In order to answer an essay question on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:
- The poem in a nutshell
- A “translation” of the poem, section-by-section
- A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Lord Byron’s intention and message
'She Walks in Beauty' in a nutshell
'She Walks in Beauty', written by the poet George Gordon Byron, can be considered a tribute to a woman’s beauty. The poem is a third-person idealised description of the woman’s inner and outer beauty.
'She Walks in Beauty' breakdown
Lines 1–2
“She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;”
Translation
- A woman, unidentified, is described as “walking” in beauty, suggesting she is graceful and very beautiful
- She is compared to a clear night sky
Byron's intention
- The poem immediately begins describing a beautiful woman
- Byron uses natural imagery related to night to allude to the woman’s mysterious nature
Lines 3–4
“And all that’s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes;”
Translation
- The woman is described as possessing the best features of “dark” and “bright”
- This can be seen in her attitude and her eyes
Byron's intention
- Byron describes a female who is mysterious but also radiant
- He implies the woman possesses alluring qualities that capture the dark and the light
Lines 5–6
“Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.”
Translation
- The woman appears to calm the brightness of the “gaudy” or glaring day
- She is related to gentle light and heaven
Byron's intention
- Celestial imagery and hyperbolic praise elevates the woman’s status:
- She makes the bright sun of the daytime appear lurid and loud
- This connects the woman closely, as suggested in the first line, to the night and more “tender” light
Lines 7–10
“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;”
Translation
- The woman is described in terms of light and dark again, referring to the perfect “shade” or “ray” of light that falls on her hair (“tress”)
- The woman’s black (“raven”) hair catches the light or it lights up her face “softly”
Byron's intention
- Byron uses contrasting imagery related to dark and light, night and day, to show, perhaps, the harmonious nature of the woman
- This could, however, also imply she has a complex nature, hiding aspects of herself while presenting as “bright” and “soft”
Lines 11–12
“Where thoughts serenely sweet express,
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.”
Translation
- The woman is described as not only beautiful in appearance but also in thought
- Her thoughts are expressed quietly and calmly (“serenely sweet”)
- The speaker describes her mind as a “dear” and “pure” place
Byron's intention
- Here, the woman is presented as a sweet and calm female
- This description conforms to the female characterisations and idealised romances found in literature describing courtly love
- This suggests the poem pays tribute to romanticised love
Lines 13–16
“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,”
Translation
- The woman’s face (her “cheek” and “brow”) is “calm” and “soft”:
- The speaker adds that she communicates very well (perhaps with her smiles)
- The woman’s smiles are persuasive, they “win” people over with their “glow”
- Yet she is good and spends her time being kind and virtuous
Byron's intention
- Byron’s description of the woman emphasises her calm tenderness
- The woman’s virtuous nature is seen in her smiles (perhaps Byron wants to stress she is not seductive purposefully)
Lines 17–18
“A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!”
Translation
- The poem ends praising the woman’s peaceful mind and her innocence
- The last line exclaims how pure her love is
Byron's intention
- Byron’s poem ends with a dramatic expression of admiration for the woman’s innocence
- In this way, the poem may present a woman who is not in a relationship and out of reach as such, or it may imply the woman’s love is pure and genuine