Read the poem below and answer the question.
SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies,
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meets in her aspect and her eyes;
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair'd the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress
Or softly lightens o'er her face,
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek and o'er that brow
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,—
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent.
(Lord Byron, “She Walks in Beauty”)
In a minimum of 150 words, describe the speaker in this poem. What is his attitude and how does it affect the meaning of the poem?
Answers
Answer:
In describing the beauty of the subject, Byron uses the contrasting images of darkness and light. This contradiction helps to mute the tone of the poem. Instead of being overly awed by the beauty, the tone is one of quiet reverence.
"All thats best of dark and bright" demonstrates this contradiction. It is continued in the juxtaposition of "one shade the more, one ray the less". The raven tresses of her hair and the soft light of her face is just one more example of Byron's use of parallels.
The love and admiration of the poet is more sincere with the use of reverence and not awe. Should the description of the women be exaggerated in the positive, the audience would begin to doubt its depth. Byron tempers his tone to make it more believable