Porphyria's Lover

Question 1

Author:

Answer 1

Browning (he)

Question 2

‘I listened with heart fit to break’

- DESIRE AND LONGING

Answer 2

Reveals level of obsession with love for Porphyria - unable to do anything or think of anything other than anticipate her arrival.
While idea of his heart breaking when he is not with her seems romantic on the surface, when considered with the anxiety and anger he is experiencing as he waits for her, the degree of his obsession is striking and disturbing for the reader - foreshadowing?

Question 3

‘And, last, she sat down by my side’

- LONGING

Answer 3

Repetition of ‘and’ over next few lines - emphasises calm way he’s chronologically recounting events leading up to murder.
‘Last’ suggests speaker feels Porphyria deliberately ignored him - he’s exerting power over her by forcing her to come and sit next to him –> effectively conveys to the reader speaker’s sinister desire for control, demonstrates obsession slowly evolving to possessive love.

Question 4

‘And give herself to me forever’

• DESIRE AND LONGING
• DEATH

Answer 4

Sinister need to posses Porphyria.
‘Giver herself’ - subtly highlights his lack of control as Porphyria is high social class, feels he would be in power if she surrenders herself.
Finality of word ‘forever’ - dangerous consequences of the speaker’s obsessive love are beginning to emerge.

Question 5

‘That moment she was mine, mine, fair, / Perfectly pure and good’
- DESIRE AND LONGING

Answer 5

Repetition of “mine, mine” emphasises how important it is to the speaker for him to feel like Porphyria belongs to him - shows the speaker’s quickly deepening madness caused by his obsessive love for Porphyria.

Question 6

Compare with:

Answer 6

The Farmer’s Bride - longing presented as destructive
Sonnet 29 - longing
Eden Rock - idea of love enduring beyond death