She Walks In Beauty Flashcards
What is she walks in beauty about?
It is describing the moment when Lord Byron first saw his cousin in law and was so in awe of her beauty, there was nothing sexual about it he just found her so extraordinarily beautiful. It is more her grace and elegance which is what’s so appealing about her
It is hyperbolic but not insincere like thcm
What is the form of the poem?
It is a lyric poem, which expresses deep emotions
Structure?
-ABABAB rhyme scheme, ongoing to show that he is never disappointed in anything she does
- use of trochees to show how difficult to comprehend her beauty
- iambic tetrameter, a constant feeling with irrational trochees imbedded which highlight her beauty
- the three stanzas could refer to the trinity, and the three rhyming couplets. She is holy and godlike
How does Byron use the idea of symmetry and balance?
Symmetry is often associated, even in modern day with beauty and perfection so this mirrors her stunning looks.
‘Gaudy day’ and ‘mellow’ - ‘dark and bright’
Paradoxical how beautiful she is
Why is the title significant?
‘She walks in beauty’ is a biblical reference which adds biblical gravitas. It is from Iziah and refers to walking with god. Emphasises her grace and elegance.
‘She walks in beauty like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;’
- ‘she’ is the first word to show that she is put first over everyone else, she is the only focus
- open wide vowel sounds which slows it down, like how it goes slow motion when you are in awe of someone
- ‘cloudless climes’ is difficult alliteration to say, forced to slow down because he can’t put correctly into words how he feels
- ‘cloudless’ sky means she has full direct access to God. Emphasises her purity and grace
- the reference to ‘stars’ makes her seem cosmic and otherworldly
- the use of sibilants is usually sinister sounding but here is beautiful, she is beyond normal description. Others may be intimidated by her
- the night is usually dark and the ‘stars’ are what shine through. On in a million. Contrast of light and dark
‘And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:’
- ‘dark and bright’, confusing oxymoron. Links to symmetry. God references
- ‘meet’ is a trochee
- ‘aspect and her eyes’, short blazon. She isn’t worth describing like other poets do. He can’t continue the blazon as he is so fixated on her eyes
- uncommon caesura in poem ‘:’, he is physically held at her eyes
‘Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.’
- the use of trochees slow us down, emphasises how he is speechless
- the words ‘mellow’ juxtapose to ‘gaudy day’ she is more sophisticated and eloquent
- ‘heaven’ emphasises her angelicness
- the day is portrayed as a tacky thing than night. ‘Dark woman’
‘Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;’
- euphonic language
- long vowels, slow and gentle
- ‘raven tress’ refers to long dark hair. ‘Dark mysterious woman’ like Shakespeare often described
- ‘;’ he is physically held at her face
‘Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling place.’
- he talks about her ‘thoughts’, he is not objectifying her like other poets do in the anthology, her behaviour is the most attractive thing about her. Emphasises that he has no intention of sleeping with her, he is merely in awe of her grace and charm
- sibilance, gentle, low for words
- repetition of ‘how’ shows his adoration of her and speechlessness
- ‘sweet’ she is kind as well, with sweet thoughts which makes her more beautiful
- ‘dwelling place’ is associated with the church. She is holy and graceful. He also says ‘dwelling place’ instead of mind or head, it makes her seem more refined and caring that she is housing these thoughts
‘And on that cheek, and o’er that brow
So soft, so calm, yet elequant’
- ‘cheek, and o’er that brow’ blazon but going up instead, she is irregular and down below doesn’t interest him
- the use of listing and anaphora implies he can go on and on about her
- ‘yet’ sets her apart from the rest. She is well spoken and expressive. Intelligence seems to be the most attractive thing about her which wasn’t seen as something that a woman should have much of. Progressive and remarkable
People are attracted for her grace, not purely visual attractiveness
‘A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!’
- ‘all below’ shows that everyone else is below her, she is elevated. Characteristics of God looking down on his subjects, she is angelic
- ‘innocent’ adds to her god like nature, saintly. Not a guilty conscious or judge full of others. Could refer to virginity showing that sex isn’t the most appealing thing about her at all. No one has purely wanted her for her body?
- ‘!’ It’s shocking and rare to find someone like her and he will never be the same again
