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The Byronic Hero

The Byronic Hero. Who is Byron? . George Gordon, 6 th Lord Byron (10 years old) An English writer during the 19 th century At age 20 he earned his MA from Cambridge A prolific writer, most famous for Don Juan. Who is Byron? (The cool stuff). Father’s extravagant spending nearly

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The Byronic Hero

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  1. The Byronic Hero

  2. Who is Byron? • George Gordon, 6th Lord Byron (10 years old) • An English writer during the 19th century • At age 20 he earned his MA from Cambridge • A prolific writer, most famous for Don Juan

  3. Who is Byron? (The cool stuff) • Father’s extravagant spending nearly brought his mother to ruin and she took her son to Aberdeen (Scottish countryside) • At age 7, he fell in love with his cousin • Subject of sexual advances from his nurse when he was 11 • At age 12 he fell in love with another cousin • At age 14 he fell in love with another woman (Mary Chaworth) • Never was a diligent student

  4. Who is Byron? More good stuff. • Had a falling out with a good friend as a result of sexual advances • Lead a rebellion against the headmaster of his school • Had to leave school because of extreme debt • Dogs were prohibited so he kept a bear • At 20 he had no less than 4 mistresses • Left England at 21 because of enormous debts

  5. Still MORE good stuff! • At 24, he had a passionate affair with Lady Caroline Lamb, another poet of the day…she stalked him when it was over • At 25 he fell in love with his ½ sister • At 27 he married, had a daughter and named her after his ½ sister • At 31 he became cavalier servente(lover of a married woman). Loved her until his death.

  6. Qualities of Byronic Hero: • Rebellious- an individualist who questions and rejects society’s laws, conventions, and moralities

  7. Qualities of Byronic Hero: • Alienation- disdains society and social conventions • Rejects the assumptions that people of wealth, rank, and privilege deserve advantages in life solely because of their ancestry. • (So, he wouldn’t have believed in monarchy!)

  8. Qualities of Byronic Hero: • Gloom- darkly handsome, melancholy, moody, and mysterious • He can never be happy, even when good things happen • Difficult to portray because the reader must sympathize with him, but he also must remain sinister • They have unexplained pasts that intensify their air of mystery

  9. Qualities of Byronic Hero: • Boldness- arrogant and defiant • The heroes are effective, almost superhuman leaders who overcome obstacles and formidable, even supernatural, opponents

  10. Qualities of Byronic Hero: • Danger- hero is ultimately self destructive and unlikely to live happily ever after • It is considered his charm and his tragedy • Appeals to various women who cross his path, he cannot be faithful to them • He is incapable of fidelity or his wandering destiny keeps him from lasting attachments.

  11. Modern Times • The Byronic Hero has been a regular feature in: • Romance Novels • Comic books • Detective stories

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