Shelley-Byron

Both Shelley and Lord Byron are leaders in the Romanticism period of poetry. Although very close friends, they both lived extremely different lives. Byron grew up in a poor, but noble family; while Shelley grew up as an elitist in British society. However, both had similar writing styles when it came to their poetry. Shelley and Byron strived to reach a deeper meaning of nature, yet explored the concept in different styles. Byron looked at natured from a perspective of being a powerful force that was unstoppable and continued to go no matter what. Although Byron’s childhood was upsetting, he does not appear to take a depressive angle to his poems like you might think. I see his poetry to be more realistic of nature, than that of Shelley, for he takes what we see at the surface level of nature and explore it further. Knowing that he (like Shelley) had radical political views also gives you glimpse at his writing style, unlike their differing personalities.
Shelley, also writes of nature, taking an imaginative approach in his work, Ozymandias. After reading both biographies, I would have never assumed Shelley’s writing to be in the tone that it was. From reading about his pleasant childhood to his quick success, it did not fit my image of what his writing style would be like. His dark tone also adds to his attempt to show the true humanity of the world, not being as tight knit as portrayed by some.

Although not completely significant, the length of the writers is quite different. Shelley takes a direct approach, to where Byron uses more descriptive, and lengthy writing to get his point across. Both writers are pioneers of the Romanticism period and their friendship further enhances their ability to change this era of poetry.