The Glove and the Lions — Leigh Hunt
Theme
True love is not proved by reckless shows of courage. The poem mocks vanity and the misuse of another's bravery to feed one's pride.Summary
King Francis watches a lion fight for sport. Among the court sits Count de Lorge and the lady he loves. To test (and show off) his love, she drops her glove into the lions' den, expecting him to fetch it and win her admiration. De Lorge calmly leaps in, retrieves the glove, and then throws it back in her face, rejecting her vanity. The King approves: "rightly done!"Key points
- The lady's act is selfish vanity, not love.
- De Lorge's reply shows that real love is not bought by foolish risk.
- The King's verdict endorses De Lorge's dignified rebuke.
Devices
- Narrative/ballad form, irony, vivid imagery of the lions, dialogue.