George Gordon, Lord George Gordon, Lord ByronByron

1788-18241788-1824

DandyDandy

a beau, gallant or flamboyant persona beau, gallant or flamboyant person is a man who places particular importance upon is a man who places particular importance upon

physical appearancephysical appearance, refined language, and leisurely , refined language, and leisurely hobbies. hobbies.

a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate a dandy, who was self-made, often strove to imitate an an aristocraticaristocratic style of life despite coming from a style of life despite coming from a middle-classmiddle-class background. background.

Given these connotations, dandyism can be seen as a Given these connotations, dandyism can be seen as a political protestation against the rise of political protestation against the rise of egalitarianegalitarian principlesprinciples

A DandyA Dandy

George Gordon Byron, George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron6th Baron Byron occasionally dressed occasionally dressed the part, helping re-the part, helping re-introduce the frilled, introduce the frilled, lace-cuffed and lace-lace-cuffed and lace-collared "poet shirt." collared "poet shirt."

LifeLife

He grew up with his mother blaming him for He grew up with his mother blaming him for the abandonment of his father. the abandonment of his father.

Born with a club foot and prone to depression Born with a club foot and prone to depression At age 10 he inherited his great-uncle’s title At age 10 he inherited his great-uncle’s title

and property (1798) and property (1798) He took his seat in House of Lords in 1809. He took his seat in House of Lords in 1809.

1812 he was against the Luddite death penalty 1812 he was against the Luddite death penalty proposed. proposed.

LifeLife

1815 married, had a child and separated1815 married, had a child and separated had a tempestuous romantic life. (Shown in his had a tempestuous romantic life. (Shown in his

later racy works.)later racy works.) Left England in 1816, never to return Left England in 1816, never to return

Affair with Shelley’s half sister claireAffair with Shelley’s half sister claire He died in Greece of a fever on 19 April 1824. He died in Greece of a fever on 19 April 1824.

He had gone to fight for Political freedom. He He had gone to fight for Political freedom. He died a hero in their minds.died a hero in their minds.

She Walks in BeautyShe Walks in Beauty 18141814 by by Lord ByronLord Byron. .

not necessarily a love poem, but a celebration not necessarily a love poem, but a celebration of the subject's beauty. of the subject's beauty.

Wrote this poem about his wife Harriet’s Wrote this poem about his wife Harriet’s cousincousin He met her at a funeral. (hence the allusions to He met her at a funeral. (hence the allusions to

darkness, with the light referring to her beauty) darkness, with the light referring to her beauty) he was taken aback. Nowhere in the poem does he was taken aback. Nowhere in the poem does

Byron mention or allude to love.Byron mention or allude to love.

Childe Harold's PilgrimageChilde Harold's Pilgrimage lengthy lengthy narrative poemnarrative poem It was published between It was published between 18121812 and and 18181818. .

the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man disillusioned with a life the travels and reflections of a world-weary young man disillusioned with a life of pleasure and revelry, looks for distraction in foreign lands;of pleasure and revelry, looks for distraction in foreign lands;

an expression of the melancholy and disillusionment felt by a generation weary an expression of the melancholy and disillusionment felt by a generation weary of the wars of the post-Revolutionary and of the wars of the post-Revolutionary and Napoleonic erasNapoleonic eras. .

The title comes from the term The title comes from the term childechilde,, a a medievalmedieval title for a candidate for title for a candidate for knighthoodknighthood..

The poem contains elements thought to be autobiographical. Byron The poem contains elements thought to be autobiographical. Byron traveled through the traveled through the MediterraneanMediterranean and and Aegean SeaAegean Sea between 1809 and between 1809 and 18111811[1][1]. .

Byron's personal distaste for the poem: he felt it revealed too much of himself, Byron's personal distaste for the poem: he felt it revealed too much of himself, brought him a large amount of public attention. Byron stated that he woke up brought him a large amount of public attention. Byron stated that he woke up

one day and "found myself famous."one day and "found myself famous." The work provided the first example of the The work provided the first example of the Byronic Byronic herohero The poem has four The poem has four cantoscantos written in Spenserian stanzas, which consists of written in Spenserian stanzas, which consists of

eight iambic pentameter lines followed by one alexandrine (a twelve eight iambic pentameter lines followed by one alexandrine (a twelve syllable iambic line), and has rhyme pattern ABABBCBCC.syllable iambic line), and has rhyme pattern ABABBCBCC.

Byronic hero.Byronic hero.

A distaste for social institutions and normsA distaste for social institutions and norms An exile, an outcast, or an outlaw, a troubled pastAn exile, an outcast, or an outlaw, a troubled past Arrogant, Cynical, Disrespectful of rank and privilegeArrogant, Cynical, Disrespectful of rank and privilege Cunning and ability to adapt, Struggles with integrityCunning and ability to adapt, Struggles with integrity “ “Dark” attributes not normally associated with a heroDark” attributes not normally associated with a hero Emotionally conflicted, bipolar tendencies, or moodinessEmotionally conflicted, bipolar tendencies, or moodiness High level of intelligence and perceptionHigh level of intelligence and perception Mysterious, magnetic, and charismaticMysterious, magnetic, and charismatic Powers of seduction and attraction lead to social and sexual Powers of seduction and attraction lead to social and sexual

dominancedominance Self-destructive behavior, Self-critical and introspectiveSelf-destructive behavior, Self-critical and introspective Sophisticated and well-educatedSophisticated and well-educated