The laboratory/I am very bothered Flashcards
(13 cards)
intro
4 points
Armitage’s “I Am Very Bothered” and Browning’s “The Laboratory” both explore the dark side of love.
Armitage uses guilt and regret to show how young love can lead to harm
Browning presents obsession and revenge as a twisted response to betrayal.
“I am very bothered when I think of the bad things I have done.”
First-person confessional tone
Armitage uses this simple, straightforward statement to immediately show the speaker’s guilt and self-reflection.
This tone creates a sense of honesty and intimacy, making the speaker’s feelings feel personal and direct.
“moisten and mash up thy paste”
Imagery of potions and the lab
Browning uses detailed descriptions of mixing potions to show the speaker’s obsessive and dangerous mindset.
This disturbing imagery reveals how love has become twisted into something violent and deadly, blending passion with menace.
“Which is the poison to poison her, prithee?”
Repetition and dramatic monologue
Browning repeats the word “poison” to highlight the speaker’s obsession with revenge. The excited tone in this line shows how thrilled and consumed she is by the idea of harming her rival.
“Don’t believe me, please”
Caesura
The caesura here reveals the speaker’s hesitation and struggle, showing that he both wants to explain himself and accept responsibility for what happened.
“Brand, burn up, bite into its grace— / He is sure to remember her dying face!”
Violent imagery+rhyming couplets
Browning’s speaker imagines the rival’s death with satisfaction, using aggressive verbs like “brand,” “burn,” and “bite” to show how completely she embraces her desire for revenge.
“butterfingered way”
childish metaphor
The speaker uses this phrase to describe his clumsy, imperfect way of asking for love, revealing his youth.
“Now, take all my jewels, gorge gold to your fill”
Metaphor and vivid imagery
Browning’s speaker uses this line to express her twisted delight in revenge, imagining her rival’s downfall as a feast of greed. This shows that she values revenge so highly she is willing to give up everything else.
conclusion
Armitage shows love filled with guilt and shame. Browning shows love consumed by revenge.
Both use powerful emotions and vivid imagery to show how…
“bothered,” “bad,” “blades,” “Bunsen”
Plosive alliteration
Plosive sounds create a sharp, harsh effect, which can convey tension, anger, or frustration.
By repeating these “b” sounds, Armitage emphasizes the speaker’s strong feelings of anger and frustration toward his younger self and the painful memories he recalls.
“unrivalled stench of branded skin”
Sensory imagery and caesura
Armitage uses the powerful image of the “stench” to make the pain and trauma feel immediate and unforgettable. The pause created by the caesura lets the reader fully absorb the weight of the moment.
“burning rings”
Metaphor
Armitage uses “burning rings” to represent both the physical injury caused by the burn and a symbolic connection similar to wedding rings, linking love with lasting pain and damage.
“Marked… for eternity”
symbolism
The symbol of being “marked for eternity” shows that the damage caused was permanent, not just physically to the girl but emotionally to the speaker, who is left burdened with guilt.
