CHRISTABEL

S.T. COLERIDGE

QUESTION & ANSWER

1.       Do you think ‘Christabel’ represents the conflict between the forces of good and evil?  Or- What is ‘Christabel’ about?

Ans: ‘Christabel’ indeed represents an aspect of ever recurring conflict between the forces of evil and good, between motiveless malice and pure innocence. The former is represented by Geraldine and the latter by Christabel. Christabel’s dead mother is a symbol of good angel; but her power is often weak to protect innocence from the malignity of evil.

2.      What is the significance of the title ‘Christabel’?

Ans: The title ‘Christabel’ is a fusion of Christ and Abel, both of them are martyr in their own right. Christabel also becomes a martyr of her own innocence whereby she would atone her lover’s wrong. In another sense, Christabel is Christ’s ‘belle’ or spiritual daughter of Christ, in view of her purity and innocence.

3.      Does ‘Christabel’ belong to any particular genre of poetry?

Ans: Coleridge’s ‘Christabel’ may be said to belong to the genre of Gothic Romance. All the staples of the genre- the ancient castle, the moat, the veiled moonlight, the screech of owls, the midnight forest, the meeting between evil and innocence- are present in the poem and build an atmosphere of supernatural inferno. However there is nothing of crude horror of gothic romance.

4.      What constitute the supernaturalism in ‘Christabel’?

Ans: Coleridge’s ‘Christabel’ constitutes supernaturalism through medieval touches and haunting suggestiveness. The interplay of light and shade, the moated castle with massive gate, the moan of the mastiff bitch and the sudden flaring up of the dying fire while Geraldine passes constitute supernatural atmosphere. It is intensified by the portrayal of evil woman, practice of witchcraft and the hovering of Christabel’s mother.

5.      What is the allegorical significance of the poem ‘Christabel’?

Ans: The theme of ‘Christabel’ presents an aspect of the ever recurring struggle between the powers of light and darkness, between innocence and motiveless malice. Here Coleridge tries to point out the susceptibility of innocence to the world of evil. However, the poem ends with a hint of the eventual triumph of innocence in this world because saints always aid good people in their danger.

6.      Would you consider ‘Christabel’ as a journey from innocence to experience?

Ans: Through ‘Christabel’ Coleridge shows how innocence is susceptible and easily victimized in this world by evil. The poem may be described as a journey from innocence to experience because the innocent girl, standing on the verge of womanhood, who went to the midnight forest, is quite different from the lady who woke up next morning with strange and experience.

7.     What medieval touches do you find in ‘Christabel’?

Ans: Coleridge’s ‘Christabel’ leads us to the old medieval days with which witchery, magic and superstitions are associated. The moated castle with its massive gate, the tower clock, the shady presence of a feudal lord, a fair lady and a witch woman- all reinforce a pervasive medieval spirit. The theological idea in the poem- the battle between innocence and evil- is also a part of medieval piety.

9) Consider ‘Christabel’ as a ballad.
Ans: As ballad Coleridge’s ‘Christabel’ follows finely the art of story telling. Additionally the poet uses the old ballad devices of using the interrogation to intensify interest and give dramatic vividness to the narration, repetition to linger a little on interesting details and gaps in story telling to stimulate the imaginations of the readers, direct narration in the conversation to give force to the narration

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