Question

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.”

1. What idea struck De Lorge’s beloved? How did she put it into practice? (Understanding)
2. What did De Lorge do? What could have happened to him? (Understanding and Analysis)
3. What was De Lorge’s reaction when he came back safe from the pit? In what mood was he? (Evaluate)
4. Comment on the action of De Lorge. (Evaluate)
5. Who spoke the words, “No love .... but vanity, sets love a task like that”. What did he want to say? (Understanding and Analysis)

Answer 1

1. De Lorge’s beloved got the idea of testing her lover’s bravery and love. She believed he would do anything for her. Since the king and everyone in the court were watching, she dropped her glove into the lions’ pit and smiled at him, expecting him to bring it back.
2. De Lorge understood what his beloved wanted. He smiled, bowed, and quickly jumped into the lions’ pit. Because he was very fast, the lions could not harm him. He picked up the glove, returned safely, and then threw it back at the lady’s face before leaving the arena. If he had not been so quick, the lions could have seriously injured or even killed him.
3. When De Lorge returned safely from the lions’ pit, he went back to his place and threw the glove at the lady’s face instead of giving it to her with love. He was angry because he felt that a true lover would never ask someone to risk his life just to show love.
4. At first, De Lorge showed great courage by smiling, bowing, and jumping into the lions’ pit to bring back the glove. This proved that he was very brave. But after returning safely, he threw the glove at the lady’s face because he was angry. He felt that she had risked his life only to satisfy her pride and gain attention. King Francis agreed with De Lorge’s action and said that he had done the right thing.
5. The king said these words to show that the lady’s action was not based on true love but on her pride and vanity. He meant that a person who truly loves someone would never ask them to risk their life just to prove their love or to gain attention.