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Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were…

“Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was white as leprosy, The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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“Her lips were red, her looks were free, Her locks were yellow as gold: Her skin was white as leprosy, The Nightmare Life-in-Death was she, Who thicks man's blood with cold.”

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vivid, contrasting portrait of a woman whose beauty and sickness intertwine, evoking dread.

In simple terms: Contrasting beauty and decay creates horror.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how extremes can mask deeper truths.

Themes

beauty decay horror contrasts

Mood

haunting melancholic

Type

literary artistic

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • creative writing
  • psychological analysis
  • cultural studies

Key Concepts

romanticism gothic imagery dualism

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why does the poet use such stark contrasts?
  • What does this say about societal views of health?
A Different Perspective

The imagery may romanticize illness, overlooking real suffering.

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