Darkness
Darkness
Book Brief
BetaPoem • Fiction
2015
Adult
14+ years
Super Short Summary
In his poem "Darkness," Lord Byron depicts a dystopian vision where the sun dies, casting eternal night across the Earth. Humanity faces despair and chaos as resources dwindle, leading to survival struggles. People witness the collapse of civilization and nature, ultimately confronting a bleak and desolate existence characterized by fear and hopelessness.
Dark
Melancholic
Unnerving
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
145 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Lord Byron's poem Darkness is praised for its vivid imagery and emotive power. Critics appreciate its exploration of apocalyptic themes and human nature, highlighting its historical context. However, some find its bleakness overwhelming. The poem’s narrative structure and rich language continue to captivate readers, making it a significant work in Romantic literature.
Who Should Read Darkness?
Readers who enjoy apocalyptic themes, existential contemplations, and Romantic poetry will likely appreciate Byron's Darkness. Comparable to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, it suits those drawn to gothic literature and reflections on human nature's fragility in a world without light or hope.
145 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Darkness by Lord Byron is a poem that was written in 1816, a year historically known as the "Year Without a Summer" due to the eruption of Mount Tambora, which led to significant climate abnormalities.
The poem was published in the collection The Prisoner of Chillon and Other Poems and is one of Byron's darker works, reflecting the atmosphere of the time when fears of environmental disaster were rampant.
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Lord Byron wrote Darkness during his stay in Geneva, where he spent time with other literary figures like Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley, both of whom also explored themes of apocalypse in their works.
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Poem • Fiction
2015
Adult
14+ years
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