Question

In this excerpt from "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron, which two phrases build up the theme of contrast and balance in beauty?
She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies; And all that’s best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes; Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies. One shade the more, one ray the less, Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress, Or softly lightens o’er her face; Where thoughts serenely sweet express, How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

Answer 1

Two phrases which build up the theme of contrast and balance in beauty are:

"And all that’s best of dark and bright  

Meet in her aspect and her eyes."

Explanation:

These lines have been taken from one of the most famous poems written by Lord Byron. The name of this poem is "She Walks in Beauty". The theme of this poem is contrast and the balance in beauty.

These lines seek to show that beauty is not always lights. In order for something to be beautiful, it has to have both positive and negative aspects. Nothing is fully good or fully bad, it has to posses a balance, an equilibrium in which all the parts come together to create a truly beautiful thing.