Lyrical hero in poetry of George Gordon Byron

1. Lyrical hero in poetry of George Gordon Byron

2.

George Gordon Byron
• 1788-1824
• Well known poet and
politician
• George Gordon Byron was
known as Lord Byron
• Leading figure in
Romanticism

3.

Early life
• Son of Captain John Byron and Catherine Gordon
• Born with a club-foot which caused him much
humiliation
• A fragile self-esteem
• Spent childhood in Scotland
• Attended Harrow Public-School and Cambridge
University

4.

Major works:
«When we two parted»
«Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage»
«Lament of Tasso»
«She walks in Beauty»
• He created an immensely popular Romantic hero
(known as the Byronic hero) - defiant, meloncholy
young man, unforgivable event in his past.

5.

«Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage»
Byron’s first literary triumph
Published in 1812-1818
Dedicated to Charlotte Harley
Consists of 4 cantos
The travels of a world-weary young man
Childe – a young man who was a candidate for
knighthood
• Colorful descriptions of exotic nature, a lyrical
exaltation of freedom, lonely hero

6.

• Success came in 1812 when Byron published the
first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage. “I
awoke one morning and found myself famous”, he
later said.

7.

• Cantos 1 and 2 were published in 1812, Canto 3 in
1816, and Canto 4 in 1818. He gained his first poetic
fame with the publication of the first two cantos.

8.

«She walks in Beauty»
• Published in 1813
• Dedicated to Mrs. Anne Wilmot, the wife of Byron’s
first cousin (Sir Robert Wilmot)
• The theme of the poetry is the woman’s exceptional
beauty, internal as well as external.

9.

«When we two parted»
• A lyric poetry about the parting of two lovers
• Dedicated to Lady Frances Annesley
• Wrote the poetry out of jealously in relation to the
scandalous relationship between her and the Duke of
Wellington

10.

“Always laugh when you can. It’s cheap
medicine.”
-Lord Byron

11.

Thank you for attention!