She Walks in Beauty BY LORD BYRON She
‘She Walks in Beauty’ BY LORD BYRON
She Walks in Beauty’ by Lord Byron She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o'er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place. And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, The smiles that win, the tints that glow, But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!
Context Byron was one of the leading poets of a group known as the Romantics. Romanticism was a general artistic movement (literature, music, the visual arts, etc. ) which dominated European culture from the late-18 th century until the mid 19 th century. Romanticism had many key features among which were: - a recognition of the influence of the senses and of personal emotion - that the heart (emotion) is considered more powerful than the head (logic/reason) - an understanding of the deep power of the natural world All of these are features of Byron’s poem. Byron is believed to have been inspired to write the poem after seeing a woman with very good looks at a fashionable London party. His poem is, therefore, a very personal one which responded to a personal situation. It has been claimed that the lady in question was in mourning and dressed in a black spangled gown; the first two lines shows how this interpretation would seem to mirror the image that Byron creates. Byron himself had many stormy personal relationships. He was famously described as 'mad, bad and dangerous to know'. Byron died fighting for Greek Independence, although he actually died of a fever he is a heroic figure in Greece. He had several scanfalous love affairs, including one with his half sister The poem was originally published as part of a collection called Hebrew Melodies in April 1815 and was intended to be set to music of a religious nature. This would have highlighted the reverence in which the poet holds the subject as he gazes at her in wonder. The poem is thought to be the result of Byron attending a fashionable party on 11 June 1814, at Lady Sitwell’s, and met (for the first time) his cousin, Lady Wilmot Horton who was clothed in mourning dress.
She Walks in Beauty - Themes These are the suggested themes: 1. The way we react to Appearance 2. Contrasts between Light and Dark 3. A sense of wonder about beauty and an attempt to describe it What does the title of the poem suggest to us – is it important that the title is in the present tense ?
Analysing the poem – Language- find examples of the following: Examples of antithesis in the poem and explain the impact on the reader. Examples of alliteration, sibilance and assonance and evaluate their effectiveness within the poem Also find examples and comment on: Tripartite (rule of 3) Hyperbole Simile Where can we see imagery that reflects the concerns of the Romantics ?
Analysing the poem – Form and Structure Form: The form is known as a lyric poem – why ? Structure: How many stanzas are there – are they regular? Are the rhyme and rhythm regular – why – what is it about the woman the Byron would be attempting to capture ? Look closely at Line 4 – what is going on here ? Why is there so much emjambment – what does that say about the speaker
AO 4 In what ways is this poem similar to other Romantic poems – especially approaches to love as revealed in La Belle Dame Sans Merci ? Does the approach to beauty remind you of any other poems in the Anthology ?
AO 5 Interpretation 1 – the speaker immediately falls in love with the woman he sees but takes some time to admit it. The word ‘love’ finally appears in the last line of the poem. Interpretation 2 - The speaker is physically attracted to the woman he sees although he does not fall in love. The speaker’s actual feelings are not directly described. He seems more aware of her physical good looks than anything else. Interpretation 3 - the balance of the woman’s beauty is seen as perfect. One tiny change either way could ruin her perfection. The first of these two lines is exactly balanced. Each half has the same number of words and syllables and contrasting opposites are used - 'shade'/'ray'; 'the more'/'the less') just as the woman’s beauty is perfectly balanced. Interpretation 4 -The woman’s beauty is not quite as perfect as it at first appears. The words ‘impair’d' and 'nameless' are slightly negative in tone.
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