She Walks in Beauty

She Walks in Beauty

by Lord Byron

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!

Summary of She Walks in Beauty

Popularity: “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron is a marvelous poem published in 1815. The
poem offers a bewitchingly romantic description of a charming woman with whom the speaker
seems familiar. It deals with her exceptional inner and outer beauty. The secret of the popularity of
this poem lies in the way it has presented the beauty of “A mind at peace.”
“She Walks in Beauty” an Admiration of Inner and Outer Beauty: The poem celebrates the
enchanting beauty of the women, and the poet is captivated by it. Lord Byron gives a critical
message to the readers that perfect beauty is the combination of outward looks as well as inner
beauty. According to him, the lady is blessed with attractive looks and also possesses a physical
and spiritual harmony. Her innocent and pure thoughts further illuminate her beauty. It is through
her graceful walk and pleasant face, Byron gives a clue of her innocent soul. The expression of
beauty remains at the core of the poem.
Major Themes: The major themes of the poem include beauty and harmony of mind and body.
Lord Byron describes and compares beauty with a variety of phrases such as – “tender light”
as he creates beautiful imagery for her charming features, the eloquence of speech and purity of
love. Byron focuses on the beauty with classical diction as well. He believes that beauty lies
within and that the body only projects that beauty. Also, the balance between light and dark clearly
indicates the perfection of that beauty where even a slight change can damage the prettiness. The
thematic strand of beauty and harmony runs throughout the poem.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “She Walks in Beauty”
Literary devices serve as tools the writer uses to make their poetic pieces not only powerful
descriptions but also strong compositions. Byron has also given this poem depth and clarity with
appropriate use of these literary devices. The analysis of some of the devices used in this poem is
given below.

Simile: A simile is a device used to compare two different objects to understand meanings by
comparing these object’s qualities. There is one simile used in the opening line of the poem,
“She walks in beauty, like the night.” Lord Byron compares the walk of that lady with a dark
and clear night which also means that her footsteps are not heard.
Metaphor: There are two metaphors in the poem, in lines eleven and twelve. “Where thoughts
serenely sweet express / How pure how dear their dwelling place.” Here the poet compares
thoughts with people and “dwelling place” with the mind. Similarly, “Raven Trees”
represents the dark hair of the lady that adds further to her beauty.
Personification: Personification is to attribute human qualities to animals or inanimate objects. The
poet has personified “dwelling place” with the human He also personifies the lady’s
“cheek” and “brow” with persons as if they can speak about the good days.
Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers feel things through their five senses along with their
Byron has used images appealing to the sense of sight such as, “night”; “starry sky”;
“cloudless climes”; “cheek” and “brow.” These images speak for themselves and allow
the readers to feel the same beauty that has delighted the poet.
Sibilance: It is a device used to stress consonant sounds through their fricative and affricative
types coming after each other. The letter “s” is permanent in lines eleven and second that
creates a special effect. Check the /s/ sound in these four lines.
“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;”

Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /a/
in “Had half impaired the nameless grace” and sound of /e/ in “where thoughts serenely sweet
express.”
Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds such as the sound of /s/ in “where
thoughts serenely sweet express” and /c/ sound in “Of cloudless climes and starry skies”.
A careful glimpse of this analysis shows that with the help of the above literary devices, Byron has
given this poem a romantic feel and touch, making it an eternal literary piece.
Analysis of the Poetic Devices in “She Walks in Beauty”
Poetic and literary devices share similar attributes, but a few of them are exclusively used in
poetry. The analysis of some of the poetic devices is stated below.

Stanza: A stanza is the poetic form of some lines. In this poem, there are three stanzas with six
lines in each.
Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows ABABAB in the first six lines. In the second stanza it is
CDCDCD, and in the last stanza, the rhyme scheme is EFEFEF.
Iambic Tetrameter: The poem follows Iambic Tetrameter which means there are four feet per line
or each unstressed syllable is followed by a stressed syllable as in the first line of this poem “She
walks in beauty, like the ”
The analysis shows that this simple romantic poem has a deceptive attraction to catch the attention
of the readers because of iambic tetrameter that is mostly not used in lyric poems. Moreover, the
poetic devices have helped the poet paint the perfect harmony of the outer and inner beauty of the
lady.

Quotes to be Used
The below lines can be used for children when teaching them about the sky and fairy tales. The
expressions like “cloudless clime” and “starry sky” will help them visualize the subject more
clearly.
“She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies;

And all that’s best of dark and bright.”

These lines can be used when discussing any personal experience of a place that is a source of
satisfaction.
“Where thoughts serenely sweet express,

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.”

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I Love You
I Love You
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I love your lips when they’re wet with wine

And red with a wild desire;
I love your eyes when the lovelight lies
Lit with a passionate fire.
I love your arms when the warm white flesh
Touches mine in a fond embrace;
I love your hair when the strands enmesh
Your kisses against my face.

Not for me the cold, calm kiss

Of a virgin’s bloodless love;
Not for me the saint’s white bliss,
Nor the heart of a spotless dove.
But give me the love that so freely gives
And laughs at the whole world’s blame,
With your body so young and warm in my arms,
It sets my poor heart aflame.

So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth,

Still fragrant with ruby wine,
And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.
Clasp me close in your warm young arms,
While the pale stars shine above,
And we’ll live our whole young lives away
In the joys of a living love.

Summary of I Love You

Popularity of “I Love You”: Ella Wheeler Wilcox, a famous American author, and poet wrote
‘I Love You’. It was first published in the 19th century. The poem explores the phenomenon of
sensual love and comprises the speaker’s attempt to express the depth of her profound love.
Since its publication, it has won widespread popularity on account of its everlasting description of
love.
“I Love You”, As a Representative of Love: The poet articulates her feelings of blissfulness of
her sensual love. The poet, very artistically, draws a picture of her overwhelming love and paints it
with her intense emotions. She desires for love that satisfies and excites, and not the one that is
dull and passive. She provides a vivid description of love she longs for and wants the same
response from her lover. Also, she talks about physical intimacy and expressing pure, appealing,
compelling and transcendent nature of love.
Major Themes in “I Love You”: Love, happiness, and fulfillment of sensual desires are the
major themes of this poem. The poet expresses her true love for her significant other which she
describes, brings joys and excitement. Also, it gives feelings of fulfillment and satiation.
Therefore, she reinforces these themes by expressing her innermost desires that show
possessiveness for her love. The choice of words suggests that she desires that his innocent and
pure love should last forever.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “I Love You”
Literary devices are tools the writers use to create meanings in their texts to enhance the poems or
stories and connect the readers with the real message of the text. Ella Wheeler Wilcox has also
used some literary devices in this poem to project her ideas about love. The analysis of some of
the literary devices used in this poem has been given below.

Enjambment: Enjambment refers to the continuation of a sentence without the pause beyond the
end of a line, couplet or stanza such as;
“And say with a fervor born of the South
That your body and soul are mine.”

Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound
of /l/ in “And we’ll live our whole young lives away”.
Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /uh/
in “Of a virgin’s bloodless love.”
Anaphora: It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. For
example, usage of “love your” in the opening lines to show her intense love.
“I love your eyes when the love light lies
I love your eyes when the love light lies.”

Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of
/w/ in “So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth”.
Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic
meanings different from literal meanings. The word “white” symbolizes purity, innocence, and
chastity, while the word “dove” is the symbol of freedom and clarity.
Personification: Personification is to give human qualities to non-human things. For examples, lips
are personified in the first line, “I love your lips when they’re wet with wine, And red with a
wild desire.” Here the lips appear like humans with desire.
Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things with their five senses. For example the
sense of sight and touch, “I love your lips when they’re wet with wine”, “So kiss me sweet
with your warm wet mouth” and “I love your arms when the warm white flesh, Touches mine
in a fond embrace.”
This brief literary analysis shows that Ella Wheeler Wilcox has exercised her expertise to present
passionate love.

When You Are Old

When You Are Old
by William Butler Yeats

When you are old and grey and full of sleep,

And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true,
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face;

And bending down beside the glowing bars,

Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Summary of When You Are Old

Popularity of “When You Are Old”: William Butler Yeats, a famous Irish poet wrote, “When
You Are Old”. It was first published in 1893 and is one of the famous love poems. It comprises
the poet’s eternal love for his beloved. However, its popularity lies in the description of the
poet’s meditation on catastrophic onslaught of time.
“When You Are Old” As a Representative of Love: As this poem is about love, the speaker
directly addresses his beloved and invites her to throw her mind forward to the future when she
will not be attractive, beautiful or glamorous, but a fair old lady poking by the fire. He asks her to
recall her past youth, how many people would have loved and admired her for her startling looks
and eye-catching features. However, he mentions that there was only one person who loved her
sincerely despite knowing the transient qualities of her beauty. He adds that he could have been
the right choice for her, but she rejected him. As their love would not last, and she would surely
regret her decision for the rest of her life. What enchants the reader is the way he has drawn a
metaphorical comparison to show his genuine love for his mistress.
Major Themes in “When You Are Old”: Love, rejection and time are the major themes of this
poem. To express pure love, the poet invites her to have a glance at the time when she will be old
and will not be surrounded by fake lovers. Therefore, she should understand his feelings toward
her. Throughout the poem, he tries to make her realize that her existing company loves her for her
beauty, but one day she would grow old and regret lost opportunities.
Analysis of Literary Devices in “When You Are Old”
Literary devices are tools the writers use to create meanings in their texts to enhance the poems or
stories and connect the readers with the real message of the text. Yeats has also used some literary
devices in this poem to illustrate the meanings of love. The analysis of some of the literary devices
used in this poem has been given below.

Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things with their five senses. He has used
imagery in the poem such as, “And nodding by the fire, take down this book”, “And bending
down beside the glowing bars” and “And paced upon the mountains overhead”.
Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic
meanings different from literal meanings. Here, “grey and weak and full of sleep” symbolizes
an elderly woman. “Fire” is the symbol of fiery love she once rejected and “mountain
overhead” and “crowd of stars” stand for things she knows exists but she can’t reach them.
Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound
of /n/ in “And bending down beside the glowing bars” and “And paced upon the mountains
overhead”.
Alliteration: Alliteration is a repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of the letters in the
same line. For example, the sound of /h/ in “And hid his face amid a crowd of stars”.
Personification: Personification is to give human characteristics to inanimate objects. For
example, “Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled”, as if the love is human and it can move.
Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in a verse that does not come to an end at a line break;
instead, it rolls over to the next line. Such as,
“And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.”