Womanizer and Forever Young: Lord Byron & Percy Bysshe Shelley

Perhaps the most famous of poet duos, Byron and Shelley truly started the fire of the Romantic ideology. The two led nearly parallel lives; both born wealthy,both scrutinized by critics excessively which led to their self exiles from England, and both chased by women. Byron literally became a celebrity over night with the "Childe Harlod's Pilgrimage" as society became enthralled by his outgoing, daredevil personality and flirtatious nature with the ladies. He presented a more wild, carefree way of living that the young and wealthy flocked to. Bodacious and pompous, Byron is the first face I associate with Romantic poetry. His writing style is very flowing and smooth; passionate without being overpowering. "She Walks in Beauty" includes many images that in modern times would come off as cliché (he speaks of his lover's face, eyes, and hair in various similes) yet due to its soft, quiet, whispering tone is still incredibly dreamy and romantic. "Apostrophe to the Ocean" carries the same effortless quality but is far more dynamic in language. Byron's deep respect and awe for the strength of nature versus his observations on the fragility of man is the core of the poem. As his dearest and closest friend, clearly absorbed many of Byron's techniques in his own poetry. "Ode to the West Wind" is similar in topic except that Shelley presents an unquenchable jealously of the wind's power and freedom. He appeals to he wind as if he worships it; Shelley's atheist beliefs are visible in his poetry as well as his disdain for modern society. "Ozymandias" is so wonderfully written; a profound, deep story is told in such a short poem. The tone of the language is broken, eerie, desolate. Shelley seems to be commenting upon the eventual fall of all things great, perhaps he was imaging his early and imminent death.