To Caroline II by Lord Byron (1817)
The poem is a satirical critique of the British aristocracy and their excesses during the Regency period. It portrays Caroline Lamb, a prominent society woman, as a symbol of the decadence and corruption that pervades high society. The speaker describes her as a "queen" who rules over a kingdom of fools and hypocrites, highlighting the superficiality and moral decay of the aristocracy.
By Lord Byron · First published 1817 · Genre: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Elegiac Poetry · 386 words
First lines
When I hear that you express an affection so warm, Ne'er think, my beloved, that I do not believe; For your lip would the soul of suspicion disarm, And your eye beams a ray which can never deceive.
Yet, still, this fond bosom regrets, while adoring, That love, like the leaf, must fall into the sear; That age will come on, when remembrance, deploring, Contemplates the scenes of her youth with a tear;
What this Textopian page supports
To Caroline II is listed on Textopian as a poem by Lord Byron, dated 1817 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: 1817 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Elegiac Poetry
- Length: 386 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Romantic Poetry — The poem expresses deep affection and devotion, characteristic of Romantic poetry, focusing on emotions and personal experience.
- Lyric Poetry — The poem is a personal expression of feelings and thoughts, typical of lyric poetry, with a focus on the speaker's emotions.
- Elegiac Poetry — The poem reflects on themes of mortality and the passage of time, common in elegiac poetry, contemplating loss and the inevitability of death.
Tags
Poem · Romance · Elegy · Love Letter · Epistolary · Verse · Sonnet · Classical · Neoclassical · English Literature · 18th Century · Byronic Hero