poetry Flashcards
(8 cards)
1
Q
para 1 topic sentence
A
both explore ideas of female power and dominance within the poems but in different ways
2
Q
para 1 point 1
A
PL - ‘as a shut bud that holds a bee’
S29 - ‘set thy trunk all bare’
- Browning employs simile likening her eyes to that of a budding flower; suggests her death is benign and natural
- implies Porphyria’s girlish delicacy and naivety, as though she is yet to blossom into adulthood or perhaps womanhood
- Barrett Browning subverts this demure stereotype for a woman in the Victorian Era by using phallic symbol ‘trunk’
- perhaps indication of poet’s fertile imagination, which is rampant with masculinity and sexual innuendo, unlike Porphyria
- ‘trunk’ continues extended metaphor of tree within poem; trees carry symbolisms of prosperity and firmness, which could be representative of their love
3
Q
para 1 point 2
A
lack of female dominance in PL
PL - ‘that moment she was mine, mine’
S29 - ‘O my palm-tree’
- Browning uses religious diction to symbolise faith and belief, hence represents her dedication to and faith in her husband
- possessive pronoun ‘my’ would have been unusual during the Victorian Era in which poem was published; men were expected to control their wives, but here it’s the converse
- Barrett Browning repetition of possessive pronoun ‘mine’ emphasises his ownership over Porphyria
- Could also reflect Browning’s criticism of the way women were treated in Victorian times, as property rather than as human
4
Q
para 1 point 3
A
PL - ‘soiled gloves’ to ‘blue eyes without a stain’
S29 - ‘within thy shadow a new air’
- soiled gloves deemed a symbol of promiscuity
- killing her allows him to set her free from impurity
- blue eyes connote naivety and innocence; through her death, he is providing her with this
- lack of her voice throughout wholly allows speaker to assert his dominance over her
- Barrett Browning perceives Robert as ‘new air’; something fresh and invigorating, almost as if he’s purifying her in a similar way to Porphyria in PL
- alternatively could imply reality of her vision of him rather than an idealised, self-constructed idol
- challenges Romantic ideal of a perfect lover
- being in his ‘shadow’ reverts dominance back to her lover, alike PL
5
Q
para 2 topic sentence
A
both poems use the concept of obsession to convey the great extent of passion and desire in their respective relationships
6
Q
para 2 point 1
A
desire for their lover
PL - ‘I knew Porphyria worshipped me’
S29 - ‘I think of thee!-‘
- paints the dominant patriarchal image that can be traced throughout the poem - his pride is based on a view of his role in the relationship as dominant, and the women subservient
- verb ‘knew’ conveys a great sense of confidence
- Porphyria’s lover wants to hold on to this position of power forever
- Barrett Browning doesn’t trouble herself with a gentle feminine introduction - abruptly addresses her lover directly to create a controlling and personal tone
- unequivocally states that her lover is on her mind; the use of an exclamative and a dash add emphasis on this central theme of the poem
7
Q
para 2 point 2
A
growing impatience and desperation
PL - ‘perfectly pure and good’
S29 - volta of ‘who art dearer, better!’
- plosive ‘p’ sounds effectively portray vehemence of his love
- focus on ‘pure and good’ indicates his growing impatience and longing for Porphyria’s innocence, and to perhaps strip her of it
- volta is particularly unusual, as in a typical sonnet, volta comes at end of 8th line; reflects how impatient the speaker is to see her lover
- fluidity of sonnet is significant in itself of Barrett Browning’s rebellious streak and sudden outburst of passion
8
Q
para 2 point 3
A
PL - ‘and yet God has not said a word!’
S29 - ‘wild vines about a tree’
- Browning seems to believe that by killing her, he has purified her of sin
- murdering Porphyria has preserved the ‘innocent’ beauty that defines her as a Victorian woman; emphasises his distorted perception of Victorian values
- in his attempt to rationalise, he acknowledges that God has not yet punished him for this sinful act; sanctifying their relationship?
- ‘vines’ Biblical allusion to garden of Eden
- Barrett Browning and Robert almost depicted as Adam and Eve figures; full of innocence; an immortal relationship
- love is sacred and holy, as if it’s a gift from God
