The Glove and the Lions | ICSE Treasure Chest Questions & Answers

 

Summary of the Poem: The Glove and the Lions

• Stanza 1:

The poem begins with the speaker describing the royal sport, i.e., a fight between two lions in an arena, being watched by King Francis and his courtiers. King Francis is described as a 'hearty' King: a good-hearted king, a kind and just ruler.

        Aristocrats, lords, and 'the ladies in their pride' are all around him. The 'ladies in their pride' can be compared to the 'pride of lions'. From this comparison, it can be suggested that 'the pride of ladies' may be as vicious as the pride of lions fighting. One couple, in particular, who captures the King's special attention is the Count de Lorge and his lady-love. Count de Lorge's beloved shows her savagery by dropping her glove in the sandpit where the lions were fighting and asking her beloved to jump into it to recover her glove.

        The King, is looking down at the 'royal creatures' below him as he sits on the top of the stadium-like setup, which is packed with 'valour and love.' The 'beasts' to which the speaker refers are suggestive of both the lions and the nobles who fight amongst themselves to seek the King's favour.

• Stanza 2:

Here, the atmosphere of the fight between the lions is described. The lions are engaged in a vicious battle with one another. Their 'blows' are powerful like 'beams,' and the wind appears to be moving in step with them.

        They are making a huge commotion by rolling on one another. Despite sitting at a safe distance from the arena where animals are battling, the King can still feel the 'bloody froth' that is 'whisking through the air.' He believes that he and those around him are better off 'here than there', i.e., they are better off in the arena than in the sandpit below where the lions are fighting. This shows the King believes that he is superior to the lions-- the king of the jungle.

• Stanza 3:

Count de Lorge's beloved finds the King's wit to be exceptionally amusing. She looks at the King and appears to be amazed by the King's royal demeanour and power.

        This makes her think of her lover, Count de Lorge. She feels he is 'brave as brave can be' and decides to throw her glove into the lions' den. She believes that he will jump into the arena and grab it for her. This would prove his love for her and 'great glory' would be hers, as a result.

• Stanza 4:

She drops her glove and smiles. The Count understands what she wants. He follows her non-verbal instructions. He bows and smiles at her before leaping 'into the lions wild'. The lions cannot touch him as he acts very quickly. Before anyone can react, he comes back and takes his place once again. So far, everything has gone according to her plan. However, Count de Lorge finds this act of hers offensive. Instead of showing his love for her, he throws the glove at her face, stands up and exits the arena.

        King Francis, surprised, utters, 'rightly done!' He understands that she has done so to grab everybody's attention and indulge her 'vanity' than as a genuine attempt to have the Count's love for her acknowledged. In his opinion, 'love' would not set for her beloved 'a task like that.'

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.

1. Which of the following has been described in the poem as 'a royal sport'?

(a) Fight between tigers

(b) Fight between lions

(c) Fight between nobles

(d) Fight between the king and his nobles

Ans: b) Fight between lions

2. Who is the 'one for whom' 'he' sighed?

(a) Count de Lorge

(b) King Francis

(c) Count de Lorge's beloved

(d) The Queen

Ans: c) Count de Lorge's beloved

3. Why was it 'a gallant thing to see that crowning show'?

(a) It required courage to see such a ferocious act

(b) There was love, valour and royalty in the scene

(c) It was the most brutal fight ever fought

(d) It was being held for the first time in the King's court.

Ans: b) There was love, valour and royalty in the scene

4. What was the attitude of the King and his nobles towards the 'royal beasts'?

(a) Apathy

(b) Empathy

(c) Disgust

(d) Fearful

Ans: a) Apathy

5. Select the poetic device used in the phrase - 'horrid laughing jaws.'

(a) Paradox

(b) Simile

(c) Metaphor

(d) Metonymy

Ans: a) Paradox

6. Which of the following is suggested by the line given below?

'They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws.'

(a) The windy day

(b) The speed of the movement of the beasts

(c) The way the beasts looked at the audience

(d) None of the above

Ans: b) The speed of the movement of the beasts

7. Why did King Francis say that 'we're better here than there'?

(a) They were at a safe distance from the ferocious fight in the pit

(b) They were enjoying the game rather than fighting out.

(c) They did not have to enter the arena to pick up the lady's glove

(d) None of the above

Ans: a) They were at a safe distance from the ferocious fight in the pit

8. The lady in the poem has compared her lover's bravery with whom among the following?

(a) King Francis

(b) The two lions

(c) The nobles in the court

(d) None of the above.

Ans: a) King Francis

9. Why did the lady decide to drop her glove in the arena where two lions were fighting?

(a) To distract the lions

(b) To show her love for her beloved

(c) To seek attention of the audience and thereby attain glory

(d) None of the above

Ans: c) To seek attention of the audience and thereby attain glory

10. Which figure of speech is used in all the phrases given below?

Seemed the same; brave as brave; would do wondrous things; great glory will be mine.

(a) Simile

(b) Metaphor

(c) Paradox

(d) Alliteration

Ans: d) Alliteration

11. Why does the lady smile after dropping her glove in the arena?

(a) To show her love for de Lorge

(b) To suggest that de Lorge would do as she wants him to do.

(c) To grab King Francis' attention

(d) None of the above.

Ans: b) To suggest that de Lorge would do as she wants him to do

12. Why did de Lorge throw the glove 'right in the lady's face'?

(a) To show his love for her

(b) To prove his bravery

(c) To prove how significant she is

(d) To show his annoyance at her vanity

Ans: d) To show his annoyance at her vanity

13. Which of the following lines contain the same literary device as the following line?

Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws.

(a) Last week in someone's place we saw 

     A dozen eyeballs on the floor

(b) So be it when i shall grow old 

      Or let me die!

      The Child is father of the Man.

(c) Tinkling, luminous, tender and clear, 

      Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

(d) And saw, within the moonlight in his room 

      Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom.

Ans: b) So be it when i shall grow old 

              Or let me die!

              The Child is father of the Man

Section B: Context Questions

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

    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 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 seated in his royal court, watching a fight between two lions in the arena. He was there to enjoy the fight, which was considered a royal sport. In this stanza, King Francis is described as a hearty king, meaning good-natured and cheerful. He is also shown as a lover of royal sports and a powerful ruler, seated above the arena, which highlights his authority and commanding position.

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

Ans: Besides King Francis, the audience included his courtiers, nobles, and the ladies of the court, who were seated on the benches watching the royal sport. Count de Lorge was the one who sighed, and he sighed for his lady-love, who was seated beside him, showing his deep affection for her.
The phrase "the ladies in their pride" suggests that the ladies were conscious of their beauty, rank and social position. It also hints at their vanity and self-importance, and subtly compares their pride to the pride of lions, foreshadowing the lady's vain act later in the poem.

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

Ans: The word 'it' refers to the entire scene in the royal court, where King Francis, the nobles and ladies are watching the fight between the two lions in the arena. It is called "a gallant thing" because the scene brings together valour, love, and royalty—the bravery of the lions, the love of Count de Lorge for his lady, and the presence of King Francis above the arena, making the spectacle grand and impressive.

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

Ans: The last line means that the scene was impressive because everything was arranged in a striking order— King Francis sat above in his royal position, the nobles and lovers were seated in the court, and the lions were fighting below in the arena. It highlights the contrast between power and danger, showing royalty and human emotions above, and fierce beasts below, making the spectacle grand and dramatic.

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

Ans: This poem is a ballad because it tells a complete story in a simple and dramatic manner. It narrates an incident at the court of King Francis involving love, bravery, and vanity. The poem is written in short stanzas with a regular rhyme scheme, which gives it a musical and rhythmic quality. These features make the poem suitable for narration and recitation, which are the main characteristics of a ballad.

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

    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 smother; 

    The bloody foam above the bars came whisking through the air; 

    Said Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there."

(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 sandpit (arena), fighting as part of a royal sport at the court of King Francis. They were being watched by King Francis, his courtiers, nobles and the ladies of the court, who were seated safely above the arena. The first line shows that the fight was very ferocious, as the lions "ramped and roared," indicating that they were leaping about angrily and roaring loudly. The phrase "horrid laughing jaws" highlights their cruel and savage nature.

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

Ans: The fight was extremely ferocious and brutal because the lions bit and glared at each other and struck powerful blows like beams. They moved with such force that "a wind went with their paws". They rolled over one another with wallowing might, filling the pit with sand and bloody foam, which shows the violence and danger of the fight.

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

Ans: 1. Alliteration: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words, as in"Ramped and roared the lions" (repetition of the r sound).

2. Simile: A comparison between two unlike things using like or as, as in "gave blows like beams", where the strength of the lions' blows is compared to beams.

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

Ans: King Francis told the audience that they were better off sitting where they were than being in the arena, when he said, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." This remark reveals that King Francis is practical, observant, and aware of danger. It also shows his sense of superiority and authority, as he recognises the brutal and risky nature of the lions' fight while enjoying the safety of his royal position.

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

Ans: The poet uses vivid visual and auditory imagery in this extract. The lions biting, glaring, and rolling in the sand, along with images of sand, mane and bloody foam, create strong visual pictures of a violent fight. The words "roared," "stifled roar," and "thunderous smother" appeal to the sense of hearing, helping the reader imagine the loud noise and chaos in the arena.

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

    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.

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

Ans: De Lorge's lover overheard King Francis saying that it was safer to sit above than to be in the arena, when he remarked, "we’re better here than there." She was impressed by the King's power, authority, and sense of superiority. His remark made her admire his valour and royal dignity, and this led her to think about bravery and glory in general.

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

Ans: The speaker describes de Lorge's beloved as a "beauteous lively dame" with "smiling lips and sharp bright eyes." This shows that she is beautiful, lively, confident and attractive.
She is described as "always seemed the same" because her smile and expression never changed, suggesting that she was self-assured and conscious of her charm. It also hints at her calculating and vain nature, as her pleasant appearance hides her selfish motive of seeking attention and glory.

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

Ans: She thought that Count de Lorge was extremely brave, "as brave as brave can be." She believed that he possessed great valour and courage. She was sure that he would do anything to prove his love for her, even if it meant risking his life. She felt confident that he would perform a wondrous and daring act to show his devotion.

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

Ans: The idea that struck her was to drop her glove into the arena so that Count de Lorge would jump in and retrieve it as a proof of his love. Her real intention was not genuine love, but to seek attention and admiration. She wanted everyone—King, ladies, and lovers—to watch her beloved's bravery so that she could gain "great glory" for herself. This shows her vanity and desire for public praise.

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

Ans: De Lorge's lover is shown as beautiful and charming, described as a "beauteous lively dame" with "smiling lips and sharp bright eyes." However, the extract also reveals her vanity and pride, as she is eager to gain public attention and "great glory." She is self-centred and manipulative, since she is willing to risk her lover's life to satisfy her desire for admiration rather than out of true love.

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; 

    He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: 

    The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place, 

    Then 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," 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: 'She' refers to Count de Lorge's lady-love. She dropped her glove into the arena (sandpit) where the two lions were fighting. She did so to test and prove her lover's bravery and love. In reality, her action was driven by vanity and a desire for attention, as she wanted Count de Lorge to risk his life so that she could gain public admiration and "great glory."

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

Ans: She looked at him and smiled to silently signal that she expected Count de Lorge to jump into the arena and retrieve the glove. The smile acted as a non-verbal command, showing her confidence that he would obey her wish. This reveals that she was proud and vain. It also shows her manipulative and self-centred nature, as she tried to use her charm to make her lover risk his life for her desire for attention and glory, rather than out of true love.

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

Ans: De Lorge understood her smile, bowed to her, and immediately leapt into the arena among the lions to pick up the glove. He acted swiftly and returned safely to his place.

He was forced to do so because the smile was a silent challenge and command, and as a brave and honourable knight, he felt compelled to respond and prove his valour and love in front of the King and the court.

(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: De Lorge came back from the pit unharmed because he acted very quickly, as stated in the line "the leap was quick, return was quick." After returning, he threw the glove in the lady’s face, showing his anger at her vain and selfish act of risking his life. King Francis approved his action and said, "rightly done!," showing that he understood the task was set out of vanity and not true love.

(v) Explain briefly the theme of the poem.

Ans: The central theme of the poem The Glove and the Lions is that true love has no place for vanity and selfish pride. The lady asks her lover to risk his life to prove his love, not out of genuine feeling, but to gain attention and glory. Count de Lorge shows moral courage by rejecting this vain demand, and King Francis confirms that such dangerous tests arise from vanity, not love. Thus, the poem teaches that love should be based on respect and care, not reckless challenges.