Inspired by Byron and Keats

The Romantic poets left a mark on literary history that is extraordinary and frightening all at once. Its extravagence is obvious; their works are amazing. Yet, as a poet myself, I fear their greatness. They wrote with such depth and precision. But anyone who reads those delicately strong words from the Romantic era is able to grasp with ease the joy, sorrow, pain, or intelligence that was initially intended by the author. How can something to intricate and powerful be received with such grace? The words seem to dance off the pages of my anthology…not scream. And still, within the choreography of rhythm and style, these poems reveal a place shaded by glory in our very souls.
I believe that is what poetry does. It allows us to reach a place that is otherwise unreachable. Through the eyes of a poem and the voice its author, we are brought to a new understanding of life. Rarely do I find a poem that catches my attention so much that I have to read it again and again. Fortunately, I have recently been so lucky. Lord Byron wrote a beautiful piece entitled, She Walks in Beauty. I had actually read this poem prior to taking this course, but it had never grabbed me quite like this before. Reading it alongside Byron’s other works and that of the other Romantics made it stand out. I think of a glowing angel when I read this poem. I recently acquired some information from my creative writing teacher about this poem. Strangely enough, She Walks in Beauty was apparenty written about Byron’s cousin. Even though I do not believe anyone would read this to their cousin at a family reuinion or picnic, it still has a lovely purpose and spirit. I believe it symbolizes true friendship and care for another person, be it a family member, lover, friend, or role model. It is also very different in tone than many of Byron’s other works. For instance, When We Two Parted, is sad and uses phrases like, “silence and tears”, “half broken-hearted”, and “chill on my brow”. Where as in Beauty, Byron describes his heroin with softer diction, “starry skies”, “tender light”, “serenely sweet express”, and “a mind at peace”. Beauty is written in an ABAB rhyme scheme that suits its romance and fluidness. I enjoy the use of nature as imagery. Byron includes the night, the clouds, starry skies, heaven, the raven, and more. He also makes a few references to the theme of light and darkness. He says that her eyes hold the best of what is “dark and bright”. He remarks on a “tender light”, a shade and a ray, and “the tints that glow”. This theme brings relevence to the poem and its subject as well. With out knowing that she had some hint of darkness in her, even if it was the best aspects, she is now capable of being real in our minds. No one is all light and sparkle, each of us have shadows and dimly lit corners of our personalities. Seeing these references and understanding them we are able to relate to Beauty better and possible apply it to someone we know.
Another poem that spoke to me was by John Keats, “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer”. The inspiring tone and allusions that lay behind these words are truly enlightening. Keats is writing about a poet’s interpretation of another poet’s epic. How confusing, right? Keats has undoubtedly gotten his hands on George Chapman’s book translating Homer’s Odyssey. He claims in this poem to have visited breathtaking places that help open the soul and mind to poetic excellence. Alluding to Apollo, the Greek and Roman god of poetic inspiration, lets us know that Keats has researched and tried to educate himself to the fullest on poetry. Then, in lines seven and eight he says brillianlty, “Yet did I never breathe its pure serene till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold”. He then felt like he had discovered a new atmosphere, a new world or literature and creativity. His next allusion is to Cortez, a Mexican conqueror and discoverer from our world’s great history. Keats was relating his sense of wonder and new found power to Cortez’s and his men seeing the Pacific from Darien. Keats also uses great imagery from nature to tell his story. He talks of traveling ro great places, islands, the skies, planets, eagles eyes, and the Pacific ocean. As I stated earlier, he alludes to mythological gds, great poets of the past, and explorers that bring truth and relevence to this piece. I can honestly say that with out these references and allusions, this piece would not mean anything to me. The tie-ins and pictures painted in my mind help me to understand its greatness. This poems strucure is a bit unique. There are two sets of ABBA rhyming and six lines of ABABAB to end the piece. In my mind it can be read like a journal entry. But it is still powerful. Chapman’s Homer reminds me of one of my favorite poems, Ulysses, by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Ulysses has the same tone and feel of inpiration and the wonder of life itself. The title itself being a direct allusion to Homer’s work, it shares important some similiarities to Keats poem. If only we took such inspiration from poems we read or people we admired, then maybe we would be able to write like Keats.
These poems together may not look like much, but I chose to look closer. Both of these poems stand out with brightness and color in the grey fog that sometimes hovers over the Romantics. With all of their wonderings about gods and mortality and love, these two pieces shined with freshness and hope. Byron and Keat’s poems are adventurous. They both leave you wanting more, curious of chapter two. Does Byron ever see the girl again? Does she love him? Did Keats unviel some hidden truths from the Odyssey or Illiad? We don’t really know, but we surely want to know. I believe their stuctures are similar, although quite clearly not identical. The rhyme scheme and rhythm and pleasant and easy to follow. Rhyme scheme and structure have always amazed me. They wholly define the poem. Pieces that bring light or happiness or expectaion, like Beauty and Chapman’s Homer, should be read like a ballet. The story is being told through movement and syncronization. Each turn and lift triggers an emotional intent beyond what we naturally recognize. Then there is choppy poetry with rigid line breaks and unclear rhythm. Both types tell a story. Both types are beautiful. But both types also allow us to understand different things. It reminds me of theatre and great playwrights. Some playwrights wrote soft plays about romance and youthfullness and serenity. For instance, take Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It has a common rhyming pattern in iambic pentameter that almost leaves us singing a song. Works like that remind me of ribbon-like poetry that sticks in your head smoothly. Then, on the other hand, look at Clifford Odetts’ Golden Boy, or Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. These realists taught us about love affairs, life, and pain. Their plays remind me of poems that are choppy and structured with purpose to make us stop and think. No fluff, just pure reality.
Lastly, the two poets use of nature and vivid imagery help to link them together. I would venture to say that both Keats and Byron were in touch with natur and used it regularly to gleen from in their writing. The poems do differ in topic and purpose. Lord Byron’s is obviously about a woman whom he loves deeply and admires. While John Keats takes us on an adventure of inspiration and knowledge. Yet, isn’t that what love is? It should inspire us. It should help us to see new plains of life and reason. All in all, love, life, exploration, and poetry need each other to survive. And we, in turn, need them also. Keats and Byron did a phenomenal job of showing us just that.



Works Cited
Gordon, George, Lord Byron. "She Walks in Beauty." 1970. The Norton Anthology of Poetry. 5th ed.
London : W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., 2005. 834.
Gordon, George, Lord Byron. "When We Two Parted." 1970. The Norton Anthology of Poetry. 5th ed.
London : W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., 2005. 835.
Keats, John. "On First Looking Into Chapman’s Homer." 1970. The Norton Anthology of Poetry. 5th ed.
London : W.W. Norton & Company Ltd., 2005. 905.