On a Nun by Lord Byron (1815)
The poem explores the theme of a nun's inner turmoil and spiritual struggle. It describes her feelings of isolation, loneliness, and despair, as she grapples with the constraints of her monastic life. The speaker portrays the nun as being torn between her devotion to God and her own desires for human connection and love.
By Lord Byron · First published 1815 · Genre: Poetry, Tragedy, Religious · 173 words
First lines
Of two fair virgins, modest, though admired, / Heaven made us happy; and now, wretched sires, / Heaven, for a nobler doom, their worth desires, / And gazing upon either, both required.
Mine, while the torch of Hymen newly fired / Becomes extinguish'd, soon - too soon - expires, / But thine, within the closing grate retired, / Eternal captive, to her God aspires.
But thou, at least, from out the jealous door / Which shuts between your never - meeting eyes, / May'st hear her sweet and pious voice once more; / I, to the marble where my daughter lies, / Rush - the swoln flood of bitterness I pour, / And knock, and knock, and knock, but none replies.
What this Textopian page supports
On a Nun is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1815 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Lord Byron
- Date: 1815 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Tragedy, Religious, Romantic
- Length: 173 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for On a Nun by Lord Byron
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse form, utilizing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Tragedy — The themes of loss, separation, and unfulfilled desires contribute to a tragic tone.
- Religious — The poem references religious themes, such as devotion to God and eternal aspirations.
- Romantic — The emotional depth and focus on personal feelings align with Romantic literary characteristics.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Elegy · Nun · Religion · Spirituality · Love · Longing · Yearning · Melancholy · Sorrow · Loss