Romantic Rebels

Another dynamic duo of poets are Lord Bryon and Percy Shelley. Both men grew up with privileged lives of wealth an education, though they may not have appreciated it as much as they should have. Both men were also ostracized from their communities for their outspoken criticism and political beliefs. They wrote their woes out for the world through their literary pieces of human and worldly nature.
Lord George Byron was a poor man of nobility with fate on his side as he inherited his fortune, paying his way through college and into fame. He was self-indulged; writing openly on his own personal characteristics. Byron was outspoken and not ashamed to express his opinions as he openly criticized his critics. The use of persona and open expression in his writing won him the categorization of a romantic poet. In his short poem, "She Walks in Beauty," Byron uses end-rhyme and structured stanzas in order to produce a specific "walking" rhythm. He also uses descriptive imagery as he makes continual contrasts in light and darkness throughout the piece. In his work, "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage," the author takes on a more complex theme as he implements industrial aspects in the description of nature. He does so in order to evaluate the human impact on nature. Byron also personifies nature through extended metaphors and creative allusions. The author's dynamic perspective on the topic and creative presentation illustrates his romantic style and aggressive character.
Percy Shelley was born into the upper class and attended high-level schools. He was kicked out of college for publishing an essay on his radical ideals on atheism. He was not accepted for his radical ideals and left London to travel around Europe. The scenes that surrounded him on his travels strongly influenced his writing. In "Ozymandias," Shelley uses descriptive language and a long sentence structure in order to convey a clear representation of his observation. He continues this long, descriptive process in the poem "Ode to the West Wind." Here he personifies weather using various similes. Shelley creates descriptive imagery through the strong use of adjectives. He returns to the allusion of autumn and the change of seasons throughout the poem as he posses the piece as more of a declaration of existence than a concession of contentment.