The Prisoner of Chillon: A Fable Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.

  1. At what point does the speaker learn to be at peace with his captivity?
  2. How does the bird save the speaker? What might the bird represent?
  3. Why is the speaker suddenly able to break his chain?
  4. Why is the island in the middle of the lake so important?
  5. What does Byron seem to suggest about captivity by the end of the poem?
  6. Why does the sight of the eagles and fish make the speaker unhappy?
  7. Why is the speaker sorry to be given his freedom?