“She Walks In Beauty” by Lord byron Julie Kim & Laina Martinez

The poem SHE walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that 's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light 5 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; 10 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, 15 But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent!

The Literal Sense The way she walks is beautiful. She walks like perfection, with such grace and mystery. But she is everything good about mystery and she is also so bright. Everything centers around her eyes, they engulf you at first look. But then her beauty mellows from her personality, turning to sweet innocence. Even on her worst days she looks angelic and perfect. When she is upset she is just as radiant as when she is happy and bright. When you meet her she’s mysterious and hidden beneath her quiet demeanor. She is brilliantly radiant while she walks and is more noticeable than anyone else in the room Suddenly the light hits her face and reveals the angel inside waiting to come out. So humble and shy and thinking nothing but innocent and naïve happiness She is so white and childish within her heart but so beautiful no matter where she is Her cheeks and brows are just as magnificent, defining her powerful expression She is so still, so soft, so calm, but still ravishing and graceful. When she smiles it is like a wind knocking you over with its beauty. Her skin is so perfect and young. But it tells of her meaningful history and the events she’s been through to make her so brilliant. Her heart’s full of innocent love that could be so easily tempered with. But I’ve never seen something to lovely.

Diction This is a formal poem. It is very concrete and vague with obsolete words. vivid expressions are used. An example of a syntax used in this is the line “   Which heaven to gaudy day denies.” A part of the poem with odd word order is in this line “One shade the more, one ray the less” The strange word used in this poem is “climes” and “o’er”. Climes means climate and o’er means over.

Tone and Mood This poem has a somber mood that reflects young love and innocence It‘s nostalgic because he keeps looking back and dwelling on her beauty. There isn’t any irony in this poem it is just the confessions of a hopeless romantic. The mood that the author portrays through his writing is happiness and wonder.

Rhetorical Situation Is this poem I feel if the writer was speaking to someone he is speaking to a friend or a close family member, he is expressing intimate details of his infatuation with a woman and he wouldn’t tell it to just anyone. The speaker is more talking to himself than anyone so I feel that I’m overhearing his thoughts on the woman.

Figurative Language She walks in beauty, like the night (simile) Of cloudless climes and starry skies; (alliteration) And all that 's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes: Thus mellow'd to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. (personification) 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. (assonance) And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, (assonance) The smiles that win, the tints that glow, (personification) But tell of days in goodness spent, A mind at peace with all below, A heart whose love is innocent! (personification)

Imagery There is very strong imagery used in this poem. In this line, “like the night    Of cloudless climes and starry skies” uses imagery by creating mental visualizations. Also in this line, “And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,  so soft, so calm, yet eloquent, the smiles that win, the tints that glow.“ “Thus mellowed to that tender light which heaven to gaudy day denies” is symbolizing how pure and innocent she appears to be.

Sound contribute? Alliteration in this poem: “cloudless climes and starry skies” “half impaired the nameless grace” “which waves in every raven tree’ “So soft, so calm, yet eloquent” “The tints tat glow:

Poem structured two stanzas with 12 and 6. SHE walks in beauty, like the night A Of cloudless climes and starry skies; B And all that 's best of dark and bright A Meet in her aspect and her eyes: B Thus mellow'd to that tender light A 5 Which heaven to gaudy day denies. B One shade the more, one ray the less, C Had half impair'd the nameless grace D Which waves in every raven tress, C Or softly lightens o'er her face; D Where thoughts serenely sweet express C How pure, how dear their dwelling-place. D And on that cheek, and o'er that brow, E So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, F The smiles that win, the tints that glow, E But tell of days in goodness spent, F A mind at peace with all below, E A heart whose love is innocent! F two stanzas with 12 and 6.