ST.

XAVIER’S HIGH SCHOOL, PANCHKULA

CLASS 10 THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS (Workbook Answers)
Passage 1
i) Where was the king sitting? What was going on?
The king was sitting in a stadium like setup. A royal sport i.e. the fight between two lions was going on
in the sandpit in the arena below.
ii) For whom did the king 'sigh,' and why?
The king sighed for the Count de Lorge's beloved because he was infatuated with the exceptionally
beautiful lady.
iii) Who are referred to as "valour and love"?
‘Valour’ refers to the brave men i.e. the King, the Nobles and the Counts; and ‘love’ refers to the prideful
wives and beloveds of these brave men. "Valour and love" signifies the combination of bravery and
affection being exhibited in the lion fight.
iv) What picture of De Lorge's beloved has the poet given later in the context?
The poet describes De Lorge's beloved as a beauteous lively dame with smiling lips and sharp bright
eyes.
v) Why did De Lorge's beloved think of testing his valour?
De Lorge's beloved thought of testing his valour and love for her. Her real intention was to gain glory on
the divine occasion and grab the attention of King Francis and the audience sitting there.
Passage 2
(i) What kind of royal sport was in progress? Who were watching it?
The royal sport in progress was the fight between lions. King Francis and his courtiers were watching it.
(ii) Who stole the heart of King Francis? In what state of mind was he?
The Count de Lorge's beloved stole the heart of King Francis. He was infatuated with her beauty and
charm and sighed as he was envious of the Count..
(iii) Briefly describe the lion's fight.
The lions ramped and roared with horrid laughing jaws, biting, glaring, and giving blows like beams.
They rolled on one another with wallowing might and stifled roar, creating a thunderous smother in the
pit. Bloody foam whisked through the air above the bars.
(iv) What did the air carry afar? What did it reveal?
The air carried the bloody foam afar, revealing the intense and brutal nature of the lion fight.
(v) Comment on the king's remark. Who was attracted by his comment?
King Francis remarked that they were better off watching from a distance
than being in the pit. His remark attracted De Lorge's beloved, who overheard it and decided to test her
lover's valour.
Passage 3
(i) What kind of show was witnessed by the king and his courtiers? What had distracted the king's
attention?
The king and his courtiers witnessed a show of lion fighting. The king's attention was distracted by the
charms of the Count de Lorge's beloved.
(ii) What did De Lorge's beloved think about him? What was she sure of? De Lorge's beloved
thought that he was as brave as brave could be, and she was sure he would do wondrous things to show
his love for her.
(iii) What thought struck her? What were her real intentions?
The thought that struck her was to drop her glove into the lions' pit to test her lover's bravery and
devotion. Her real intentions were to garner attention and glory for herself among the royal attendance.
(iv) What happened when the lady threw her glove into the pit and smiled at her lover?
When the lady threw her glove into the pit and smiled at her lover, De Lorge quickly leaped among the
lions, retrieved the glove, and, upon returning, threw the glove back at her, demonstrating his bravery but
also his disapproval of her vanity.
Passage 4
(i) Who were watching the lion fight? How was the fight going on?
King Francis, his courtiers and the nobility were watching the lion fight. The fight was intense and
fierce, with lions demonstrating their wild nature and strength.
(ii) What idea struck De Lorge's beloved? How did she put it into practice?
The idea that struck De Lorge's beloved was to test her lover's love by dropping her glove into the pit
with the lions to see if he would retrieve it. She put it into practice by actually dropping her glove and
looking at him expectantly.
(iii) What could have happened to De Lorge?
De Lorge could have been attacked and possibly killed by the lions when he jumped into the pit to
retrieve the glove, highlighting the dangerous nature of the task.
(iv) Comment on De Lorge's reaction when he came back safe from the pit.
De Lorge's reaction upon returning safely was one of anger and disapproval; he threw the glove at the
lady's face, signalling his realization that her request was motivated by vanity, not love.
(v) What no one else but De Lorge understand at the end?
At the end, De Lorge understood that the task set by his beloved was not a test of love but an act of
vanity, meant to attract attention rather than express genuine affection.

*************