Synopsis of Lord Byron's "The Giaour"
by Prof. América Martínez
1-6 The poet evokes Greece’s ancient heroes. (Themistoclese: savior of Ancient Greece)
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
7-20 The beauty of the isles gladdens the heart of the returning seafarer
21-33 The land is a maid blooming to her lover's song;
34-45 a peaceful land, home to pirates preying on weary seafarers
46-67 Man’s passion and destructive force
68-102 A man looks upon a day-old female corpse: Greece! Her past inspires, but her present is without soul
103-141 Calls upon the Greeks to take courage from their past and fight their present oppressors
142-163 No more heroic stories; no more heroes; only ancient crafts remind us of what Greece used to be
164-167 “My sad story I shall now tell”
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
168-179 A fisherman, on the lookout for pirates that may be hiding in the evening shadows, arrives safely to Port Leone
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
180-199 (I see) A young and dangerous-looking Giaour gallop by.
200-221 The Giaour's movements are evasive. He pauses.
222-233 It is a holy evening.
234-276 He charges his steed and disappears, but in his pause could be seen a life of pain and a nameless, hopeless, endless woe
277-351 Hassan's home is deserted after his untimely death at the hands of the Giaour--Hassan's curse.
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
352-363 I offer passage on my bark to an emir gently carrying a bundle
364-373 The emir requests to be taken to deep water
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
374-387 The bundle is allowed to sink into the sea
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
388-421 The prize won, it no longer attracts us. The maid who gives in to love finds only pain and shame
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
422-438 A mind full of remorse makes life a living hell
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
439-472 It is believed that Leila escaped from Hassan's serai during the feast of Bairam and gave herself to the Giaour, but the Giaour was seen riding alone that night
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
473-518 Beautiful Leila, whose eyes defy the creed that woman is but a soulless toy for a tyrant's lust.  Her mate was not Hassan
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
519-536 Hassan, fully armed, goes in search of the Giaour.
537-548 The peaceful countryside--made to free man of rules
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
549-566 A line of Tartars are coming down the gap
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
567-619 They are ambushed. Three fall. All but Hassan take refuge. It is the Giaour ("lost Leila's love") who set the trap
620-654 Hassan's men and the Giaour's men engage in battle
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
655-674 Hassan lies dead--his hand severed, his head split
675-688 The Giaour speaks: Leila has been avenged!
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
689-722 One of Hassan's men is sent by the Giaour to report Hassan's death to his family
723-746 A monument is raised to Hassan at the spot he fell. Having fallen in combat with an infidel, he is assured the greatest bliss in the afterlife
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
747-786 The infidel will be as a living dead
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
787-797 Who is that monk? I saw him many years ago in my land on a charging steed
798-831  He came 6 years ago, but keeps to himself, never participates in the holy rites, but is allowed to remain due to his gifts to the monastery. He mutters and raves at the sea as if a hand beckons.
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
832-845 He is a spirit unquelled, claiming ascendancy,
846-858 mocking misery,
859-869 and in his face can be seen a noble soul not totally degraded by crime.
870-915  He is a handsome, wild man full of defiance and despair.
916-936 The metal of love is given shape by the fire of passion and a woman's art.  Beware of the dagger's shape!
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
937-970 Feelings need to be shared
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
971-981 The Giaour confesses to the Father Superior as others have done before him:
982-998 “My life has had much joy, but more sorrow; I prefer action to repose, but my soul needs rest”
999-1028 “Suicide is the fool's way. I was a slave to love and did not fear death in its service”
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
1029-1098 “I loved her; she was killed because of me; I was unable to save her but I avenged her. It is her death, not his, that has made me what I am. Hassan died a quick death, no remorse on his brow.”
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
1099-1130 He is a passionate man who possessed his love
1131-1148 She was his light; now he is in darkness
1149-1191 There was only one woman for him on this Earth
1192-1217 She died. Life without her is abhorrent. The priesthood will not relieve his grief or distress; but he is dying
1218-1256 Take a ring to a childhood friend who prophesied his fate, and tell him of his sorrowful end
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
1257-1318 In a fevered wakefulness, Leila came to him. He knows he'll be dead by morning
*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *
1319-1334 He wants no marker on his grave. Only this tale remains.