Porphyria's Lover

Question 1

Give a summary of Porphyria’s lover

“A dramatic…”

Answer 1

A dramatic monologue about a psychopathic man who strangled his lover with her own hair.

Question 2

”..at last I knew/ Porphyria worshipped me: surprise.”

Answer 2

Porphyria’s Lover
-Religious imagery of his desires
-Caesura = pauses show his manic frame of mind.
-Wants to feel powerful = you “worship” gods.

Question 3

“She was mine, mine, fair,”

Answer 3

Porphyria’s Lover
Repetition = Wants to have power over her.
-Wants this moment to last forever.

Question 4

“And yet God has not said a word!”

Answer 4

Porphyria’s Lover
Challenges God, his existence.
He is trying to justify his possessive behaviour = Mad with obsessive desire

Question 4

“Smooth white shoulder bare….yellow hair displaced.”

Answer 4

Porphyria’s Lover
Sexual connotations - she’s not conforming to Victorian society’s strict moral code.
“hair” = very alluring and sexual at the time.