Notes

7. The Glove and the Lions

● Leigh Hunt

Name Poet Type Tone Imageries Theme Rhyme Special

Noticed Scheme Characteristic

The Leigh Ballad – a Gentle, Visual, 1. There is Consisten The poem

Glove Hunt poem that humorous, Kinaesthetic, no vanity t Rhyming has three
and the tells a story suspenseful Aural, in true couplets. characters –
Lions with a moral and Olfactory love. King Francis,
at the end. gripping. Count De
2. Don’t go Rhyme Lorge and his
too far in
Scheme: lover.
love.
aabbccdd
3. Bravery.
The poem is
4. Noble and set in a
upper- medieval
class life. society.

5. Men are
macho,
and have a
perpetual
quest of
proving it.

Important Pointers About the Poet

● His full name was James Henry Leigh Hunt.
● He is a British romantic poet and contemporary of John Keats, Lord Byron and Percy
Bysshe Shelley.
 About the Poem
● King Francis was good-hearted king and was fond of sport. He watched in his court as
two lions fought in the pit.
● Among the nobles and the ladies in the audience was Count De Lorge and his lady
love.
● Even King Francis felt jealous and sighed when he looked at the lady love of Count
De Lorge for she was extremely beautiful.
● The lions fought, roared, bit, pawed and gave blows to each other as the spectators
above watched.
● Looking at the lions fight ferociously, King Francis even remarked that they were
better as spectators in the court than in the pit with the lions.
● Count De Lorge’s lady lover overheard the king’s remark that they were better as
spectators. She decided to test her lover’s bravery.
● She was beautiful, had smiling lips and sharp bright eyes. Her beauty and charm was
always the same and had never changed.
● She realised that the occasion was perfect to test her lover’s bravery and show off to
the world.
● She dropped her glove in the area where the lions were fighting, and looked at Count
De Lorge, her lover and smiled.
● Count De Lorge smiled, leaped into the pit where the lions fought, and within an
instant got the glove back without hurting himself.
● He then threw the glove, not with love but disdain on his lover’s face.
● King Francis witnessing this was shocked but agreed with Count De Lorge.
● He said that it was not love but vanity that the lady had for De Lorge.

Meanings
● hearty – good-hearted, kind
● Royal sport – a sport which kings and nobles watch. Here, the two
lions fighting.
● Court – A place where noblemen and kings witnessed sport
● Nobles – Rich people
● Gallant – Brave
● ‘twas – It was
● Crowning – Perfect
● Valour – Bravery
● Ramped – Walking on a platform
● Horrid – Scary
● Glared – stared angrily
● Beams – Logs of wood
● Wallowing – Rolling in mud while fighting
● Stifled – trying to choke
● Mane – long hair that a lion has on his neck
● Smother – Cover
 ● Bars – Bars of the cage
● Whisking – coming quickly
● Love – Lover
● Beauteous – beautiful
● Dame – young girl
● Wondrous – Wonderful
● Divine – Rare
● Glory – Something that brings praise and pride
● Bowed – Bent
● Leap – Jump
● “By God!” – an exclamation of shock and surprise
● Rose – got up
● Quoth – Said
● Vanity – too much pride in one’s beauty and richness

⮚ Important Questions and Answers

⮚ All underlined words are key-words and must be included in all relevant answers.

Q.1. Which king is mentioned in the poem? Describe the sport that was going on.
OR
Who was King Francis? Describe the atmosphere at the beginning of the poem.
OR
Describe the setting. Describe the atmosphere.
Ans: The king mentioned in the poem was King Francis. King Francis was a hearty and kind
king, who also loved watching royal sport. King Francis at the beginning of the poem sat
looking on the court as his lions fought. The nobles and proud ladies filled the benches and
were part of the spectators.

Q.2. Who were the spectators? What ‘royal sport’ was in progress? Who are the special
people in the audience?
What was King Francis distracted by? What kind of show was witnessed by the king and
the courtiers?
OR

OR
Explain: The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride.
Ans: The royal sport mentioned in the poem is a fight of lions. The nobles and proud ladies
filled the benches and were part of the spectators. The nobles are the rich people, while the
ladies are proud of their beauty, richness and glory. Among the spectators were a special
couple - Count de Lorge with his beloved.

Q.3. Who did King Francis sigh for?

OR
Who stole the heart of King Francis?
OR
Explain: “And amongst them sat Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed:”
Ans: The nobles and proud ladies filled the benches and were part of the spectators. Among
the spectators were a special couple - Count de Lorge with his beloved. King Francis sighed
for the lover of Count de Lorge because she was beautiful and a charming woman. It could
be assumed that King Francis was jealous of Count de Lorge, and infatuated by the lady’s
beauty and charm.

Q.4. Describe the warring lions. Why is it said “Valour and love, and a king above, and the
royal beasts below.”
OR
How did the lions fight?
OR
OR
What did air carry afar? What did it reveal?
OR
Why did King Francis comment, “We’re better here than there.” Where was here and
there?
Ans: The lions ramped and roared with their horrid laughing jaws. They bit, glared and gave
blows like beams. They used their paws so forcefully that the wind moved alongside. They
fought with so much wallowing might that when one lion attacked the other, the other’s
roar was stifled and silent. The sand pit was smothered. The lions bled during the fight and
the bloody foam was spread by air. The lions fought with valour. There was love between
Count De Lorge and his lover and there was King Francis, who were both above the pit.
This made the king comment that they were better in their seats than in the pit than with
warring lions.
[This is an important answer with many key-words and must be written as it is]

Q.5. Why is it said “Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.”
OR
Who are the royal beasts? Who is the king above?
Ans: The lions ramped and roared with their horrid jaws. They bit, glared, gave blows like
beams and used their paws forcefully. The lions bled during the fight and the bloody foam
was spread by air. The lions fought with valour. There was love between Count De Lorge and
his lover and there was King Francis, who were all above the pit.
The King above could be a reference to King Francis. It could also be a reference to God
almighty, who is a king of the world.

Q.6. What did De Lorge’s lover overhear? Describe the love of Count de Lorge?
OR
What remark did the king make that was heard by De Lorge’s lover?
OR
What attributes of De Lorge’s lover is given in the poem? At what point, did she decide to
test her lover’s bravery?
OR
Comment on the king’s remark. Who was attracted by this comment?
Ans: The lions ramped and roared with their horrid jaws. They bit, glared, gave blows like
beams and used their paws forcefully. The lions bled during the fight and the bloody foam
was spread by air. The lions fought with valour. This made the king comment that they were
better in their seats than in the pit with the warring lions.
This remark made by King Francis was heard by De Lorge’s lover. She was a beautiful and
lively dame. She had smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which was always the same. At this
point, she decided to test her lover’s bravery.

Q.7. Describe Count de Lorge’s lover.

Ans: The unnamed lover of Count de Lorge had smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which was
always the same. She was a beautiful and lively dame. She believed her lover was brave and
decided to put his bravery to test in front of the regal guests. Her real intention was to get
all the glory for herself while the act of bravery would be done by the Count. Even King
Francis sighed for the lover of Count de Lorge because she was beautiful and a charming
woman. She was also an eavesdropper who listened to king’s remark that they were better
in their seats than in the pit with the warring lions. She was full of vanity for her beauty and
richness.

Q.8. How did the lady test her lover? Why did she do the act?
OR
What thought struck the lady? What were her real intentions? How did she put it into
practice?
OR
What could have happened to de Lorge in the gruesome test?
OR
Why did De Lorge’s lover think of testing his valour?
Ans: King Francis commented that they were better in their seats than in the pit with the
warring lions. This remark was heard by De Lorge’s lover. At this point, she decided to test
her lover’s bravery. She knew of her lover’s bravery, and thought that the Count would do
wondrous things to show his love for her. The occasion was ripe as kings, ladies and lovers
were all present amidst the audience. She dropped her glove into the lion’s pit, and then
smiled. Count de Lorge took the cue, bowed and with great agility jumped into the lion’s pit
among the lions. He got the glove back quickly to where he was sitting.
This was dangerous as the lions were ferocious. Count de Lorge in proving his bravery could
have been injured, or died due to the fatal conditions in the pit.

Q.9. How did the Count react to the dropping of the glove? Was he pleased?
OR
What did the Count realise after the act?
OR
Comment on De Lorge’s reaction when he came back same from the pit?
Ans: When Count de Lorge’s lover decided to test his love and bravery among the regal
crowd of kings, ladies and lovers, she dropped her glove into the lion’s pit, and smiled.
Count de Lorge took the cue, bowed and with great agility jumped into the lion’s pit among
the lions. He got the glove back quickly to where he was sitting. The leap was quick and the
return to his place was also quick. He then threw the glove in the lady’s face, but not with
love. No, the Count was not pleased as he had realised that his lover was full of vanity, and
did not really love him. She was testing his love and bravery to show off in front of the rich
and regal guests.
Q.10. How did King Francis react to De Lorge’s reaction? What comment did he make?
OR
Who rose from where he sat on seeing the act of De Lorge? How did this person react?
Ans: When Count de Lorge’s lover decided to test his love and bravery among the regal
crowd of kings, ladies and lovers, she dropped her glove into the lion’s pit, and smiled.
Count de Lorge took the cue, bowed and with great agility jumped into the lion’s pit among
the lions. He got the glove back quickly to where he was sitting. He then threw the glove in
the lady’s face, but not with love.
King Francis was shocked and agreed with De Lorge, and said “By God! rightly done.” King
Francis also said that it was not love, but vanity that set a task like that for love to be tested.
De Lorge’s lover did not love him, but was full of pride for herself and her beauty.

Q.11. Explain: “No love,” quoth he, “but vanity, sets love a task like that.”
OR
Comment on the last line of the poem.
OR
‘Love and vanity never go hand in hand.’ Prove the accuracy of the statement from the
poem.
OR
The Glove and the Lions is a poem showcasing that ‘There is no place for vanity in love.’
Explain
Ans: When Count de Lorge’s lover decided to test his love and bravery among the regal
crowd of kings, ladies and lovers, she dropped her glove into the lion’s pit, and smiled.
Count de Lorge took the cue, bowed and with great agility jumped into the lion’s pit among
the lions. He got the glove back quickly to where he was sitting. He then threw the glove in
the lady’s face, but not with love.
King Francis was shocked and agreed with De Lorge, and said “By God! rightly done.” King
Francis also said that it was not love, but vanity that set a task like that for love to be tested.
De Lorge’s lover did not love him, but was full of pride for herself and her beauty. No lover
would put her lover’s life in danger just to grab attention of the nobles. She was proud and
vain.
 Important Figures of Speech and Poetic Devices that feature in the
Exams
Line 5. ‘And truly ‘twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show’
The figure of speech is Alliteration. The sound of the syllable ‘t’ in ‘twas, to and that is
repeated in the line.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 6. ‘Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.’
The figure of speech is Alliteration. The sound of the syllable ‘v’ and ‘b’ is repeated in the
line.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 7. ‘Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws’
The figure of speech is Alliteration. The sound of the syllable ‘r’ in ‘ramped’ and ‘roared’ is
repeated in the line.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 8. ‘They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams’

The figure of speech is Simile. There is a direct comparison using ‘like’ between the blows
given by the lions to the beams (pieces of wood).
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 12. ‘Said Francis then, “Faith, gentlemen, we’re better here than there.”
The figure of speech is Apostrophe. There is a direct address to the gentlemen sitting there
by King Francis breaking the normal flow and rhythm of the poem.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

The figure of speech is also Oxymoron. There words ‘here’ and ‘there’ are opposites and are
used close to each other.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 15. ‘She thought, the Count my lover is brave as brave can be;’
The figure of speech is Simile. There is a direct comparison using ‘as’ between the bravery of
the Count and the best example of bravery.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 18. ‘I’ll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine.’
The figure of speech is Alliteration. The sound of the syllable ‘g’ in ‘glove’, ‘great’ and ‘glory’
is repeated in the line.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 19 and 20. ‘She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked him and smiled;
He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild:’
The figure of speech is Climax. There is an ascending continuity to the events being
displayed in the line of how the lover dropper her glove, the Count looked and smiled,
bowed and leaped among the lions.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 21. ‘The leap was quick, the return was quick’
The figure of speech is Repetition. The word ‘quick’ is repeated in the line to show how
quickly the Count leaped and returned.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Line 23 and 24. “By God!” said Francis, “rightly done”

“No love,” quoth he, “but vanity sets love a task like that.”
The figure of speech is Apostrophe. There is a direct address to the gentlemen sitting there
by King Francis breaking the normal flow and rhythm of the poem.
This is used for greater poetic effect.

Themes/ Message Conveyed

● There is no vanity in true love– When someone is love with someone, there is no
place for vanity or excess pride based on richness, beauty or other aspects.

● Don’t go too far in love – One mustn’t submit oneself too much in too much love. If
one is being manipulated, one must step aside.
● Bravery – Count de Lorge was a brave Count who leaped among the fighting lions
just to get back the glove of his beloved.

● Noble and upper-class lives – King Francis, Count de Lorge, his lover, the spectators
watching the royal sport all formed a part of the aristocracy and nobles.

● Men are macho, and have to perpetually prove it – The society has formed an
image for men to be macho and brave and have to continuously prove it.

Character Sketch
1. Count de Lorge
● Brave
● True lover
● Noble
● Realised the difference of love and vanity
● Agile
● Respectful
● Frustrated with his lover at the end

2. The lover of Count de Lorge

● Vain
● Showed off
● Proud
● Affected by people’s comments
● Opportunist
● Beautiful
● Smiling lips
● Sharp bright eyes
● Insecure

3. King Francis
● Hearty king
● Loved royal sport
● Infatuated by the lover of Count de Lorge
● Coward
● Appreciative
● Mature
 Worksheet
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.
Q1. Who watched the lions fight? How was the fight going on? [3]
Q.2. Which poetic device has been used in the above lines? What type of poem is it? [3]
Q.3. Count de Lorge’s lover’s insecurity set her deeds on. Explain. [3]
Q.4. What made the act by De Lorge selfless and brave? [3]
Q.5. ‘Vanitas Vanitatum’ is a famous Latin phrase which means ‘nobody is really happy at
the end.’ This poem exemplifies the above line. Explain with respect to the poem. [4]

MCQs

1. What kind of king was Francis?

(a) cruel
(b) good-natured
(c) lusty
(d) wicked
2. How would the modern generation look upon such royal sports as lion fighting?
(a) amusingly
(b) admiringly
(c) sarcastically
(d) disapprovingly

3. What has distracted the king's attention from the lion fighting?
(a) the charms of a girl
(b) noise of the audience
(c) the charms of a count's beloved
(d) the sense of insecurity
4. How did the king react when he looked at De Lorge's beloved?
(a) he smiled
(b) he sighed
(c) he frowned
(d) he laughed

5. Which figure of speech is used in the line: They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams
(a) metaphor
(b) simile
(c) symbol
(d) oxymoron

6. Which of these remained always the same in De Lorge's beloved?

(a) her smiles
(b) her mannerisms
(c) her lips and eyes
(d) her dress

7. Which of these statements is NOT true?

(a) De Lorge's beloved was vain and proud.
(b) De Lorge's beloved did not actually love him.
(c) De Lorge's beloved wanted to grab attention.
(d) King Francis got angry at the lady's action.

8. De Lorge's beloved seemed to have been struck by the king's _______

(a) grandeur and valour
(b) knowledge
(c) wisdom
(d) handsome body
9. How did De Lorge throw her lady's glove back to her?
(a) with love
(b) frowningly
(c) with a smile
(d) in anger

10. By putting him to a dangerous test De Lorge's beloved

(a) proved her wisdom
(b) proved that she was timid
(c) proved that she was vain
(d) proved that she was unfaithful

11. The poem ‘The Glove and the Lions’ proves that one should not _______
a) Act in haste
b) Be vain and arrogant
c) Test anyone’s valour
d) Be indiscreet in love

12. Which of these character-traits is not applicable to De Lorge’s lady in the poem?
a) Arrogant
b) Humble
c) Vain
d) Foolish

Answers
1. b
2. d
3. c
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. d
8. a
9. d
10. c
11. b
12. b