1. The Lady's Appearance:
* The title highlights the lady's beauty, "La Belle Dame," immediately drawing the reader in. This beauty is a significant aspect of her allure, masking her true nature.
* The poem describes the lady as "fair" and "pale" with a "voice like honey," emphasizing her seductive charm and the initial sense of wonder she inspires.
2. The Lady's Lack of Mercy:
* The title highlights the lady's lack of mercy, "sans Merci," foreshadowing the poem's tragic outcome.
* The knight is left "withered" and "wan," suggesting the lady's manipulative nature and her power to exploit others.
* Her actions are described as "cruel," "wicked," and "false," confirming the absence of mercy in her actions.
3. The Power of the Title:
* The title itself acts as a warning, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of beauty and temptation.
* It suggests a larger theme of the seductive nature of power and the potential consequences of succumbing to it.
4. The Symbolism of the Title:
* "La Belle Dame" can symbolize the seductive allure of nature, love, and beauty.
* "Sans Merci" represents the harsh realities and potential dangers of these forces.
Overall:
The title "La Belle Dame sans Merci" perfectly encapsulates the poem's central themes of beauty, temptation, and the tragic consequences of succumbing to them. It is a powerful and evocative title that lingers in the reader's mind long after the poem is finished.