She Walks In Beauty - Lord Byron Flashcards
Structure
3 stanzas, 6 lines in each
Rhyme scheme: ABABAB, CDCDCD, EFEFEF
Themes
Beauty
Femininity
Context
The poet was famously a womaniser and bisexual
He was also a Romantic however he hated nature
Whilst not religious, he was fascinated with the Bible and its meaning
Subject - His cousin’s wife who he was said to have seen once in a black mourning dress
She Walks in Beauty
The poem is said to have been created to celebrate the beauty in all women
She walks in beauty, like the night
It’s important to note that the subject is never named only being referred to as ‘she’ creating a sense of mystery over her identity. The fact that it’s written in present tense suggests that he believes she has continuous beauty that will never fade. By comparing her to darkness, instead of light in the phrase ‘like the night’, he defies traditional conventions as he finds her darkness attractive and not something to fear
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
The use of constant alliteration is rhythmically satisfying. He suggests that she envokes a sense of awe like the night sky further emphasising the contrast between light and dark and highlighting that like the sky, she is unreachable and unattainable
And all that’s best of dark and bright
The phrase helps to highlight the contrast between good and evil, expressing that he believes she is the perfect balance of both which is in itself oxymoronic. He believes she is perfection, a dichotomy of light and dark
Meet in her aspect and her eyes
Throughout the poem, the poet is more fixated on her looks than her personality and that could be because he didn’t know her or that he is just objectifying her
This mellowed to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies
He suggests that her beauty is heavenly and overshadows the otherworldly, gaudy sun. He deems that daylight is excessive compared to the subtle, tender beauty she radiates. The adjective ‘tender’ has a double meaning of sensitive to touch but also kind and loving
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless Grace
He considers her so perfect that one change to the scene would completely ruin her beauty and perfection. An example of syntactic parallelism (a form of repetition involving multiple clauses). The adjective ‘nameless’ suggests that her beauty is too difficult to describe
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o’er her face:
Ravens are seen as a symbol of bad omens and are connoted with death so it shows that despite her danger, her is still infatuated with her. It also suggests beauty herself is dangerous
Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
He also shows admiration towards her inner beauty and mind as he claims that her thoughts are always innocent and sweet although he has no way of knowing. The sibilance due to the alliteration of s’s provide a soothing effect
And on that cheek, and o’er that brow
Throughout the last part of the poem, he describes her physical attributes in strange yet mystical ways. The syntactic parallelism provides the poem with rhythm and balance
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
This line refers to the obvious beauty of her face as well as her personality more specifically her intelligence and succinct speech. Women at the time were often only valued for their external beauty but throughout the poem, he looks at her more intently, showing his deepest feelings. There is a satisfying triplet of adjectives in the line
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent
He suggests that her smile is a result of her inner goodness and modesty and that is what makes it so bright and charming
