In some ways, this poem is like an object lesson in what to expect from a ballad. It starts in the middle of the story, there is an ambivalent ending, it has (lots of) structural repetition, there is a conventional four-line stanza form, ABCB rhyming scheme, archaic language and the depersonalised figures typical of ballads.
On the other hand, Keats makes it his own. there are many factors that individualise it, from the Shakespearean references (to Macbeth? Romeo and Juliet?) to the single-ended frame narrative. Did he copy that from Coleridge's double-ended frame narrative for The Amcient Mariner, do you think?
Anyway, one of the best ways to understand Keats (or Coleridge) and what they were trying to do by imitating ballads is to go and read some for yourself. This website will show you a fine collection. It is an archive of Child's Ballads (Francis Child was one of the most influential collectors of popular ballads in the 19th century. Have a look and let me know which is your favourite. How does 'La Belle Dame Snas Merci' compare?
I can see quite a lot of similarities between La Belle Dame and the first half of 'The Outlandish Knight' but with reversed gender roles. In the second half of the poem, the parrot says "What ails thee, what ails thee," to the escaped lady. This poem has a sort of single-ended frame narrative in that the voice is initially first-person for the first stanza before adopting an omniscient voice. I was a little bit surprised and confused by the ending which seems to take on a new plot. Maybe this isn't a conventional ballad either?!
ReplyDeleteThere are many similarities between 'La Belle Dame Merci' and 'The Deceived Girl', however also with a reversal of gender roles. Both the maiden from 'The Deceived Girl' and the Knight from 'La Belle Dame,' remain blissfully unaware of the pretence they are under until it is too late. Both poems follow the idea of a conventional ballad ending, being one of sadness, as the Knight remains on 'The cold hill's side' and the maiden lives in bitterness determined to warn other maidens of the fact that 'Scots were never, never true. And Scots will never be.' Furthermore, both poems share the idea that the innocent characters are not the first to be tricked and manipulated, demonstrated in 'La Belle Dame' through the 'Pale kings and princes too,' and in 'The Deceived Girl,' through her mother's revelation, 'You're not the first, nor only one, The Scotsmen did beguile.' However, the rhythm within the final line of each stanza differs between the two texts. In 'La Belle Dame', the final line is usually four or five syllables, leaving the reader feeling unsettled, whereas the final line of each stanza in 'The Deceived Girl' usually proves to be eight syllables, creating the reader's expected rhythm. Therefore 'The Deceived Girl' seems to be more of a conventional ballad?!
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by both of these comments! I like the comparisons in both... With regard to 'The Outlandish Knight', I think that the parrot may be meant to represent the lady--or perhaps a version of her who never went away from home?--with the knight as the threatening 'cat'. The King's only response to danger is to suggest an even prettier gilded cage, rather than to get rid of the danger of the knight (which might mean he was operating against his own kind). I suspect many ladies might have identified with the parrot!
ReplyDeleteI do like the lady in 'The Outlandish KNight', as she seems pretty fiesty. That ballad also ahs the diea of not being the first one tricked, doesn't it. I wonder if that's a version of the 'fairy-tale' or 'folk-tale' patterning, where you learn from the mistakes of others before succeeding?