She Walks In Beauty

Question 1

When was the poem written? (AO3)

Answer 1

1814 (19th Century)

Question 2

What happens in the poem?

Answer 2

The speaker writes in awe of a mystery woman after being struck by her beauty as she walks by - he describes her in detail as though he is describing a work of art.

He makes assumptions of her based off her appearance.

Question 3

Lord Byron context (AO3)

Answer 3

• politician
• Romantic poet
• lived and worked across Europe (particularly Italy)
• alleged affair with half sister

Question 4

What is the form? (AO2)

Answer 4

• 3 stanzas, each 6 lines long (typically used for hymns)
• each stanza is dedicated to a specific aspect of the woman’s beauty which allows him to fully capture her beauty

Question 5

What is the rhyme scheme? (AO2)

Answer 5

ABABAB

• regular
• delicate musical feel
• mirrors the antithesis of light & dark
• reinforces themes of harmony

Question 6

Themes

Answer 6

• love
• beauty
• harmony
• unrequited love
• inner vs outer beauty

Question 7

Links to Gatsby (AO4)

Answer 7

• idealized love (Gatsby & Daisy)
• the woman is the object of desire but the speaker does not pursue like Gatsby does, he only appreciates her

Question 8

Feminist perspective (AO5)

Answer 8

This poem is an objectification of the woman as it mostly focuses on her physical beauty and her characteristics are merely assumptions of the speaker.

Question 9

Juxtaposition (AO2)

“One shade the more…”

Answer 9

“…one ray the less.”

shows the intricate balance of the woman’s beauty

Question 10

Juxtaposition (AO2)

“All that’s best…”

Answer 10

“…of dark and bright.”

shows the intricate balance of the woman’s beauty

Question 11

“She walks in beauty…” (AO2)

Answer 11

“…like the night.”

• the caesura allows the reader to reflect on her beauty
• her beauty is so vast and impressive that it seems to surround her like an aura
• establishes the speaker’s awe of her beauty

Question 12

“Which heaven to…” (AO2)

Answer 12

“…gaudy day denies.”

• her beauty is divine/supernatural
• her beauty is so rare that it can only be found in heaven - not earth
• even daylight is inferior to her beauty

Question 13

“Where thoughts serenely…” (AO2)

Answer 13

“… sweet express.”

• soothing sibilance
• beginning to discuss the relationship between outer beauty and inner self

Question 14

“Nameless…”

Answer 14

“…grace.”

• religious language
• her beauty is almost beyond language