Karabayr 1

Name : Meltem Karabayr

Title of the Course : History of English Literature
George Gordon, Lord Byron As An Influential English Poet
The man of paradoxes who grew up with Romantic Movement brought new manner and
perspectives for English Literature is no one but George Gordon, Lord Byron. He was born in
1788 in London. He was not only an English poet but also presented historical tragedy, romantic
narrative, ode and especially epic satire to Romanticism. His style was a bit satirical as he
considered Alexander Pope who was one of the most important satirist in Age of Reason was a
model for him. Byron was sort of persona, doing what he pleased to do , living his life without
caring anything, and never conceded his own truths which was felt him under pressure. His
aspects towards to life made him like a hipster and leaded to approach liberty themes on his
works of art and also reflected his deeds as well. During Greek Struggle, he fought against
Ottoman to attain Greeks Independence. His characteristics directed him to act rather than just
making a point on his works. He addressed such an extraordinary poems as writing for him is an
overcoming the obstacles in his life. It is understood that his life was quite scandalous and
intriguing that he could hardly ease from his deep feelings and also didnt take notice of peoples
rumors about him by writing down on paper. Despite of all things, he still became a successful
poet of his day. Also, during his life time he chased love, fame and adventure made him to
become a person like movie stars and rock musicians between ladies.. His unusual way of
approaching to life and some scandalous things with his old wife caused him to have been a
notorious hero and self-exiled from England. Matthew Arnold indicated Byrons moral

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banishment: Despite being half mad during the time between metaphysics , mountains , lakes ,
love extinguishable , thoughts, unutterable, and nightmare of my own delinquencies, Byron
poured out some of his greatest work.(qtd. in England in Literature : 459) The poet whom
mostly wrote about unusual love affairs with his numerous cousins and intimate friends wife,
Byron mentioned on his works from his real life experience. Thats why his works of art were
like an autobiographical creation. The thing which became so interesting is that after his death the
committee who consisted of his friends made a tense discussion about Byrons unpublished
poems and then these works cannot be published because of their context. Despite of his oddity
character, he made a different statement to the world. Byron leaded on indelible impression on
English Literature, authors and poets of Romantic Era, works of art and also social attitude and
reform with his contradictory manner even if he was condemned on moral grounds.
Lord Byron left a huge impact on English Literature with the character which is created
by him called Byronic Hero and also he brought new aspects to Romanticism unlike some
authors who approach only deep emotions on their works of art. Andrew Rutherford underlined
the importance of using the figure of Byronic Hero in many genre of English Literature by
influencing Peter L. Thorslevs Byronic Hero Types and Prototypes:
For it is one of Mr. Thorslevs strengths that he seeks the origins of
Byronic Hero in no single literary form or fashion, but in a whole gallery of herotypes(culled from English and European novels, poems, and dramas), which he
categorizes in his chapter titles as the Child of Nature, The Hero of Sensibility:
Man of Feeling or Gloomy Egoist, and the Gothic Villain (all characteristically

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eighteenth-century figures); and the Noble Outlaw, Faust, Cain and Ahasuerus,
Satan and Prometheus (all characteristically Romantic prototypes).(814)
The literary world used the figure of Byronic Hero as it provided more satisfied impact and sharp
impression on readers as a character that lived in an outrageous life of fantasy who broke all
restrictions, rules and had outstanding characteristics. These were mysterious , rebellious , having
trouble his past , exhibiting great passion , noble virtues , having distaste for society and social
institutions , freedom fighter, seductive, sexually attractive , emotionally conflicted, and
sophisticated . Apparently, Byronic Hero was Byron himself when it was noticed Byron
addressed his own life on his works. This figure contributed for English Literature with archetype
that differentiated in time. It dragged readership to the world of unconsciousness and widen the
limits of their minds. The main character Satan in Miltons Paradise Lost displayed rebellion just
like persona of Byronic Hero who against under domination and obedience as he was like the
leader of liberty for his own life . One of the clear samples on the issue of putting authors
Byronic Hero on their works is Emily Brontes Wuthering Heights Emily lived in the era of Lord
Byron. Thus, by influencing his outrageous character, Bronte made essence Byronic figures
characteristics on her novel. In Wuthering Heights, the main character who named Heathcliff was
a gentleman, sophisticated, and educated which are the apparent distinctive of Byronic Hero.
Also there were other inspirations in gothic novels which Byronic hero became protagonist. His
Byronic figure could call as a protagonist, as he displayed his real-identity in Don Juans lines:
I was born for opposition.(54). Additionally, he brought new aspects to Romanticism together
with the poems which included melancholic tunes and inspiration from the nature. He was a poet
who ever lost touch with reality and supported liberalism on his works of art and especially his
private life.Thus he used the reality of theme regarding social attitude,situation and political
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views as well like the authors of Age Of Reason and created an unusual characters like Byronic
Hero which the other authors or poets can hardly courage by using such a contradictory
characteristics just like themselves as they thought that t was a lunatic thing which wasnt gained
an admission against society but Lord Byron achieved it then most of poets imitated him.
Byron put a new face on some authors and poets manner of writing with lively images,
characters and posture on their works and influence some poets lifestyle because he had exotic
and contrarious singularity. His contemporaries considered his poems like a model which brought
different aspects on their works. Mary Shelley was an intimate friend of Byron who had
reputation in the genre of English novel, short story, drama, and essay influenced Byron, her
contemporary as they had been residing in Geneva for years and had literary relationship to do
with Frankenstein. He played a big role for Marys career as a novelist. Ernest J. Lovell Jr.
mentioned Mary Shelleys own words concerning their cooperation while she was writing
Frankenstein: We will each write a ghost story. (35) By influencing Darkness which is
Byrons one of the poems Shelley created same atmosphere from these lines in her novel:
Swift as lightwas the idea that broke in upon me. I have found it! What
terrified me will terrify others; and I need only describe the spectre which I
announced that I had thought of a story. I began that day with the words, It was on
a dreary night of November, making only a transcript of the grim terrors of my
waking dream. (85)
The image of grim terrors of my waking dream recollected Byrons lines in Darkness: I had
a dream which was not all a dream (530) She inspired the profound words in which is hidden
here and led us to frightened world which fulfilled with images . Darkness became a sample
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source some parts of Frankenstein but Mary Shelley used it by giving more detailed imagery. In
addition, Byron played significant role for Alexander Pushkins Eugene Onegin. Just like
Byrons young character in Childe Harolds Pilgrimage who was world-weary and looked for
entertainment in foreign lands, Eugene approached the characteristics of his personas by this
point of view too. Also Pushkin wrote works of art which are about liberal themes. The reason
why he approached liberty on his works is as he imitated Byronic characteristics , it was
possible that he influenced his nationalist attitude as well because during his lifetime , Byron
fight against all restrictions and lack of independence. Also, George Gordon, Lord Byron had an
impact on American poet Edgar Allan Poe. He had dreams of being a writer like his childhood
hero Lord Byron. In Tamerlane , Poe influenced by Byrons drama Manfred and his poem The
Giavour with regards to his manner and style. He follows Byrons method of writing and the way
of expressing events. One of the characters in Tamerlane is Ada who is peasant and reference to
Byrons daughter Ada Lovelace. The poem involved parallelism to works of Byron. Moreover he
wrote The Assignation by having model the love affair of the man who is George Gordon while
he was in Italy with his lover Teressa Gamba Guiccioli .It can be understood from here his
characters is so scandalous and like kind of story which essence in stories, and poems.
Additionally, Oscar Wilde is influenced by Lord Byron, but it was about his lifestyle and
notorious persona much more his style of writing or characters .He sympathized with Byrons
characteristics and adopted a lifestyle similar to him. The national poet of Greece , Dionysus
Solomos wrote a poem dedicated to Lord Byron , the unexpected loss in Greek Struggle named
To the Death of Lord Byron to express his deep feelings in memory of his honor and
bravery .Additionally , Byron was one of the first poets who gave place about un-dead creature
on his works whose themes is extremely gothic and his image , appearance inspired the

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appearance of monsters. Thanks to him, vampires became an aristocratic, noble figure going on
people by his sophisticated characteristics. He influenced the modern vampire figure; he became,
himself, the archetype of works. His influence was stated in Lezlie Kinyons article: The
association of vampirism and George Gordon, Lord Byron, arguably began with the publication
of a tale by John Polidori, an embittered employee of the poet, entitled The
Vampyre.(Strangehorizons.com)
Byrons impression was done not only with Romantic Age or English Literature which
was his influence area but also the mood of his works became a sample for some painters,
sculptors and musicians composition like Tchaikovsky, Robert Schumann. These two composers
attached to their composition with Byrons painful ambiguities, and spiritually confused world on
his work. If it required to examine the connection between Schumanns composition and
Byrons work , the answer may be that he read his work so closely and felt deep admiration his
lively rhyme and poetic virtues. Leon Botsteit was emphasized in what way he impressed mood
of Byrons poems in his compositions: Music in Schumans treatment retains musics infinite
unapproachable quality and expressive rhetoric, despite the superficial ordering of the music
along the lines of a dramatic story that has been mediated by poetic diction.
(Americansymphony.org) He named his one of the famous composition as Manfred, Byrons
drama by influencing uniqueness of harmony. Also, Some painters like Eugene Delacroix
influence Byrons one of the tales The Giaour then imagine a scene which was named The
Combat Between the Giaour and the Pasha which involved in his works , reflected his painting.
On central area of Athens in Greece, there have been Byrons statue while the women were
crowning him. This statue is made by Henri-Michel Chapu and Alexandre Falguiere. The reason
why this statue have been standing in Greece may be Byrons liberal attitude and his bravery for
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Greek independence to fight against Ottoman and unfortunately his death during the struggle.
Byron and his poetry became representative of artistic genuineness and all of influences on works
of art shows us how one poet who had a peculiar persona could have enchant even painters and
musicians during the 19th century.
Byron appeared on some social reforms also as he has liberal attitude and lover of
independence. He became an idolized character of London society, he took place in the House of
Lords and influenced people who were his around and members of this parliament with his harsh
attitude for maintaining independence. Byron as a strong advocate of social reform, he spoke
whatever he wanted to say without fearing in the House of Lords. In 1811 , He standed up for
Luddites who were group of worker in London during 19th century and violently protested
against the machinery using during the Industrial Revolution as it made them less- skilled and
less needed, at last leaving them without work . He defended their rights by determined way. He
made some speeches against government which intended to accept death penalty because of
their protests. Also Byron tried to beware society on these political issues .His attitude about
these matter left a deep influence on his poetry such as Song for the Luddites ( 1816) and The
Landlords Interest (1823). Moreover, he wrote English Bards and Scotch Reviewers to satirize
the Scotch reviewers concerning poetry , possibly as his poems cannot be published because of
their context . By this way , he emerged people to pay attention Edinburgh Reviewers action ,
their crucial criticize and strictness about expressing feeling sincerely in poems . Thus, he became
the voice of most of the poets.

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Consequently, Lord Byron was one of the most effective poets in English Literature
regarding of not only his poetic style but also his thoughts, deeds, reforms and, struggle for
human condition. Byrons incomparable efficiency in all areas was stated as follows :
Outside of this one significant connection it is somewhat difficult to place
Byron in relation to the other poets of his time; though he has been labeled as a
Romantic due to his radical views of politics and morality, his verse does not share
the nature-obsession and fascination with the supernatural that more generally
characterizes poets of the Romantic school. ( qtd. in New World Encyclopedia)
He was described by his lover, Lady Caroline Lamp mad, bad and dangerous to know but
though all scandalous characteristics he still is the most influential poets even at the present time
for bringing outrageous manner in writing and odd character Byronic Hero . Above all he had
a kind of fame like the stars who blaze even it they were in hereafter.

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Works Cited
Blue, Drummond, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Byron. U.K: Cambridge UP , 2004.p.54.
Google Book Search. Web. 20 March 2013. <
books.google.com.tr/books?isbn=0521786762>

Botstein, Leon. The Romantic Soul: Lord Byron n Music. Americansymphony.org, 9 Feb.
2003.Web. 25 March 2013.< http://www.americansymphony.org/concert_notes/theromantic-soul-lord-byron-in-music>

Kinyon,Lezlie, ed. Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know: Le Vampyre, the Gothic Novel, and
George Gordon, Lord Byron. Strange Horizons. 1 Dec. 2003. Web.
27 March 2013 .< http://www.strangehorizons.com/2003/20031201/byron.shtml>.
Lord Byron. New World Encyclopedia. New World Encyclopedia Online. Web. 25 March
2013. < http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lord_Byron>
Lovell Jr. Ernest J.Byron and Mary Shelley. Keats-Shelley Journal.Vol 2. ( 1953) : 35-49.
JSTOR. Web. 1 Apr. 2013. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/30212479>
Moore Thomas, and Baron George Gordon Byron. Darkness. The Works of Lord Byron.. 3rd
ed. California,1837.p. 530. Google Book Search. Web 15 March 2013. <
books.google.com.tr/books?id=JZ8gAAAAMAAJ>
Pfordresher, John, Glayds V. Veidemanis, and Helen McDonnell. England in Literature:
America Reads (Classic Edition). Illinois: Scott, Foresman, 1989. p. 490. Print.

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Thomas R. Ronald.Recovering Nightmares: Nineteenth Century Gothic Dreams of Authority :
Freud and the Fictions of Unconscious. USA : Cornell UP,1990. p.85.Google Book
Search. Web. 25 March 2013.< books.google.com.tr/books?isbn=0801496942 >
Thorslev Jr. Peter L. The Byronic Hero Types and Prototypes.The Journal of English and
Germanic Philology 63.4 (1964) : 814-816. JSTOR Web. 4 Apr. 2013
<http://www.jstor.org/stable/27714563>

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