By: Kim Slade, Lindsay Boone, Lauren Boone, Kathryn Bello, Sophia Artusa
Name: Lord George Gordon Noel Byron (6th Baron) also known as Lord Byron Nationality – English, born in London Dates: 1788 – 1824 Family - Father was John Byron (descendant of Scottish Nobility) Education - Harrow and Cambridge University First Published in 1816
Fought against the Ottoman Empire in the Greek War of Independence. He married his wife Catherine Gordon, heiress of Gight in Aberdeenshire, Scottland, for money, he spent it all, and then left her. Had numerous affairs.
Considered the first modern-style celebrity, coining the term “Byromania” Lord Byron writing style featured arisocratic excesses, huge debts, numerous love affairs, and self- imposed exile. Died from a fever contracted while in Missolonghi, Greece
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 mellow'd to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impair'd 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!
She Walks in Beauty is a love poem about a woman who Byron met at a party. He talks about her inner and outer beauty and how he admires her. He also mentions her good qualities versus her bad qualities but since hearts are innocent he loves her anyway.
Serious tone All verses have 8 syllables Rhymes are regular and perfect Ababab, cdcdcd, efefef This poem is full of contradictions between realities and the mind
Describes the travels of a young man who is disillusioned with a life of pleasure and looks for distraction in foreign lands. Provided the first example of a Byronic Hero Has four cantos and written in Spenserian stanzas.
Poet describes his impressions of the world. He uses a negative tone to describe the world. In the second stanza he changes his views of the world to positive.
When we two parted In silence and tears, Half broken- hearted, To sever for years, Pale grew thy cheek and cold, Colder thy kiss; Truly that hour foretold Sorrow to this. The dew of the morning Sank chill on my brow It felt like the warning Of what I feel now. Thy vows are all broken, And light is thy fame: I hear thy name spoken, And share in its shame. They name thee before me, A knell to mine ear; A shudder comes o'er me Why wert thou so dear? They know not I knew thee, Who knew thee too well: Long, long shall I rue thee Too deeply to tell. In secret we met In silence I grieve That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee After long years, How should I greet thee? With silence and tears.
The poem is divided into four stanzas and each one in eight verses with every other line rhyming. The poem is all about feeling the pain that the poet has from the separation of the two lovers; {what we don’t know is if the separation is because of death or maybe because “she” split up with him}
In the first stanza the poet begins by remembering the separation of the two lovers, how they felt: “half broken-hearted”. In the second stanza we can see that his lover is dead: “thy vows are all broken”. Then, it follows with the shame that fills the poet when he hears her name; maybe shame because their relation was a sin.
In the third stanza he asked himself why he loved her so, and people who knew her well do not know any relation between them. Maybe that people who knew her well could be her family and husband. At the last stanza the poet is remembering when they met and transmits us a feeling of hope: “If I should meet thee”.
The End