telling ghost stories by the fire;

Byron and Shelley were incredibly influenced by the prominence of a changing era and a new form of influence that struck Europe during their lifetimes – initiating a shift in poetic composition unlike before. Both men arose to popularity with entirely different backgrounds – Byron being a poor baron with little interest in schooling and Shelley whom was raised in riches and attended very exquisite schools for education. While the two men were incredibly close as companions, their poetic devices differed impeccably in several aspects. Byron’s poem “She Walks in Beauty” withholds a constant A-B rhyme scheme, initiating what sounds like more blatant structure when recited out loud. He persistently uses imagery to convey feeling and many metaphors of nature to reflect on the beauty in a woman, showing a more capable control over his diction and the manner he is able to convey things in a style assimilated towards applying the natural world efficiently. Shelley, in “Ozymandias”, uses the same tactics as Byron in providing a different outlook on life through this new style of romanticism. He applies his knowledge from his constant travels to compose a poem written about Ramses II of Egypt. Shelley speaks with fondness towards the statue and applies a deeper meaning to the statue towards the land around and particularly those standing in its almost intimidating glower. Both are incredibly influenced by rebellious feats, Byron being the one to help Greece with its rebellion against Turkey and Shelley writing a radical book “The Necessity of Atheism.” While differentiating in tone, both men serve as exceptional poets during the romance era.