Romantic Era: Lord Byron - from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (Lecture)

Summary

The transcript discusses Lord Byron, emphasizing his flamboyant and rebellious personality. Despite being born with a clubfoot, Byron overcame obstacles and became an influential literary figure. He was known for his love affairs and self-exile but later gained fame for his contributions to literature and his support of the Greek revolution. The text explores Byron's romantic connection to nature, exemplified in his poem 'Apostrophe to the Ocean,' where he admires the timeless power of the sea, contrasting it with human fragility. The concept of the Byronic hero is also introduced, symbolizing rebellion and tragedy.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Lord Byron was known for his flamboyant personality and was considered a colorful figure of his day.
• 🦽 Byron was born with a clubfoot, which caused him embarrassment, but he overcame it and was accomplished in many activities.
• 🏰 He was born into nobility, but his fame was not due to his title alone; he was also a literary celebrity.
• ❤️ Byron was involved in numerous love affairs, which eventually led to his exile from England.
• 📚 He was friends with other literary figures like Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, influencing each other's works.
• 🌊 Byron was a supporter of the Greek rebellion and helped train their soldiers before his untimely death.
• 📜 The term 'Byronic hero' is associated with him, describing a rebellious, bold, and dangerous individual.
• 📝 Byron's work 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' reflects his love for nature and disillusionment with society.
• 🌊 In 'Apostrophe to the Ocean', Byron praises the ocean's vastness and timelessness, contrasting it with man's temporary impact on Earth.
• 🌍 The poem highlights the insignificance of human achievements and destructive tendencies when compared to the power of nature.

Q & A

Who was Lord Byron and what was his personality like?

Lord Byron, also known as George Gordon, was a very interesting, outgoing, and flamboyant personality. He stood out from others and was considered the most colorful figure of his day.

What physical condition was Lord Byron born with?

Lord Byron was born with a clubfoot, which caused him some embarrassment early on in his life.

How did Lord Byron overcome his physical condition?

He was able to overcome his clubfoot and was accomplished in many activities and sports.

What was Lord Byron's social status at birth?

He was born into his title and was considered a literary celebrity, but not necessarily nobility like a monarch.

What kind of trouble did Lord Byron get into?

He got into trouble due to his numerous love affairs and eventually ran out his welcome in England.

What significant contribution did Lord Byron make to literature?

His life and literary accomplishments led to the term 'Byronic hero' being associated with him, describing a rebellious, bold, and dangerous individual.

Who were the Shelleys that Lord Byron stayed with during his exile?

He stayed with Mary Shelley, who wrote 'Frankenstein', and her husband Percy Bysshe Shelley.

How did Lord Byron die?

He died young while in Greece, training their soldiers to help them in their rebellion.

What is the main theme of 'Apostrophe to the Ocean' from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage'?

The main theme is Lord Byron's love for the ocean and nature, and how it is timeless and unchangeable compared to human endeavors.

What does Lord Byron mean when he says 'man marks the earth with ruin'?

He means that human actions, such as war and pollution, have a destructive impact on the earth, but these effects do not extend to the ocean.

What is the significance of the line 'time writes no wrinkle on diners your brow'?

It signifies that unlike humans and animals that age and show their age, the ocean remains unchanged and timeless.

Outlines

00:00

🎭 Lord Byron: The Byronic Hero

The paragraph delves into the life and character of Lord Byron, a prominent figure known for his flamboyant personality and rebellious nature. Despite being born with a clubfoot, Byron overcame his physical limitations and became accomplished in various activities. His aristocratic background did not define him, as he was known for his literary contributions rather than his title. His love affairs and eventual self-exile from England are mentioned, highlighting his controversial lifestyle. Byron's support for the Greek rebellion and his untimely death while training their soldiers showcase his commitment to causes he believed in. The concept of the 'Byronic hero' is introduced, linking it to Byron's life and literary influence, with references to other famous literary figures like Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley.

05:01

🌊 An Apostrophe to the Ocean: Byron's Love for Nature

This section of the script focuses on Lord Byron's poem 'Apostrophe to the Ocean,' from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.' The poem is an apostrophe, a rhetorical device where the poet addresses an inanimate object or concept—in this case, the ocean. Byron expresses his love for the ocean and its vast, timeless nature, contrasting it with the destructive capabilities of mankind. He describes the ocean's indifference to human endeavors and the insignificance of human achievements when compared to the grandeur of nature. The summary also touches on the poem's exploration of themes like the fleeting nature of human endeavors and the enduring power of the natural world.

10:01

🌪️ The Power of Nature and Man's Insignificant Impact

The final paragraph continues the discussion on the poem 'Apostrophe to the Ocean,' emphasizing the ocean's enduring nature and the insignificance of human impact on it. The script contrasts the temporary marks humans leave on the earth with the ocean's unchanging character. It reflects on the ocean's ability to remain pristine despite human efforts to control or exploit it. The paragraph also touches on the limited human exploration of the ocean's depths compared to space, highlighting the vastness and mystery of the underwater world. The summary concludes by reiterating Byron's love for the ocean and the poem's message about the supremacy of nature over human endeavors.

Keywords

💡Lord Byron

Lord Byron, or George Gordon Byron, was a prominent British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement. Known for his flamboyant personality and rebellious nature, he is described in the script as 'the most colorful figure of his day.' His life and works are central to the video's theme, illustrating the era of rebelliousness and individualism. The script mentions his physical disability (clubfoot) and how he overcame it, reflecting his character as someone who defied limitations.

💡Byronic hero

The term 'Byronic hero' is used in the script to describe a type of character archetype that is rebellious, feels alienated, and is bold and dangerous. This concept is directly associated with Lord Byron himself, whose life and literary works exemplify these traits. The script relates this to modern figures like James Dean and Heath Ledger, who also embodied a rebellious spirit and had tragic ends, thus linking the concept across different eras.

💡Rebelliousness

Rebelliousness is a key theme in the video, reflecting the spirit of Lord Byron and the Romantic era's defiance against societal norms. The script describes Byron as 'against the grain,' indicating his non-conformity and resistance to established beliefs and practices. This trait is also evident in his support for the Greek rebellion, showing how his rebellious nature extended to his political actions.

💡Nature

Nature is a recurring theme in the video, particularly in relation to Lord Byron's love for the ocean. The script quotes from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' where Byron addresses the ocean, expressing a deep connection and reverence for the natural world. This reflects the Romantic era's emphasis on the sublime power and beauty of nature, which was often contrasted with the artificiality and corruption of society.

💡Clubfoot

Clubfoot is a congenital condition mentioned in the script as something Lord Byron was born with, which caused him embarrassment early in life. However, he managed to overcome this physical limitation, participating in many activities and sports. This detail humanizes Byron and shows his determination to not let his disability define him, which is an important aspect of his character.

💡Love affairs

The script alludes to Lord Byron's numerous love affairs, which contributed to his notoriety and eventual self-exile from England. These affairs are part of the narrative of his life as a celebrity and reflect the scandalous and daring aspects of his personality, which made him a figure of intrigue and gossip during his time.

💡Self-exile

Self-exile is mentioned in the context of Lord Byron leaving England, partly due to the fallout from his love affairs and seeking a new life abroad. This decision underscores his non-conformist nature and desire for freedom from societal constraints, aligning with the broader theme of individualism and rebellion.

💡Mary Shelley

Mary Shelley is referenced in the script as a literary figure associated with Lord Byron, known for writing 'Frankenstein.' The mention of Shelley situates Byron within a broader literary context and highlights the interconnectedness of Romantic writers who often influenced and interacted with each other.

💡Percy Shelley

Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley's husband, is another Romantic poet mentioned in the script. His inclusion, along with that of his wife, emphasizes the social and intellectual circles that Lord Byron was a part of, further illustrating the era's literary landscape.

💡Childe Harold's Pilgrimage

This is one of Lord Byron's most famous works and is directly quoted in the script. 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage' is an epic poem that reflects the author's own travels and disillusionment with society. The script focuses on an excerpt called 'Apostrophe to the Ocean,' which showcases Byron's love for nature and the ocean, as well as his contemplative and introspective nature.

💡Apostrophe

An apostrophe is a literary device where the speaker addresses an absent or inanimate object, as seen in the excerpt from 'Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.' The script explains that Byron uses this device to address the ocean, expressing his feelings towards nature. This technique is used to create a direct and personal connection with the natural world, emphasizing the poet's emotions and thoughts.

Highlights

Lord Byron was known for his flamboyant personality and standing out against the grain.

Byron was considered the most colorful figure of his day due to his rebellious nature.

He was born with a clubfoot but managed to overcome it and was accomplished in many activities.

Byron was born into his title and was somewhat of a celebrity in his time.

He gained literary relevance and fame for his works rather than just for being famous.

Byron self-exiled from England and supported the Greek rebellion, showing his championing of their cause.

Byron died young while training Greek soldiers for their rebellion.

The term 'Byronic hero' is associated with Lord Byron, signifying a rebellious and tragic figure.

Byron's life and literary accomplishments influenced later famous literary works.

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage suggests the character's inner nobility and quest for meaning.

The poem 'Apostrophe to the Ocean' from Childe Harold's Pilgrimage reflects Byron's love for the ocean.

Byron contrasts the temporary nature of man's impact on Earth with the ocean's timeless and unchanging nature.

The poem emphasizes the insignificance of man's control when compared to the vast power of the ocean.

Byron's view of the ocean as a mirror of the Almighty, reflecting the image of eternity.

The poem describes the ocean as unchangeable and superior to man's attempts at control.

Byron's personal connection to the ocean is revealed, as he recalls his youthful sports on its waves.

The poem concludes with Byron reiterating his love for the ocean and its enduring presence.

Transcripts

the Lord Byron George Gordon Lord Byron

very interesting very outgoing very

flamboyant personality he stood out I

mean if you can't tell by looking at

that picture you know he was a lot

different than a lot of people his back

history and such isn't necessarily

testable stuff but look I mean it just

really shows you how against the grain

he was um you know we even saw

Wordsworth even though he seemed very

dignified such he was against the grain

with regards to his beliefs in his

practices in in the literary world and

so we see this kind of era of

rebelliousness and such they say that

you know they call him the most colorful

figure of his day you know he was born

with a clubfoot which caused him some

embarrassment early on but he was able

to overcome it so he wasn't one to sit

back on his on his limits he was able to

still push it and he was accomplished in

many activities and sports the literary

celebrity down at the bottom had spoken

that he was a you know kind of born into

not necessarily nobility like a monarch

or anything but he was born into his

title he didn't do anything to achieve

it okay Hinda and he was an individual

that you know probably was a bit of a

celebrity to some degree he had the

money he was wanting it he it said that

he got in trouble because he had a lot

of love affairs going on he kind of ran

out his welcome and all of a sudden he

becomes a literary relevance so people

actually think wow you actually

contribute something instead of you're

famous for being famous kind like some

people we might be able to mention you

know celebrity wise and so then he

finally gets some fame get some

popularity and he does a lot of good

with it we see on besides kind of self

exiling himself from England what things

weren't going to also he leads and he

travels and stays with the Shelley's

that talks about Mary Shelley and Percy

shot Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein and

we'll talk about Percy Shelley later

this unit but you know so he travelled

around I mean one of the most

interesting features in this is one how

he died really young

just from

whoo but when he died what was he doing

all he was down in Greece training their

soldiers helping them for their

rebellion this is an individual who was

not Greek okay but he was there because

he was championing their cause and he

supported them and so he was helping

them fight and preparing them for

revolution and preparing them for the

battle and so we have this individual

armed you know who was a celebrity of

his era probably more so than a lot of

the individuals that we read and you can

see when it talks about that he was you

know his life as well as his literary

accomplishments you know were um you

know a mother laughter by you know PO on

8th annual Hawthorne Dostoyevsky Herman

Melville you know all these famous

literary works of you know later in the

1800s then you know and on a very very

key an integral person there is a term

called Byronic hero if you flip to 848

really quick a Byronic hero is kind of

associated to him okay with his name

Byron and such but this is an individual

who if you look at the bold points you

know is rebellious feels alienated about

something you know is a very bold and

very dangerous individual okay if you

look in the right-hand page and I want

you to read this page when you have time

you know people like James Dean you know

those people who have who lived and

played hard and you know we're brilliant

at whatever they did but you know they

they died young you know it was kind of

like a tragic type thing people said in

the last handful of years Heath Ledger

um you know it would been something

similar he was a bold person he was

rebellious you know in nature and such

and you know he had a you know kind of a

tragic end there and a lot of times when

the tragedy is somebody who is young and

had some sort of accomplishments

literary or you know in the world to

some degree that those individuals are

you know Byronic to some degree so we

see those qualities and characteristics

portrayed in that individual

back to his reading on a 8:45 from

childe Harold's Pilgrimage gate childe

Harold's Pilgrimage being back on says

that this is to suggest the characters

inner nobility and his quest for meaning

sick of society held in barks on a

series of journeys across Europe only to

encounter more disillusionment in the

wake of the Napoleonic war so Napoleon

you see the root word in there but this

particular piece is very short look at

the title of it okay the right below the

subtitle and this is from a larger work

but it's called apostrophe to the ocean

and if you remember apostrophes that's

when you are directing a statement

toward something that cannot reciprocate

it remember when we did the poems and

such Oh moon Oh sleep you know things of

that nature you don't expect to be to

have a conversation you're just talking

to that individual or thing okay

or idea I guess it could be like sleep

on it so this one is directed towards

the ocean okay our childe Harold's

Pilgrimage ' to the ocean from childe

Harold's Pilgrimage by George Gordon

Lord Byron ' to the ocean there is a

pleasure in the pathless woods there is

a rapture on the lonely shore there is

society where none intrudes by the deep

sea and music in its roar I love not man

less but nature more from these our

interviews in which I steal from all I

may be or have been before to mingle

with universe and feel what I can narak

spread cannot all conceal roll on thou

deep in dark blue ocean roll ten

thousand fleets sweep over the in vain

men marks the earth with ruin his

control stops with the shore upon the

watery plain the wrecks are all thy deed

nor doth remain a shadow of man's ravage

save his own when for a moment like a

drop of rain he sinks into thy depths

with bubbling groan without a grave uh

knelled on coffin

and unknown his steps are not upon my

paths

my fields are not a spoil for him thou

dust arise and shake him from thee the

vile strength he wields for Earth's

destruction thou dust all despise

spurning him from thy bosom to the skies

and send His Tim shivering in thy

playful spray and howling to his gods

were haply lies his petty hope in some

near port or Bey and dashes

him again to earth there let him lay the

armaments which Thunder strike the walls

of rock build cities bidding nations

quake and monarchs tremble in their

capitals the okhla by Athens whose huge

ribs make their clay creator the vain

titled take of Lord of thee and arbiter

of war these are thy toys and as the

snowy flake they melt into thy yeast of

waves which Mar alike the armadas pride

or spoils of Trafalgar by shores our

empires changed in all save thee Assyria

Greece Rome Carthage what are they

thy waters wash them power while they

were free and many a tyrant since their

Shores obey the stranger slave or savage

their decay has dried up realms to

deserts not so thou unchangeable save to

thy wild waves play time writes no

wrinkle on banaz your brow such as

creations Don beheld Val ro list now

thou glorious mirror where the

Almighty's form glasses itself in

tempest s' in all time calm or convulsed

in breeze or Gale or storm icing the

pole or in the torrid clime dark heaving

boundless endless and sublime the image

of eternity the throne of the invisible

even from out the slime the monsters of

the deep are made each zone obeys thee

thou goest forth dread fathomless alone

and I have loved the ocean and my joy of

youthful sports was on thy breasts to be

born like thy bubbles onward from a boy

I want and with thy breakers they to me

were a delight and if the freshening sea

made them a terror

twas a pleasing fear for I was as it

were a child of thee and trusted to thy

billows far and near and laid my hand

upon thy mane as I do hear from childe

Harold's Pilgrimage ' the ocean he is

addressing the ocean the water about how

big and how timeless start you know he

mentioned on that page and we'll get

there you know about the ships like

okhla vaya fans you know Leviathan is BC

in Atlantis remember the cartoon movie

Atlantis the Leviathan was the thing

that protects it so big monstrous thing

and so these ships that are like okhla

vaya thens are really just like toys and

if you think about it I mean just the

sheer size of that water and those waves

what they can do you know there are

aircraft carriers that are like cities

floating cities with tens of thousands

of people I imagine I don't know

definitely thousands of sailors okay but

you know they've land and they move

around and they have food and things

like that on there you know I mean it's

a self-sustaining city in essence and a

storm can just mess that thing all up if

there's a hurricane coming that ship

heads the other way tries to get around

it okay because it would turn it into

like a toy in a bathtub when you guys

used to have you know a little toy they

used to you know it's small in the grand

scheme of things that big the biggest

boat ever made is still pretty small

look what happens to you know Titanic

with nature and such that was the

biggest boat ever constructed and it

didn't even make it through its first

voyage

you know the 100-year anniversary is

coming up here next month of the sinking

maybe not the there rerelease in the

movie and I'm accessed off 3ds so that's

just for you a little bit of extra stuff

for today but the apostrophe on page 845

um you know he's very pleased with the

ocean he loves the ocean you know

talking about you know there is a you

know pleasure and rapture in this and I

love

man the less but I love nature more but

I love nature more and think back we've

talked about this a lot in this

particular unit about all of these

nature elements okay nature and the

nightmares and kids all those things

that influence writing and here we have

another individual as to why this

particular piece is a good

representation of that of that uh era um

man marks the earth I like this line ten

twelve run there man marks the earth

with ruin his control stops with the

shore so on earth man can just ruin and

war and all of this stuff but and

outside a pollution now and all of that

stuff you know the man's ruined it stops

at the shore okay because whether it's a

million years ago a thousand years ago

or two years ago we can go out you know

thirty feet into the water and look

straight out to the water and it's the

same view that we would have had a

million years ago okay

yes we can look at oil platforms now for

looking in the exact rights

okay man ceases to be able to control

that okay there are people would say you

know we've spent more time at the bottom

of the ocean or less time at the body

the bottom of the ocean you know then we

have in space meaning that we've

explored space more than we have the the

fathoms of the ocean and that's here on

earth there are worlds down there that

you know it's you know they're mountain

range is bigger than Mount Everest

underwater were you aware of that I mean

that's just the scope and size of what's

out there okay and just a little boat

out there I could do a lot of damage

okay a lot of damage could be thrust

upon that and really that's kind of what

is talking about the the rest of this

about the shoe size of it the the ships

and man and how nature Trump's all of

that I like the line forty four time

writes no wrinkle on diners your brow so

like with humans and a lot of it even

animals and such that people age and you

can tell their age by looking at them

with the ocean it just keeps going

thousand years from now they're still

unless we have some huge crazy something

happens

blows up we're going to have you know

waves coming in and the sound will be

identical in conclusion at the very end

he comes back from talking about all of

the size in his love for nature and sums

it back that you know and I have loved

the ocean so just in case you forgot

throughout these short two pages to whom

he was speaking or addressing we see

once again that it is nature and don't

forget what an apostrophe is okay

remember I told you when we learned it

that's hey you're going to need to

remember this and people tend to forget

for some strange reason even though it's

extremely easy to uh to spot okay