Don Juan

Byron's epic satire in ottava rima, seducing its way through Europe while the narrator refuses to take anything seriously.

Specifications & Metrics

author

Lord Byron

type

Satirical epic poem

era

Romantic era (1819–1824)

language

English

verse form

Ottava rima

cantos count

16

Core Principles & Analysis

• Byron published it anonymously in cantos from 1819 until his death in 1824.
• Its sixteen finished cantos leave the hero mid-adventure.
• The Don Juan of legend becomes a passive, charming boy in Byron's inversion.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Don Juan