Porphyrias Lover Flashcards
What type of poem is it?
Romantic
What are the key themes?
- Longing
- Sin
- Passion and passivity
- Insanity
Key quote for longing?
“Cottage warm” - what he describes his house like after he saw her, she warms him up, makes him feel comfortable and at peace, longing to be with her forever as prior to this, there’s a storm WHICH IS PATHETIC FALLACY - FORESHADOWING UNFORTUNATE END OF PORPHYRIAS LIFE
“She put my arm around her waist” - he saw it as a green light to be with her, he doesn’t mind that she did that, he enjoys it and wants it, craves it, creates a longing, she is in control of the situation, he’s subjected
Key quotes for sin?
“Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss” - burning is associated with hell and therefore he will commit sin and be condemned to hell, burning skin is hot AND could represent a passion or obsession - he is deluded - thinks that the redness in her strangled face is just blushing - juxtaposition of ‘burning kiss’ conveys destructive passion
“Yet God has not said a word!” - God is left speechless, this act of passion or love isn’t truly love, he’s justifying his actions, exclamation mark suggests an element of surprise, aware of his actions OR God supports it which makes it ok - Victorian audience wouldn’t support as they believed in God and murder was a sin (hell)
Key quotes for passion and passivity?
“Mine, mine” - repetition emphasises his obsessiveness, he is obsessed with her, she’s the only thing on his mind, she is his possession, passion and passivity but also aggression - he preserves this moment by killing her
‘Murmering how she loved me’ - verb ‘murmering’ suggests he doesn’t believe her, or feels manipulated OR since he’s presenting her in this light, he is silencing her and she’s quiet (just how he likes her - prefers to be in control which is why he kills her)
Key quotes for insanity?
“Sure she felt no pain.” - incapable of feeling empathy, psychopathic, justifying his action, end stop suggests his mind won’t change, this is final and cannot change, stubborn, excusing what he did as he doesn’t understand concept of pain, numb, further emphasises he doesn’t understand emotions
“I found / a thing to do” - idea of curiosity and exploration, hasn’t done it before, enjambment suggests that this decision wasn’t processed through his mind, no obstacle (like a comma) allowing him to think, impulsive, also undermines what he did, makes it seem like no big deal, he doesn’t see it as wrong, justifying it
Why is the context of porphyria’s lover?
Porphyria is a disease that can result in insanity - Browning might be comparing being in love with insanity and a delusional view of reality
Porphyria is portrayed as a sexual and seductive woman, which would have attracted criticism in Victorian times - this could, however, be the untrustworthy speaker’s way of justifying the murder
What is the form and structure of porphyria’s lover?
Asymmetrical rhyme scheme (ABABB) and enjambment create and effect of instability and unpredictability – just like the speaker himself
Poem is in two parts that mirror each other: First half is when Porphyria is dominant, speaker is passive then Volta on line 31: ‘I looked up at her eyes’ then the speaker is dominant, Porphyria is passive - reflects the all-consuming power of love
Contrasts of love and violence used throughout
Repetition of ‘yellow hair’, first to convey her beauty, then used to murder her
What is the meaning and purpose of porphyria’s lover?
It’s a dramatic monologue recounting the stormy night when the speaker strangled his lover, Porphyria, to death
At first, he seems to be angry with his lover, remaining silent and passive to her affection
The speaker is clearly insane and believes that Porphyria wishes to be murdered in order to be with him forever
What is the tone of porphyria’s lover?
Dark, sinister
Sexual
Violent
What poem can porphyria’s lover be compared to? Why?
Farmers Bride - there’s an obsessive speaker who is unstable - idea of violence and possession
