She walks in beauty - Byron Flashcards
How is idealised love presented in ‘She Walks in Beauty’?
‘She walks in beauty’ implies her beauty is eternal and continuous. The metaphorical title suggests a magnificent aura surrounds her, presenting a snapshot of a dream-like figure, indicating a fleeting moment of infatuation rather than a love poem.
What does the phrase ‘of cloudless climes and starry skies’ suggest?
The alliteration prolongs the sound, romanticising the memory and evoking celestial connotations, reflecting a mysterious and fascinating beauty that captivated romantics.
What does ‘Thus mellowed to that tender light’ imply?
It suggests perfect physical attractiveness, representing an ideal that doesn’t exist in real women.
What is the significance of ‘raven tress’?
‘Raven tress’ hints at exoticism and reflects the impact of orientalist views, showcasing Byron’s fascination with the Far East and the sensory impact of his travels.
How is the objectification of women depicted in the poem?
‘Like the night’ is a simile that presents her as unconventional and fleeting, reflecting Byron’s immoral sexual encounters and subverting typical associations of beauty with light.
What does ‘thoughts serenely sweet express how pure how dear their dwelling place’ convey?
It indicates the purity of her love, but the fixation on her beauty and assumption of pure thoughts further objectifies her, highlighting limitations of the feminine ideal.
What does ‘a mind at peace with all below, a heart whose love is innocent’ suggest?
It links beauty to nature and purity through synecdoche, where the mind reflects thoughts and the heart reflects emotions, revealing her physical appearance while shrouding her identity.
How is unattainable love presented in the poem?
‘Which heaven to gaudy day denies’ uses religious imagery to suggest she is unattainable, possibly due to her perfection contrasting with his sinfulness.
What is the significance of the poem’s structure?
The structure of three stanzas, each with six lines, reflects a poetic form intended for hymns, alluding to her heavenly beauty and reinforcing themes of harmony and balance through a regular rhyme scheme.
