Analysis of To Caroline

George Gordon Lord Byron 1788 (London) – 1824 (Missolonghi, Aetolia)



Think'st thou I saw thy beauteous eyes,
   Suffus'd in tears, implore to stay;
And heard unmov'd thy plenteous sighs,
   Which said far more than words can say?

Though keen the grief thy tears exprest,
   When love and hope lay both o'erthrown;
Yet still, my girl, this bleeding breast
   Throbb'd, with deep sorrow, as thine own.

But, when our cheeks with anguish glow'd,
   When thy sweet lips were join'd to mine;
The tears that from my eyelids flow'd
   Were lost in those which fell from thine.

Thou could'st not feel my burning cheek,
   Thy gushing tears had quench'd its flame,
And, as thy tongue essay'd to speak,
   In sighs alone it breath'd my name.

And yet, my girl, we weep in vain,
   In vain our fate in sighs deplore;
Remembrance only can remain,
   But that, will make us weep the more.

Again, thou best belov'd, adieu!
   Ah! if thou canst, o'ercome regret,
Nor let thy mind past joys review,
   Our only hope is, to forget!


Scheme ABAB BCXC DCDC EFEF CGCG HIHI
Poetic Form Quatrain 
Metre 11111111 01010111 0101111 11111111 1101111 1101111 11111101 11110111 111011101 11110111 0111111 01011111 111111101 11011111 0111111 01011111 01111101 011010101 01010101 11111101 01110101 1111101 1111111 101011101
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 928
Words 166
Sentences 9
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4
Lines Amount 24
Letters per line (avg) 29
Words per line (avg) 7
Letters per stanza (avg) 116
Words per stanza (avg) 27
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

54 sec read
158

George Gordon Lord Byron

George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, known simply as Lord Byron, was an English poet, peer and politician who became a revolutionary in the Greek War of Independence, and is considered one of the leading figures of the Romantic movement. He is regarded as one of the greatest English poets and remains widely read and influential. Among his best-known works are the lengthy narrative poems Don Juan and Childe Harold's Pilgrimage; many of his shorter lyrics in Hebrew Melodies also became popular. He travelled extensively across Europe, especially in Italy, where he lived for seven years in the cities of Venice, Ravenna, and Pisa. During his stay in Italy he frequently visited his friend and fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Later in life Byron joined the Greek War of Independence fighting the Ottoman Empire and died of disease leading a campaign during that war, for which Greeks revere him as a national hero. He died in 1824 at the age of 36 from a fever contracted after the First and Second Siege of Missolonghi. His only legitimate child, Ada Lovelace, is regarded as a foundational figure in the field of computer programming based on her notes for Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Byron's illegitimate children include Allegra Byron, who died in childhood, and possibly Elizabeth Medora Leigh.  more…

All George Gordon Lord Byron poems | George Gordon Lord Byron Books

4 fans

Discuss this George Gordon Lord Byron poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "To Caroline" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 17 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/15266/to-caroline>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    May 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    14
    days
    16
    hours
    32
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    Shall I compare thee to a summer's _______?
    A ray
    B dream
    C day
    D night