(AKA the poetic power-duo)

ELIZABETH & ROBERT BROWNING

“I do, as I say, love these books with all my heart—and I love you too.” (Norton Anthology, pg 585)

A ROMANCE FOR THE STORYBOOKS

Rafaello’s “St George Fighting the Dragon”, circa 1505

Love “swept aside all obtacles” (pg 711)

15 happy years of marriage until Elizabeth

passes away in 1861

-born in 1812

-married Elizabeth in 1846

-throughout their marriage was known as merely “Mrs. Browning’s husband”

-inspired by the likes of Shakespeare and Percy Shelley

-dramatic monologue

-looking at only one character’s point of view

-must parse through the speaker’s words to derive meaning

-many characters were twisted or unstable

-addresses moral issues indirectly

ROBERT BROWNING

The rain set early in tonight,

The sullen wind was soon

awake,

It tore the elm-tops down for

spite,

and did its worst to vex the

lake:

I listened with heart fit to

break.

When glided in Porphyria;

straight

She shut the cold out and the

storm,

And kneeled and made the

cheerless grate

Blaze up, and all the cottage

warm;

Which done, she rose, and from

her form

Withdrew the dripping cloak

and shawl,

And laid her soiled gloves by,

untied

Her hat and let the damp hair

fall,

And, last, she sat down by my

side

And called me. When no voice

replied,

She put my arm about her

waist,

And made her smooth white

shoulder bare,

And all her yellow hair

displaced,

And, stooping, made my cheek

lie there,

And spread, o’er all, her yellow

hair,

Murmuring how she loved

me—she

Too weak, for all her heart’s

endeavor,

To set its struggling passion

free

From pride, and vainer ties

dissever,

And give herself to me forever.

But passion sometimes would

prevail,

Nor could tonight’s gay feast

restrain

A sudden thought of one so

pale

For love of her, and all in vain:

So, she was come through wind

and rain.

Be sure I looked up at her eyes

Happy and proud; at last I

knew

Porphyria worshiped me:

surprise

Made my heart swell, and still it

grew

While I debated what to do.

That moment she was mine,

mine, fair,

Perfectly pure and good: I

found

A thing to do, and all her hair

In one long yellow string I

wound

Three times her little throat

around,

And strangled her. No pain felt

she;

I am quite sure she felt no pain.

As a shut bud that holds a bee,

I warily oped her lids: again

Laughed the blue eyes without

a stain.

And I untightened next the

tress

About her neck; her cheek once

more

Blushed bright beneath my

burning kiss:

I propped her head up as

before

Only, this time my shoulder

bore

Her head, which droops upon it

still:

The smiling rosy little head,

So glad it has its utmost will,

That all it scorned at once is

fled,

And I, its love, am gained

instead!

Porphyria’s love: she guessed

not how

Her darling one wish would be

heard.

And thus we sit together now,

And all night long we have not

stirred,

And yet God has not said a

word!

PORPHYRIA'S LOVER

“Gr-r-r—there go, my heart’s abhorrence!

Water your damned flower-pots, do!

If hate killed men, Brother Lawrence,

God’s blood, would not mine kill you!

What? your myrtle-bush wants trimming?

Needs its leaden vase filled brimming?

Hell dry you up with its flames!” [1-8]

“When he finishes refection,

Knife and fork he never lays

Cross-wise, to my recollection,

As do I, in Jesu’s praise.

I the Trinity illustrate” [33-37]

“What’s the Latin name for ‘parsley’?

What’s the Greek name for ‘swine’s snout’?”

[15-16]

“Or, there’s Satan!--one might venture

Pledge one’s soul to him…” [65-68]

EXCERPTS FROM SOLILOQUY OF THE SPANISH CLOISTER

What do “My Last Duchess,” “Porphyria’s Lover,” and

“Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister” have in common? Consider not only the

speakers but also the tone, setting, theme, etc.

How are these poems different?

-1806 – 1861

-an “unusal” education (Latin, Greek, history, philosophy, literature)

-ill health improved after marrying Robert Browning and moving to Italy

-very engaged with current events/issues

-strong sense of morality and emotional appeal in her works

“The Cry of the Children” – coal mines and the corrupt industry

“The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim’s Point” – slavery

Aurora Leigh focuses on a woman concerned with social issues and longing for freedom

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

“Now tell the poor young children; O my brothers,

To look up to Him and pray;

So the blessed One who blesseth all the others,

Will bless them another day.

They answer, ‘Who is God that He should hear us,

While the rushing of the iron wheels is stirred?

When we sob aloud, the human creatures near us

Pas by, hearing not, or answer not a word.

And we hear not (for the wheels in their resounding)

Strangers speaking at the door:

Is it likely God, with angels singing round Him,

Hears our weeping any more?”

THE CRY OF THE CHILDREN

-How many distinct people / characters are

involved in this stanza?

-How many points of view are heard?

-How does this compare with Robert’s works?

Screenshots taken from 1912 silent film “The Cry of the Children”, dir. Geroge Nichols

“Food! Glorious food!”

Hmm… something seems familiar!

Barrett Browning was not the only writer to address

similar issues in her day.

Of the poems we have reviewed, both Robert and Elizabeth Browning utilized the power of voice and

point-of-view to aid interpretation.

How might all these works be different if we heard from different characters?

In your groups, consider a voice you have not heard from any one of these poems.

(the duke’s dead wife? Brother Lawrence? An owner of a coal mine? Someone else? Use your

imagination!)

Compose a brief poem (4 or 6 lines) from the perspective of this new voice. Present what you have

written.

BONUS POINTS if you make it into a musical number!

THE POWER OF VOICES

Both authors took different ways to present moral issues. Robert is darker and hints at

wrong, but does not explicitly state it is wrong. Elizabeth makes clear the distinctions

between good and bad.

Which style do you find to be more effective in getting you to think about morality?

Why? Pick a particular poem to use in your answer. Then find a modern-day example of

a person (author, movie director, etc) or a work (tv show, book, etc) which also

addresses morality in a similar way. Respond to at least two other students in the

discussion board.

DISCUSSION BOARD: WHO DID IT BETTER?