Porphyria's Lover Flashcards
‘The rain set early in to-night,/ The sullen wind was soon awake,/It tore the elm tops down for spite,/And did its worst to vex the lake’
The pathetic fallacy creates an ominous and threatening atmosphere which reflects his dark mood, immediately alerting the readers. The verb ‘vex’ shows how the wind is vindictive and the lake is a still and silent victim mirroring Porphyria’s later passivity. The wind is being malicious which reflects the speakers psyche
‘She shut the cold out and the storm,/And kneeled and made the cheerless grate/Blaze up, and all the cottage warm’
The sibilance reflects her elegant, ethereal qualities. Her shutting out the storm may reflect that she is powerful and a positive character who seems to be in control. The verb ‘kneeled’ may reflect submission, this could also reveal his narcissism and could hint at religious imagery.
‘blaze up’ presents how she brings brightness and warmth to the room which contrasts to the weather and the dark/sinister atmosphere.
‘soiled gloves by, untied/her hat and let the damp hair fall’
The enjambment is strange as it is an unusual line to break which may reflect the speakers mental state.
When she lets her ‘damp hair fall’ it represents her repressed female sexuality, however she is quite open and seductive which may be shocking in Victorian society.
The comment of her ‘soiled gloves’ conveys an image of something dirty, damaged and unclean which could be a possible indication of how he views Porphyria
‘That moment she was mine,mine’
The repetition of the possessive pronoun ‘mine’ is disturbing and suspicious, emphasising how he wants to possess her.
‘Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss’
Shows his deranged mindset as he believes that she is blushing from his kiss and that he is seeing light even in the darkness of death. There is juxtaposition in ‘burning kiss’ conveying that love can be passionate but also dangerous.
The repetition of the plosive sound ‘b’ mimics the sound of a beating heart perhaps symbolising his excitement and adrenaline.
‘Three times her little throat around,/And strangled her. No pain felt she/I am quite sure she felt no pain’
The anastrophe reveals the detail of the murder and delays the horrific event, making it more shocking. Repetition of ‘pain’ reflects how the speaker is attempting to convince that this deed was merciful. There is also no change in rhythm which makes it even more shocking.
‘And yet God has not said a word!’
The exclamation mark sounds gleeful and powerful as if he is a God himself which exposes his narcissism. Has he stunned God into silence with his sinister actions? The ambiguity- could be surprised he has not been punished or perhaps he believes he has not been punished or perhaps he believes he has not committed a sin at all
