THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS POEM (SUMMARY + ANALYSIS) 2024

Get complete information about "the glove and the lions" written by Leigh Hunt, summary, introduction to the poem, literary devices used in the poem.

THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS-

ABOUT THE POET: LEIGH HUNT 

Leigh Hunt (October 1784– August 1859), a Romantic writer, essayist, editor, critic, and prolific poet, was a contemporary of romantic poets Keats, Byron, and Shelley. He was also one of the most outspoken and effective journalists in the age of the French Revolution. Hunt is remembered for his vivid descriptions, the lyrical quality of his verse, his delight in nature, and his mastery of mood and atmosphere.

INTRODUCTION TO THE POEM:

This poem is set against a medieval backdrop, where valour and gallantry are prized. Hunt's poem "The Glove and the Lions" is a humorous narrative that explores the dangers of allowing pride and vanity rather than love to dictate one's action, especially in a romantic relationship. Hunt seems to be making a statement against the stereotyping of men as'macho' creatures who are engaged in a perpetual quest to 'prove' themselves to their lady loves!

The poem is to be read and enjoyed for its lyricism and gentle humor without trying to discover a 'central message' or 'moral'.

THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS: SUMMARY / LINE BY LINE EXPLANATION 

LINE: 1-6

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 KING ABOVE, AND THE ROYAL BEASTS BELOW.

The poem is about a king called Francis who enjoys watching exciting things (royal sports) with his noble friends. One day, they dress up and go to watch lions fight, which was popular at the time. The king noticed "Count de Lorge" sitting in a group with "pride ladies," in which he had a feeling (sighed) for a lady he desired.

Apart from the love story, the poem discusses the lion fight as a gallant and epic experience to see that "crowning show," which was full of climax, "valour, and love," with a king above and a "royal beast below" fighting.

LINE 7-12

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 SMOOTHER;

THE BLOODY FOAM ABOVE THE BARS CAME WHISKING THROUGH THE AIR;

SAID FRANCIS THEN, "FAITH, GENTLEMAN, WE'RE BETTER HERE THAN THERE."

Further, the poem tells about lions fighting with each other. These are violent animals whose voices are horrifying and show their scary "laughing jaws." The lions bit (used their teeth) on each other, stared fiercely, and fought with each other really hard, "like beams," so there was everything like chaos. When they used their paws, it seemed like a strong wind was blowing. 

The King was watching this scene from the safe zone when he noticed the lions rolled around with great strength, making muffled roars. They stirred up Sabd and their "mane," creating a loud and smoky disturbance in the pit. He even notices bloody flecks of foam flying through the air.

He says that it is better to be up here with a sense of security and watchfulness than down in the midst of those lions. That’s why it is a thrilling lion fight, which makes the king happy that he is not part of it.

LINE 13-18

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.

Therefore, some distinguished people, including the king and his noble friends, are observing the lion fight. The lady who likes "Count de Lorge" over the king. The lady always had "smiling lips and sharp, bright eyes" that always looked the same. She thought her lover, "Count de Lorge," was brave, and he was "as brave as can be." She was sure "he would do wondrous things" to prove how much he loved her.

Finally, she decided to test him. She dropped her glove into the pit where the "royal beast" was fighting, hoping de lorge would be brave enough to jump in and get it back for her.

LINE 19-24

SHE DROPPED HER GLOVE, TO PROVE HIS LOVE, THEN LOOKED AT HIM AND SMILED;

HE BOWED, AND IN A MOMENT LAPED AMONG THE LIONS WILD:

THE KEAO WAS QUICK, RETURN WAS QUICK, HE HAS REGAINED HIS PLACE,

THR 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," QUOTHE HE, "BUT VANITY, SETS LOVE A TASK LIKE THAT."

So, the lady drops her glove to see if her lover, De Lorge, is brave enough to get it from the lion pit. D lorge simply jumps inside without much ado, takes hold of it, and returns unseen. But he throws back the glove at her face, "but not in love," declaring that he is done with their relationship. 

He departs from there knowing that she did it just for attention but not for love; however, this time around, he showed understanding by leaving. He thinks love should not include risks like jumping into a lion cage.

King Francis became happy with what he saw, stood up, and said, "Rightly done!" Then he explained that doing tasks like this isn't about love; it's more about wanting to show off or impress others.

LITERARY DEVICES/FIGURES OF SPEECH:

1.Alliteration:

   - Example: "Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws."

   - Purpose: Creates a rhythmic and memorable quality in the description of the lions.

2. Metaphor:

   - Example: "Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below."

   - Purpose: Through metaphorical language, describes what the great thing about a royal spectacle is and thereby magnifies its grandeur.

3. Imagery:

   - Example: "They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws."

   - Purpose: Vivid descriptions create mental images, allowing readers to visualize the intense lion fight.

4. Hyperbole:

   - Example: "With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another;"

   - Purpose: Exaggerates the lions' actions, emphasizing the ferocity of the fight.

5. Irony:

   - Example: "By God!" said Francis, "rightly done!" [...] "No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."

   - Purpose: Irony is present in Francis' praise for De Lorge's action, only to dismiss it as vanity. It adds a layer of complexity to the poem.

6. Symbolism:

   - Example: The glove dropped by the lady symbolizes a test of De Lorge's love.

   - Purpose: The glove serves as a symbolic element representing the lady's expectations and De Lorge's reaction.

7. Rhyme Scheme:

   - Example: The poem follows an AABB rhyme scheme.

   - Purpose: Contributes to the poem's musicality and rhythm.

8. Enjambment:

   - Example: "He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: / The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place,"

   - Purpose: By having no pause after the sentence’s progress continues without interruption creating urgency and fluidity in narration.

FAQs

what is literary devices/figures of speech used in the poem?

1.Alliteration: - Example: "Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws." - Purpose: Creates a rhythmic and memorable quality in the description of the lions. 2. Metaphor: - Example: "Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below." - Purpose: Through metaphorical language, describes what the great thing about a royal spectacle is and thereby magnifies its grandeur. Read more...

The glove and the lions: summary / line by line explanation

LINE: 1-6 KING FRANCIS WAS A HEARTY KING......ROYAL BEASTS BELOW. The poem is about a king called Francis who enjoys watching exciting things (royal sports) with his noble friends. One day, they dress up and go to watch lions fight, which was popular at the time. The king noticed "Count de Lorge" sitting in a group with "pride ladies," in which he had a feeling (sighed) for a lady he desired. Read more...

what is the introduction of the poem:

This poem is set against a medieval backdrop, where valour and gallantry are prized. Hunt's poem "The Glove and the Lions" is a humorous narrative that explores the dangers of allowing pride and vanity rather than love to dictate one's action, especially in a romantic relationship. Hunt seems to be making a statement against the stereotyping of men as'macho' creatures who are engaged in a perpetual quest to 'prove' themselves to their lady loves!