# La Belle Dame Sans Mercy — Poetry character guide

> La Belle Dame Sans Mercy in Poetry by John Keats.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mercy, Isabella, Dame, thou, thee

**First appearance:** 0051-i

## Who they are

The mysterious fairy woman who lures knights to their doom.

## In the story

### [Woman! When I Behold Thee Flippant, Vain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/woman-when-i-behold-thee-flippant-vain)

Implied as the object of the speaker's admiration, though not directly named; the woman's captivating yet elusive nature echoes this figure.

### [Song: The Stranger Lighted from His Steed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/song-the-stranger-lighted-from-his-steed)

The lady whose hand and lips are kissed by the stranger, and who goes hand in hand with him into the bower.

### [Faery Songs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/faery-songs)

Implied as the 'lady' or 'Queen' whose dirge is sung and who is dying in the second song.

### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/xl)

Implied as the pale beloved whose beauty and paleness inspire the speaker's love.

### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/xxxiii)

The lady is disturbed by the ancient ditty played on the lute; she moans and opens her blue, affrayed eyes.

### [La Belle Dame Sans Merci](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/la-belle-dame-sans-merci)

The faery woman who captivates the knight with her beauty and song, then leaves him desolate.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/i)

Implied as the cause of the wight's ailment, though not directly named in this excerpt.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/ii)

Implied as the cause of the wight's woe, though not directly named.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/iv)

The beautiful faery-like lady encountered in the meadows.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/v)

The faery lady who leans and sings on the pacing steed.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/vi)

The beloved who looks lovingly and makes sweet moan.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/vii)

The mysterious woman who offers the speaker gifts and declares her love.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/viii)

The mysterious woman who leads the speaker to her elfin grot and is kissed to sleep.

### [La Belle Dame sans Merci](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/x)

The enchantress who holds the speaker in thrall, as warned by the spectral figures.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/xi)

Implicitly referenced through the vision of starved lips, suggesting her victims.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/characters/la_belle_dame_sans_mercy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_14_se/characters