Lines Inscribed Upon a Cup Formed from a Skull

• Context and Symbolism of the Skull cup

  • Dead skull serves as a symbol for the Christian 'Memento Mori' translating to 'remember that you must die.'
  • Christianity emphasised the inevitability of the afterlife and the transient nature of life on earth.
  • Byron owned a skull cup, suggests that he disregarded the sanctity of death and saw it as another event in the cycle of life.
  • Cup was made from a monk's skull, perhaps directly insulting Christianity.
• Theme of Life and Death

  • Death is inevitable, a necessary part of life. It is horrific and gruesome, but not final as our spirits live on.
  • Life should be lived to the fullest because death limits us. It is important to mark out a legacy for oneself, and to be of use in both life and death.
• Form and Structure

  • The continuity of structure, the quatrains and rhyme, reflects the certainty of death as a part of life.
  • The fact that we are always progressing towards death is conveyed by the continuous, unchanging ABAB rhyme scheme.
• "Start not - nor deem my spirit fled."

  • "Start not" may be a biblical reference to angels saying "be not afraid." Byron uses humour to equalise divine entities with talking skulls, conveying a sense of mockery towards the Christian Doctrine.
  • Immediately tells the reader not to be startled by the skull cup.
  • Religious imagery of "spirit" referring to the non-physical part of a human that doesn't die, as well as the class of alcohol reflecting Lord Byron's "carpe diem" ideology.
• "I lived, I loved, I quaff'd"

  • The skull of the dead monk is talking, serving as a symbol of the Christian 'Memento Mori' emphasising the inevitability of the afterlife.
  • Similar to the Roman "Veni, vidi, vici" used by Caesar meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered." Gives the speaker a sense of power.
  • Last action of "quaff'd" is anti-climactic, suggesting the Monk didn't do much in his lifetime.
  • "quaff'd" is outdated language, suggests speaker is out of touch with Byron's modernity.
• "The worm hath fouler lips than thine."

  • "worm" conveys gothic imagery of death and evil, perhaps a biblical reference to the serpent in the creation story. Ironic as the worm doesn't have lips.
  • Juxtaposition of "worm" and "lips," as lips may connote positive feelings of romance contrasting the grotesque "worm."
  • Illustrates Byron's belief that the dead human body is not sacred through mention of decay. Subverts Romantic/religious views at the time of death being beautiful and sacred.
• "What nobler substitute than wine?"

  • Byron was a nihilist and had the belief that one should live life whilst you still can because everyone will die at some point (main reason for his hedonistic lifestyle).
  • "nobler" conveys an image of a strong personal voice to claim morality which juxtaposes ideals of earlier Romantics.
  • Through this Byron attempts to justify hedonism, enjoying the "drink of Gods" (Ambrosia) and "sparkling grapes.
• "Quaff while thou canst."

  • Carpe diem "seize the day" is the idea of fulfilling one's potential and living life because death is inevitable.
  • "Quaff" meaning drink.
• "May rescue thee from earth's embrace, // And rhyme and revel with the dead."

  • "Earth's embrace" conveys a sense of warmth and unusual imagery of this "embrace" being hostile and destructive.
  • Personification of "earth's embrace" presents death as inviting which is ironic as being dead/buried is anything but welcoming.
  • Links to the skull cup being "rescued" and given a new purpose.
  • Juxtaposition of life and enjoyment.
  • Alliteration suggests happiness through the pleasant rhythm.
  • Suggests earth and death is something to be rescued from, going against Christian values.
• "Why not? Since through life's little day // Our heads such sad affects produce."

  • Rhetorical question shows Byron's attempts to justify hedonism and the speaker's actions due to the enjoyment he gained from them.
  • "life's little day" links to Carpe Diem philosophy and the inevitability of death, makes life seem small and unimportant.
  • Alliteration made to sound brief reflects shortness of life.
  • The "head" producing "sad affects" hinting at depression. May also link to Romantic idea of individual experience, criticising the conformity of society.