Eng 125 Responses to a Poem
The Multiple Dimensions of Beauty
Alcine M. Gross
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Instructor Jaclyn Mallan-King
May 28, 2012
The Multiple Dimensions of Beauty "She Walks in Beauty," is a lyric poem that focuses on the true beauty both described outwardly and inwardly as seen by the narrator. George Gordon Byron (more commonly known as Lord Byron) describes this woman in detail regarding her character and her physical looks in order to emphasize her beauty. The title of this poem gives the reader an inclination that the description of this woman is not going to be described one dimensionally. The verb used, "walk" emphasizes the journey of this woman 's beauty. It brings the reader to see this woman not only on the outside but on the inside to. It is believed that Lord Byron himself is the narrator of this poem. Everyone has his or her own definition of what constitutes as beautiful. This paper will show two elements that Lord Bryon used to describe the beauty of the woman in his poem. Lord Bryon 's, born George Gordon Byron, inspiration for this particular poem came from seeing his cousin by marriage at "party of Lady Sitwell 's on 12 June 1814, where she 'appeared in mourning, with dark spangles on her dress." (Needler, 2010). Bryon looked on upon her from afar and even though she was saddened, he couldn 't help but see her true beauty. Seeing his cousin this way was as if someone had stripped away everything, the fake smiles, the manners, the elegant dresses, etc. to reveal her true self. In the first stanza of the poem, "She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies;" is a simile allowing the reader to see her as Bryon saw her, the light in all the darkness that surrounded her at that moment. ("She Walks in Beauty" as cited in Clugston, 2010, lines 1 & 2). She was the star in the dark sky. The use of the enjambment in the lines mentioned indicates that the thought continues without a pause onto the second line.
Alcine M. Gross
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Instructor Jaclyn Mallan-King
May 28, 2012
The Multiple Dimensions of Beauty "She Walks in Beauty," is a lyric poem that focuses on the true beauty both described outwardly and inwardly as seen by the narrator. George Gordon Byron (more commonly known as Lord Byron) describes this woman in detail regarding her character and her physical looks in order to emphasize her beauty. The title of this poem gives the reader an inclination that the description of this woman is not going to be described one dimensionally. The verb used, "walk" emphasizes the journey of this woman 's beauty. It brings the reader to see this woman not only on the outside but on the inside to. It is believed that Lord Byron himself is the narrator of this poem. Everyone has his or her own definition of what constitutes as beautiful. This paper will show two elements that Lord Bryon used to describe the beauty of the woman in his poem. Lord Bryon 's, born George Gordon Byron, inspiration for this particular poem came from seeing his cousin by marriage at "party of Lady Sitwell 's on 12 June 1814, where she 'appeared in mourning, with dark spangles on her dress." (Needler, 2010). Bryon looked on upon her from afar and even though she was saddened, he couldn 't help but see her true beauty. Seeing his cousin this way was as if someone had stripped away everything, the fake smiles, the manners, the elegant dresses, etc. to reveal her true self. In the first stanza of the poem, "She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies;" is a simile allowing the reader to see her as Bryon saw her, the light in all the darkness that surrounded her at that moment. ("She Walks in Beauty" as cited in Clugston, 2010, lines 1 & 2). She was the star in the dark sky. The use of the enjambment in the lines mentioned indicates that the thought continues without a pause onto the second line.
References: Clugston, W. R. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu/books Needler, H.(2010). 'She Walks in Beauty ' and the Theory of the Sublime. The Byron Journal 38(1), 19-27. Liverpool University Press. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from Project MUSE database. Pennavaria, K. (2004, July). "Byron Child of Passion, Fool of Fame" [review of the Reader 's Shelf, Literary Lives: Biographical Gems. Library Journal, 129(12), 130. Retrieved May 28, 2012, from ABI/INFORM Global. (Document ID: 669965341