Lord Byron as a Romantic Poet:

Lord Byron was the immensely popular poet of his time. His prolific writing has placed him among the bright galaxy of English Literature. His view and philosophy of life have distinguished him very remarkably. Besides, his rebellious spirit has given a new dimension to him and distinguished him among the romantic poets in English Literature.

Lord Byron was undoubtedly one of the most powerful and vigorous of English Romantic poets. Born in the age of Romanticism and composing poems in the style and manner of his contemporaries he had his sympathies with the Augustans and adored Dryden and Pope more than Wordsworth, Coleridge and Southey. Byron was interested more in himself than in the social forces in which he sought to move. The Byronic Hero came to be recognised as a special 'Tour-d-force' and Byron became the author of all his masterly heroic creations.

Byron's interest was not in imagination, reflection or aerial flights to a dreamy utopia of poetic creation. Byron was a realist in poetry and sought to present the pictures of social and economic life as he viewed in his wide travels. His "Don Juan" is another travel book in poetry recounting the adventurous and picaresque adventures of the hero in Italy, Spain, Turkey, Russia and England. The observations of Byron in all these countries are realistically and trenchantly presented by him in his poetry. He was of the earth and was plainly satisfied in moving about the midst of real life.

Byron thundered and volleyed and shook Europe by his utterances. Byron, in his poetry, was fierce, vigorous and active. He was an actor rather than a dreamy philosopher lost in the fumes of narcotic vapors.

Byron was a satirist, and his poetry is all clouded by satirical touches. He composed a few lyrics but his genius was more in satirical pieces and narrative verse than in fine effusions of poetry as presented by Shelley in his poetry. He was as aimed as a fighter of freedoms and an upholder of liberty.

Byron's fame as a poetic reached its nadir in the closing years of the last century, assailed by Swinburne.

You Can also Read: