though he might have loved
her, she seemed to love false glory more than anything else. As a result, she ends up receiving
just the response she deserves.

The King approves of Count de Lorge’s act:

“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.”

(v) Explain briefly the theme of the poem.

Ans. The central theme of the poem, ‘The Glove and the Lions’ is that there is no place for vanity
in true love. In love both the lovers take care of each other’s well- being. De Lorge’s beloved
wanted to grab attention of the royal court who were in attendance of King Francis. Without
thinking of the grave consequences, she dropped her glove into the pit where the lions were
fighting, and looked at her lover meaningfully. De Lorge, brave as he was,, jumped into the pit
and retrieved the glove for her so swiftly that the lions could not touch him. He threw the glove
at her face and at once left the arena. Obviously, he was not amused. He wondered how a lover
could be so uncaring. His lady had put his life into danger just to grab attention of the king and
other nobles. She was proud and vain.