Porphyria's Lover

Question 1

Form

Answer 1

The poem is a dramatic monologue. The asymmetrical rhyme scheme (ABABB) and enjambment suggest that the speaker is unstable. However, the regular rhythm of the poem reflects his calmness. Porphyria has no voice in the poem- the speaker projects his own thoughts and feelings onto her in life and death.

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

Events in the poem mirror each other. in the first half of the poem, Porphyria is active and dominant while her lover is passive, which is shown by the way she rests his head on her shoulder. These positions are reversed when the speaker kills he - afterwards he places her head on his shoulder.

Question 3

Language of possession

Answer 3

The speaker wants Porphyria to belong to him ‘for ever’ but he believes that her ‘pride’ and ‘vainer ties’ (possibly meaning her higher social status) are stopping her from being with him. He is desperate to possess her: ‘That moment she was mine, mine..’. The repetition of the word ‘mine’ is disturbing as emphasise how he desires her. She has become his object in death.

Question 4

Language of love and violence.

Answer 4

The speaker uses language of love and violence to reflect the troubled and destructive nature of his love - eg. ‘Heart fit to break.’ He also uses the oxymoron ‘burning kiss’ to imply that his love his passionate but destructive.

Question 5

Tone

Answer 5

The poem has a dark and sinister tone which reflects the horrifying events of it. It reflects the madness of the speaker as he believes that Porphyria wants to be murdered so that she can be with him forever.

Question 6

Which poem can it be compared with?

Answer 6

You could compare it with the ‘Farmer’s Bride’ and how longing is presented as potentially destructive.