Poetry Anthology - She Walks in Beauty

Question 1

Key themes

Answer 1

Power of beauty
Love

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

Regular ABABAB rhyme scheme - reflects the balance of her qualities and perfection
Mostly iambic tetrameter - regular rhythm, intended to be set to music
Frequent enjambment - overwhelmed, entranced and captivated by her beauty

Question 3

Key quotes (7)

Answer 3

‘She walks in beauty’
‘Best of dark and bright’
‘Nameless grace’
‘Where thoughts serenely sweet express’
‘A mind’ and ‘A heart’
‘Whose love is innocent’

Question 4

Analyse ‘she walks in beauty’

Answer 4

Narrated in the present tense - makes the beauty seem eternal

Question 5

Analyse ‘best of dark and bright’

Answer 5

Imagery suggests her beauty is pure, yet mysterious - ideal balance of light and dark
Image of perfection

Question 6

Analyse ‘nameless grace’

Answer 6

Objective
Too beautiful to be put into words
Remains anonymous

Question 7

Analyse ‘where thoughts serenely sweet express’

Answer 7

First reference to something that isn’t about her appearance
Sibilance creates a soothing, gentle tone, reflecting the peace and purity of her thoughts

Question 8

Analyse ‘A mind’ and ‘A heart’

Answer 8

‘Mind’ and ‘heart’ are stressed in these lines
Ends the poem with a focus on her inner beauty - transition

Question 9

Analyse ‘whose love is innocent’

Answer 9

Maintains emphasis on her purity
Physically beautiful and morally perfect
Idealised portrayal of the woman

Question 10

Context

Answer 10

‘Mad, bad and dangerous to know’
Romantic poet - believes in emotion over reason, nature imagery
Involved in numerous affairs and sex scandals
About a girl he met at a party