Review for the exam

1. So, We’ll Go No More A-Roving
Lord Byron

2. Background
• George Gordon Byron was born in 1788
• He was described by an ex-lover as ‘mad,
bad and dangerous to know’, he gained the
reputation as a bad boy due to his excessive
drinking, gambling, affairs and illegitimate
children.
• ‘Roving’ means partying or having a good
time.

3. Background
• The poem was written with a letter sent to his
friend Thomas Moore, when he felt they were
getting too old to live such a wild life.
“The Carnival – that is, the latter part of
it – and sitting up late o’nights, had
knocked me up a little…I find the “sword
wearing out the scabbard”, though I have
but just turned the corner of twenty-nine.”

4. Influences
• The poem seems to be based on an earlier
poem called ‘Maid of Amsterdam’
I'll go no more a-roving With you, fair maid, A-
roving, a-roving, Since roving's been my ruin,
I'll go no more a-roving With you, fair maid!

5. Subject & Tone
• The poem is about Byron’s decision to calm
his wild ways.
• How would you describe the tone of the
poem?
• Does he seem sincere? Explain your views.

6. Imagery
• What does he mean by the metaphor
‘sword’ and ‘sheath’?
• How does he show in the second stanza
that he is feeling tired?
• What do you make of his assertion that
‘…the heart must pause to breathe, and
love itself have rest.’?

7. Imagery
• The wording of stanzas 1 and 3 is very
similar, yet the meanings are different.
• Comment on the way Byron uses the
words: night
moon
loving

8. Form
• Look first at the pattern of the verse, and
at the rhythm and rhyme of the verse, and
note down your observations.
• Compare the first and last stanzas and
find parallels between them.
• Consider whether there is anything in the
sounds of the words which seem to suggest
a slower pace in Stanza 2?

9. Feeling
• Which of these words best describes the
tone of the poem:
carefree
regretful
self-critical
resigned
Write a paragraph, using PEEL to explain
your views.