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My Last Duchess & Porphyria's Lover Poem Comparison: Poems on Jealousy, Control, & Insecurity

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Laila

11/28/2022

English Lang.

Robert Browning Poem Comparison

My Last Duchess & Porphyria's Lover Poem Comparison: Poems on Jealousy, Control, & Insecurity

Victorian poems about jealousy, control, and insecurity are masterfully explored in Browning's works, particularly through the psychological depth of his dramatic monologues. The poems "The Laboratory" and "Porphyria's Lover" showcase extreme emotions through distinct personas, examining themes of revenge, power, and psychological instability.

• Both poems feature unreliable narrators consumed by destructive emotions
• The Laboratory presents a female persona driven by revenge and murderous intent
Porphyria's Lover depicts a calculated male persona with moments of overwhelming passion
• Themes of control, insecurity, and power dynamics are central to both works
• Browning employs sophisticated poetic techniques to convey psychological complexity

...

11/28/2022

361

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

View

Power, Control, and Linguistic Techniques

In "The Laboratory", Browning masterfully employs contrasting lexical fields to portray the narrator's complex emotional state. The poem oscillates between soft, sibilant words and harsh, sinister vocabulary, reflecting the narrator's dual nature.

Vocabulary: Lexical field - A group of words related in meaning or associated with the same topic.

The female narrator in "The Laboratory" rejects stereotypical views of women by appearing to have full control over her situation and emotions. However, the fragmented language and concentrated verb lists suggest an underlying instability.

Quote: "Grind, mash, moisten, and pound, powder"

This line demonstrates the aggressive aura surrounding the narrator, using plosive and nasal sounds to create a sense of urgency and violence.

In "Porphyria's Lover", Browning similarly uses sound devices to convey the narrator's power and control. The line "Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss" combines alliteration and an oxymoron to emphasize the narrator's deluded mindset and desire for continuous control over Porphyria.

Definition: Oxymoron - A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

Both poems utilize homodiegetic narrators to highlight the desire for power and control over another person, demonstrating how this desire can lead to uncontrolled emotions overwhelming rational thought.

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

View

Insecurity and Psychological Struggle

Beneath the surface of control and power, both poems reveal deep-seated insecurities in their narrators. In "The Laboratory", the narrator's apparent calm and collected demeanor masks significant self-doubt and paranoia.

Example: The use of anadiplosis in the line "while they laugh, laugh at me" emphasizes the narrator's perception of being mocked and her resulting insecurity.

This repetition of "laugh" draws attention to the narrator's paranoia, which influences her subsequent actions in the poem. The lateral sound of "l" elongates the line, intensifying its impact and highlighting how her insecurity affects her decisions.

Similarly, in "Porphyria's Lover", the narrator's initial confidence gradually crumbles as the poem progresses. His insecurities become apparent when he describes Porphyria's heart as "Too weak ...... To set its struggling passion free from pride, and vainer ties dissever".

Highlight: This line reveals the narrator's stereotypical views of women as weak and confused, requiring men to make decisions for them.

The narrator's belief that Porphyria desires to be "set free" from her upper-class life to live with him, a man of lower class, showcases his own insecurities and desire for control. Browning's choice to use these lines exposes the narrator's fragile ego and his need to assert dominance over Porphyria.

Both poems confront readers with the psychological struggles that lie beneath the surface of seemingly controlled exteriors, demonstrating how insecurity can drive individuals to extreme actions in their pursuit of power and control.

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

View

Page 3: Themes of Revenge and Death

The third page explores the distinct thematic elements in each poem, particularly focusing on the revenge motif in "The Laboratory."

Quote: "Which is the poison to poison her prithee?" demonstrates the narrator's obsession with revenge.

Highlight: The lexical field of death is established through phrases like "devil's-smithy."

Example: The repetition of "poison" in interrogative sentences reveals the narrator's underlying uncertainty.

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English Lang.

361

Nov 28, 2022

4 pages

My Last Duchess & Porphyria's Lover Poem Comparison: Poems on Jealousy, Control, & Insecurity

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Laila

@lailaaa__

Victorian poems about jealousy, control, and insecurity are masterfully explored in Browning's works, particularly through the psychological depth of his dramatic monologues. The poems "The Laboratory" and "Porphyria's Lover" showcase extreme emotions through distinct personas, examining themes of... Show more

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

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Power, Control, and Linguistic Techniques

In "The Laboratory", Browning masterfully employs contrasting lexical fields to portray the narrator's complex emotional state. The poem oscillates between soft, sibilant words and harsh, sinister vocabulary, reflecting the narrator's dual nature.

Vocabulary: Lexical field - A group of words related in meaning or associated with the same topic.

The female narrator in "The Laboratory" rejects stereotypical views of women by appearing to have full control over her situation and emotions. However, the fragmented language and concentrated verb lists suggest an underlying instability.

Quote: "Grind, mash, moisten, and pound, powder"

This line demonstrates the aggressive aura surrounding the narrator, using plosive and nasal sounds to create a sense of urgency and violence.

In "Porphyria's Lover", Browning similarly uses sound devices to convey the narrator's power and control. The line "Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss" combines alliteration and an oxymoron to emphasize the narrator's deluded mindset and desire for continuous control over Porphyria.

Definition: Oxymoron - A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

Both poems utilize homodiegetic narrators to highlight the desire for power and control over another person, demonstrating how this desire can lead to uncontrolled emotions overwhelming rational thought.

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

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Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Insecurity and Psychological Struggle

Beneath the surface of control and power, both poems reveal deep-seated insecurities in their narrators. In "The Laboratory", the narrator's apparent calm and collected demeanor masks significant self-doubt and paranoia.

Example: The use of anadiplosis in the line "while they laugh, laugh at me" emphasizes the narrator's perception of being mocked and her resulting insecurity.

This repetition of "laugh" draws attention to the narrator's paranoia, which influences her subsequent actions in the poem. The lateral sound of "l" elongates the line, intensifying its impact and highlighting how her insecurity affects her decisions.

Similarly, in "Porphyria's Lover", the narrator's initial confidence gradually crumbles as the poem progresses. His insecurities become apparent when he describes Porphyria's heart as "Too weak ...... To set its struggling passion free from pride, and vainer ties dissever".

Highlight: This line reveals the narrator's stereotypical views of women as weak and confused, requiring men to make decisions for them.

The narrator's belief that Porphyria desires to be "set free" from her upper-class life to live with him, a man of lower class, showcases his own insecurities and desire for control. Browning's choice to use these lines exposes the narrator's fragile ego and his need to assert dominance over Porphyria.

Both poems confront readers with the psychological struggles that lie beneath the surface of seemingly controlled exteriors, demonstrating how insecurity can drive individuals to extreme actions in their pursuit of power and control.

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Page 3: Themes of Revenge and Death

The third page explores the distinct thematic elements in each poem, particularly focusing on the revenge motif in "The Laboratory."

Quote: "Which is the poison to poison her prithee?" demonstrates the narrator's obsession with revenge.

Highlight: The lexical field of death is established through phrases like "devil's-smithy."

Example: The repetition of "poison" in interrogative sentences reveals the narrator's underlying uncertainty.

Examine how Browning presents extreme emotions in 'The Laboratory'
and one other poem of your choice (Porphyria's Lover) [25 marks]
Robert B

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

The Laboratory and Porphyria's Lover: A Study in Extreme Emotions

Robert Browning, a Victorian poet known for his exploration of macabre themes, presents two powerful dramatic monologues in "The Laboratory" and "Porphyria's Lover". These poems delve into the depths of human emotion, particularly focusing on jealousy, control, and insecurity.

In "The Laboratory", we encounter a female persona consumed by revenge, her frantic murderous intent palpable throughout the poem. On the other hand, "Porphyria's Lover" presents a seemingly calm male narrator whose calculated demeanor belies moments of overwhelming passion and uncontrolled emotions.

Highlight: Both poems challenge readers to consider the destructive nature of extreme emotions, not only to the object of desire but also to oneself.

The structure and language of these poems play crucial roles in conveying the narrators' psychological states. "The Laboratory" employs an AABB rhyme scheme, suggesting a controlled exterior, but uses fragmented language and concentrated verb lists to hint at the narrator's unstable mental state. "Porphyria's Lover" utilizes alliteration and plosive sounds to emphasize the narrator's harsh and sinister attitude.

Example: In "The Laboratory", Browning uses plosive and nasal sounds in verbs like "Grind", "mash", "moisten", "pound", and "powder" to create an aggressive atmosphere.

Both poems present narrators who desire power and control over others, showcasing how these desires can lead to irrational and destructive behavior when taken to extremes.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️

Thomas R

iOS user

Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades

Brad T

Android user

Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend

Aubrey

iOS user

Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀

Marco B

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!

Paul T

iOS user