# LXXIX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by John Keats.

## What happens

The speaker recounts playing a game of chess with the Princess, who falls asleep and dreams of Master Hubert.

## Themes in this chapter

### Dreams and Escape

The Princess falls asleep and dreams, suggesting an escape from waking reality.

## Character check-ins

### Princess

Plays chess with the speaker, falls asleep, and dreams of Master Hubert.

### Unknown

The speaker who plays chess with the Princess and observes her dream.

## Key lines

> She cried for chess⁠—I play’d a game with her⁠— Castled her king with such a vixen look, It bodes ill to his Majesty

She demanded a game of chess, and I played with her; I checkmated her king with a fierce expression, which foretells trouble for the king.

_The chess game is described with playful menace._

> The Princess fell asleep, and, in her dream, Talk’d of one Master Hubert, deep in her esteem.

The Princess fell asleep and in her dream spoke of a Master Hubert, whom she held in high regard.

_The dream reveals the Princess's admiration for Master Hubert._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters/lxxix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_14_se/chapters