They inspired love, not fear.

Lord Byron was a master of imagery. Both his poems paint such a vivid picture that one simply can not help but imagine that they are exactly where Lord Byron wanted the poet to be. The use of nature as a conquering force was probably my favorite personification used. Lord Byron reminds me somewhat of Jack London in his ideal that Nature will not lie back allow whatever humans do to it to happen. I loved the mention of all of the empires that had fallen at that time being taken over again by nature. It really paints a vivid picture about how life and death are a completely natural cycle. I also found it interesting that he discusses drowning and being lost at sea, because his best friend dies early by drowning.

Percy Shelly's poems.....these poems are even more filled with imagery than Lord Byron's poems. I loved Shellly's ability to portray scenes that set such hard-hitting moods. Ozymandias was easily my favorite poem from this entire packet, as it was concise but had such a powerful emotional tone that it felt like a long story. The description of the stone, along with background of the actual pharaoh as well of course, made it so much deeper than the long-winded descriptions that Byron seemed to give. Don't get me wrong, both poets were amazing but I did like Shelly more. An Ode to the west was very interesting, as the each section had a totally different mood to it, almost as if it was a different poem completely. The fact that they tied in together so well was amazing. I enjoyed that it was a journey back into nature, It calls to mind how everything cycles back into nature. I also love his deeper meaning as to how nature and human nature parallel as both cycle and sometimes they can match up. Also with the stages in life. It was simple an amazing book.