2-7) She Walks in Beauty

 ICE BREAKERS

While judging any person you would consider certain aspects. Complete the diagram after carefully thinking what aspects you would consider.

Different 

aspects of 

a person

 Make a list of proverbs and quotations related to ‘Beauty’.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

 Discuss your impressions about someone's personality, and say what you like the bmost and why.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

George Gordon Byron

(1788 to 1824),

 known simply as Lord Byron 

was a famous English Romantic poet and also a satirist. He attended  a number of schools, including the famous Public School, Harrow  and then went to Trinity College, Cambridge. At the age of 21, he  started a tour of Europe and the Orient after which he composed ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’ which made him immensely popular  in England. 

‘She Walks in Beauty’ is a short lyrical poem celebrating female beauty . The poet describes an unnamed woman who is exceptionally striking. The poet describes not only her external appearance but also her  inner goodness which makes her so captivatingly attractive. Byron compares  her to the night sky describing her serene and perfect beauty. Although the poem is generally  thought to be a love poem, the poet never actually declares his love for this lady.

Poem

She Walks in Beauty

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 mellowed to that tender light

Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impaired 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

climes : climate

aspect : features 

mellowed : made smooth 

and soft

gaudy : bright and showy

raven : a large bird of the 

crow family with shiny 

black feathers

The colour of the lady’s 

hair is …..

The phrase ‘dwelling-

place’ refers to her ……

eloquent : expressive

BRAINSTORMING

(A1) (i) ‘Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder’ - you have probably heard this .saying Discuss in your class how far the statement is true.

(ii) Discuss with your partner about the most inspirational person you have come across. Also explain the reasons behind your opinion.

(A2) (i) After reading the poem match column A with column B.

Column A Column B

(1) the lady’s beauty wavy and black

(2) her hair a perfect blend of light and darkness

(3) her eyes at peace with all below a heart

(4) her smile a cloudless starry night

(5) her mind expresses thoughts serenely and sweetly

(6) her face soft, calm and eloquent

(ii) The lady in the poem has a winning smile and a glowing skin.

 According to the poet she is blessed with these things because

(iii) In this poem the poet brings a perfect balance of outer beauty and inner beauty Write a few lines on how the poet brings this balance in his description

(iv) ‘Beauty is skin deep’- Do you agree with the statement ? Or do you feel that beauty comes from within ? Explain your views in a few sentences.

(A3) (i) Find out the words which are used to describe the lady in the poem.

(ii) A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of the word, syllable or word groups created by omission of internal letters and sounds. Find out the instances of contractions from the poem.

(A4) (i) The poet creates an imagery of light and darkness to bring out the beauty  of the lady. Find out the lines with such imageries and complete the table.

Lines with imagery Reason for using

(1) And all that’s best of dark and bright To express the beauty of the eyes(ii) Find out from the poem examples of :

(a) Simile

(b) Metaphor

(c) Alliteration

(d) Personification

(e) Antithesis

(A5) (i) Write an appreciation of the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’. 

Refer to the earlier poems for the points to be covered for appreciation.

(ii) Compose a poem of at least 4 - 6 lines on 'Beauty of Nature'.

(iii) Write at least one paragraph and expand the inherent idea of the saying

‘A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever’.

(A6) (i) Browse the internet and find out different types of poems on 'Beauty'.

(ii) Byron’s name is often taken along with his two contemporaries – Shelley and Keats. Go to your school/college library and read some poems written by P. B. Shelley and John Keats to get a better idea about the Romantic .Poet s.