Victorian Poetry

girl with long blond hairYou have already read Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess." Now you will read and interpret a second poem by him called "Porphyria's Lover." Be sure to use the reading strategies from the topic to thoroughly analyze the poem. Consider the speaker, tone, theme, organization, form and diction, as well as any new or unclear vocabulary. You may use a dictionary to look up any unfamiliar words or usages. A copy of "Porphyria's Lover" accompanies the checklist provided.

After studying the poem "Porphyria's Lover," compose a well-constructed paragraph of seven to ten sentences in which you compare Browning's two poems. In your analysis, discuss what both poems suggest about jealousy. It might be helpful to brainstorm using the following questions as a guide.

  • What causes jealousy?
  • Who suffers from it? What results from it?
  • What might Browning be noting about the society in which he lives?

Your poetry comparison should include specific quotations and examples from the poems to support your observations. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing resources. Before you begin, review the Victorian Poetry Checklist to make sure that you include all of the items required for full credit.


Once you have completed your poetry comparison, please submit your work to the dropbox.