Summary Annotations from Porphyria's Lover Poem - GCSE English Poetry

Poem: Porphyria’s Lover

A01: Ideas / Interpretations (what the poem is about and key theme)

 Dramatic monologue in which a character/persona speaks to a silent listener
 PORPHYRIA – Another word for disease
o Therefore ‘lover’ is actually a metaphor for sickness
 ‘He’ is possessive over her
 BROWNING- Perhaps wishes the reader to gain an insight into the mind and logic of a
psychopath.
o Browning was interested in exploring the minds of people who have unusual
experiences.
 IN THE BEGINNING
o She is active
 SECOND HALF
o She is lifeless like a mannequin
 Formally elegant poem
o Browning’s carefully controlled structure seems to deliberately juxtapose the
monstrous and impulsive actions of the speaker.
 ENDING
o Eerily static ironically peaceful in comparison to the storm at the beginning of
the poem
Key Quotes:

 Repetition of ‘and’ – shows it’s all he can think about, obsessive over her.

 ‘made’ – implying her control

 ‘Smooth white shoulder’ – conflicting image that juxtaposes purity yet over sexuality

 ‘Soiled gloves’ – subtext of corruption or rebellion in her unkempt state

 ‘pride’ and ‘vainer ties’ - seem to suggest there is an element of shame in the
connection/she will not commit fully.

 ‘pale’ – shows physical weakness