Poetry: She Walks In Beauty Flashcards
(16 cards)
Whys: 1
Byron uses the poem as a vehicle to pay homage (respect) to the aesthetic beauty of a female subject, as well as her moral and virtuous character.
However, readers may recognise that Byron appears to be projecting his desires onto the female subject, making numerous assumptions about her character based off her external appearance.
Which themes are present in this poem?
Love and relationships
Pain and suffering
Effects of war
Which poems can be linked with this poem?
Mametz wood
Wife in london
Dulce
Cozy apologia
Context Point 1
Written in 1814 after Byron saw a beautiful woman (Lady Wilmot Horton) at a party, dressed in black and wearing sparkles — inspired the contrast of darkness and light in the poem.
Context Point 2
Byron was a leading figure in the Romantic movement, which focused on intense emotion, nature, and individual beauty — all central ideas in the poem.
What is the form like in the poem?
A lyric poem in iambic tetrameter
Consists of three six-line stanzas (sestets)
Regular ABABAB rhyme scheme
How can the form of the poem relate to the content of the poem?
The balanced, steady rhythm and rhyme mirror the harmony and perfection the speaker sees in the woman’s appearance and character.
What is the structure like in the poem?
Moves from admiration of her external beauty to praise for her inner virtue — reflects how her outer appearance expresses inner purity and peace.
What is the poem about?
The speaker is captivated by a woman’s beauty — both her physical appearance and her moral goodness. Her beauty is described in terms of contrasts (dark/light) and calmness, suggesting she is perfect and serene
What is the rhyming like in the poem?
Consistent ABABAB rhyme scheme
Creates a musical, calm tone that reflects the speaker’s awe and admiration.
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of love/admiration:
“She walks in beauty, like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies”
Simile: compares her to a peaceful, starry night — suggests beauty in darkness and calmness.
Romantic imagery: “starry skies” evokes wonder and admiration.
Contrast: the blending of dark (night) and light (stars) represents balance and harmony in her appearance and character.
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of idealised beauty:
“And all that’s best of dark and bright / Meet in her aspect and her eyes”
Juxtaposition: “dark and bright” shows harmony between opposites in her face.
Suggests that her beauty is a perfect fusion — not just external, but deeply expressive.
The word “aspect” is more than just her looks — it’s her whole presence or aura.
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of purity and innocence:
“One shade the more, one ray the less, / Had half impair’d the nameless grace”
Metaphor: beauty is so precise that even a slight change would ruin it.
“Nameless grace” implies an indescribable, effortless elegance — links to purity.
Reinforces the Romantic idea of natural perfection.
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of inner beauty:
“Where thoughts serenely sweet express, / How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.”
Personification of thoughts: her face reflects her inner purity.
“Alliteration” in “serenely sweet” creates a soothing sound — matching her calm nature.
“Dwelling-place” suggests her beauty is rooted in her soul or mind — admiration of inner goodness.
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of peace and serenity:
“A mind at peace with all below”
Religious or moral connotation: she’s spiritually calm, untroubled.
Reflects her goodness and detachment from worldly corruption — a Romantic ideal.
Links inner virtue to outer beauty
Analyse this quote and how it’s significant to the poem with the theme of innocence:
“The smiles that win, the tints that glow”
“Smiles” and “tints” suggest natural charm and colour — unforced and sincere.
Use of gentle verbs “win” and “glow” shows she does not seek attention; her beauty is effortless.
Alliteration gives it a lyrical, light tone — reinforcing gentleness and purity.
