Show how Coleridge evokes the medieval atmosphere in Christabel?

Show how Coleridge evokes the medieval atmosphere in Christabel?

Coleridge’s setting of the poem ‘Christabel’ is definitely Medieval with full of taste of the Middle Ages, which was the age of Chivalry, of virtuous maidens and glamorous ladies, of fights and tournaments, of magic and witchcraft, of goblins and vampires etc. The elements of the poem, distant from our own times, not only lend glamour to the characters and incidents of the tale but also contribute to supernatural happenings in the poem. In his employment of medievalism, Coleridge takes us to the romantic and charmful world of Middle ages from the ordinary world through the glamour of a distance of time or circumstances, just as Sir Walter Raleigh’s ‘romance’ throws over us the “magic of distance”- “If I had to choose a single characteristic of Romance as the most noteworthy, I think I should choose Distance, and should call Romance the magic of Distance.” (Sir Walter Raleigh’s romance)

The use of medieval elements are numerous in ‘Christabel’ in which some of them which are more important are as follows;-

Medieval chivalry and baronism:

The medieval chivalry is faithfully represented in the story of her ‘forlorn’ condition told by Geraldine who was seized by five warriors and left there all alone.

“Five warriors seized me yestermorn,    

Me, even me, a maid forlorn;

They choked my cries with force and fright,

And tied me on a palfrey white.”

Again, by the mention of Sir Leoline’s Chivalry, the medieval atmosphere is strengthened. After listening to the sad story of Geraldine, the old Baron who even forgot his age and proclaimed that he would himself fight against those warriors who had thus wronged her...................................................

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Milan Tomic

Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.

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