Porphyria’s Lover

Question 1

Porphyria’s Lover. Stz
“The sullen wind soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite”

Answer 1

Creates a tense and dark atmosphere.
Foreshadows death by the neck.
Personification of the wind shows nature as strong which may reflect man’s nature.

Question 2

Porphyria’s Lover. Stz
When glided in Porphyria… [she] kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up.

Answer 2

Caesura: shows her importance (contrasts to speaker who we know nothing about)
Imagery “Blaze up” represents passion.

Question 3

Porphyria’s Lover. Stz
“Yellow hair”

Answer 3

Repetition: ominous, disturbing in the calm tone made by structure.
Yellow hair symbolises purity which show that porphyria is being deceptive and this affair is secretive.
Foreshadows Porphyria’s death

Question 4

Porphyria’s Lover. Stz
“That moment she was mine, mine”

Answer 4

Shows the speakers wish to be in control. Shows speakers obsession. Doesn’t want to let her go.

Question 5

Porphyria’s Lover. Title

Answer 5

Porphyria is a condition which can cause maddens and hallucinations.
Lover implies that the subject is an affair.

Question 6

Porphyria’s Lover. Structure

Answer 6

Written in single stanza, typical of dramatic monologue.
Highly structured in rhyme and rhythm. Reflects the calm mind of the speaker.
The poem is mirrored with the speaker being inactive and Porphyria tending to him. Then the roles swap.