A Ballad of Two Knights
Two knights embark on a quest at dawn, each seeking a bride. One knight prioritizes beauty, desiring a fair lady with golden hair, while the other values purity and grace above all. They part ways, each confident in their ideals, and both manage to find love by day's end. However, the outcomes defy their initial desires: the knight seeking beauty ends up with a woman who is not the fair maiden he envisioned, while the knight who sought purity brings home a woman of questionable virtue. When they reunite, they share a knowing smile, suggesting an acceptance of the irony in their pursuits and the unpredictability of love. The poem explores themes of desire, the nature of attraction, and the complexities of romantic ideals, ultimately revealing that reality often diverges from expectations.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1921 · Genre: Poetry, Romance, Fantasy · 180 words
First lines
Two knights rode forth at early dawn A-seeking maids to wed, Said one, "My lady must be fair, With gold hair on her head."
Then spake the other knight-at-arms: "I care not for her face, But she I love must be a dove For purity and grace."
And each knight blew upon his horn And went his separate way, And each knight found a lady-love Before the fall of day.
But she was brown who should have had The shining yellow hair -- I ween the knights forgot their words Or else they ceased to care.
What this Textopian page supports
A Ballad of Two Knights is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1921 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1921 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Romance, Fantasy, Allegory, Narrative
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Ballad of Two Knights by Sara Teasdale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse and employs poetic devices, making it primarily a poem.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and the pursuit of romantic relationships.
- Fantasy — The setting and characters, such as knights and their quests, suggest elements of fantasy.
- Allegory — The contrasting desires of the knights can be interpreted as an allegorical exploration of love and values.
Tags
knights · love · romance · purity · beauty · adventure · dawn · choice · fate · contrast · humor · poetry