Neurotic Poets--Byron and Shelley

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"We poets in our youth begin in gladness/ but thereof comes in the end despondency and madness." William Wordsworth

As the above quotes by William Shakespeare and William Wordsworth reveal, a poet often sees so much that he or she may fall into an abyss of madness, or at least what others may label as being insane or not normal. Such is the case with two Romantic Era poets.

Begin with the links on the left to find information on two somewhat neurotic poets-Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Read information provided in these web sites and write good, well-structured paragraphs as directed below. Use your own words to explain information.

Paragraph 1--Write a paragraph telling important biographical information on Lord Byron. Use your own words to tell facts such as birth, dates, family, background, and education.

Paragraph 2--Write a paragraph explaining why Byron could be called "neurotic." Explain three weird details you discovered about him.

Paragraph 3--Read Byron's poem "She Walks in Beauty." (See last link for poems.) Write a paragraph explaining this poem's meaning and a brief synopsis of the poem.

Paragraph 4--Write a paragraph telling important biographical information on Percy Shelley. Use your own words to tell facts such as birth, dates, family, background, and education.

Paragraph 5--Write a paragraph explaining why Shelley could be called "neurotic." Explain three weird details you discovered about him.

Paragraph 6--Read Shelley's poem "Music When the Soft Voices Die." (See last link for poems.)Write a paragraph explaining this poem's meaning and a brief synopsis of the poem.