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English > Porphyria's Lover > Flashcards

Porphyria's Lover Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

ABABB rhyme scheme shows:

A

Lack of symmetry shows disorder and unbalance in speakers mind

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2
Q

Traditional Victorian setting but lack of Heroic Couplets shows:

A

Bond between Porphyria and speaker is weak as they are not able to bounce off each other.
He’s clumsy when he talks about her, creating tension.

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3
Q

Pathetic Fallacy is:

A

When the weather is used to reflect the internal mood or feelings of a character.

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4
Q

“sullen wind”

A

Shows speaker’s bad temper/depression

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5
Q

Quote to prove speakers bad temper at beginning of poem

A

“Sullen wind”

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6
Q

“tore the elm-tops down for spite”

A

Power of the storm reflects instability and short temper of speaker

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7
Q

Quote showing speakers instability and short temper at beginning of poem

A

“tore the elm-tops down for spite”

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8
Q

“spite”

A

Shows pure badness/malice of the speaker.

Angry and in a mood to commit violence

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9
Q

All Pathetic Fallacy Quotes:

A

“sullen wind”
“Tore the elm-tops down for spite”
“Spite”

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10
Q

Upon Porphyria’s arrival:

A

The speakers mood immediately changes.

Shows his obsession with her.

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11
Q

“glided”

A

Connotes elegance and god-like beauty.

Speaker puts Porphyria on a pedestal.

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12
Q

Quote for speaker putting Porphyria on a pedestal

A

“glided”

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13
Q

“shut the cold out”

A

Despite the awesome power of the storm, (which represents the huge anger of the speaker), Porphyria is able to shut it out effortlessly.
She cures the speakers anger and depression with ease, showing his obsession and longing for her.

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14
Q

“withdrew the dripping cloak”

A

Part of a list of actions Porphyria does before tending to the speaker.
All actions are normal and necessary but speaker is still upset he isn’t immediately tended to.

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15
Q

Who is passive/active in:

a) the 1st half
b) the second half

A

a) Porphyria is active, speaker is passive

b) Speaker is active, Porphyria is passive

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16
Q

“no voice replied”

A

Speaker can’t even be bothered speaking to Porphyria

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17
Q

“put my arm about her waist”

A

Speaker let’s Porphyria move him around like a doll.

Foreshadows the speakers manipulation on Porphyria towards the end of the poem.

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18
Q

Quotes to show speakers passiveness in 1st half of poem:

A

“no voice replied”

“put my arm about her waist”

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19
Q

“soiled gloves”

A

Odd detail to include.

Could represent Porphyria’s soiled virtue or reputation.

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20
Q

“let the damp her fall”

A

Represents Victorian idea of fallen woman who fell from virtue by having sex outside of marriage

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21
Q

“cottage” - without a fire

A

Suggest lower class

22
Q

Quotes hinting at class difference between Porphyria and the speaker

A 
“soiled gloves”
“let the damp hair fall”
“gay feast”
“cottage”
“too weak for all her hearts endeavours”
“vainer ties”
23
Q

“too weak for all her hearts endeavours”

A

To the speaker, Porphyria’s “weak(ness)” is her unwillingness to ignore social expectations and be with someone of a Lower class.

24
Q

“vainer ties”

A

Unexplained what these are.
Porphyria is constrained by something and is unable to love freely.
Perhaps she is already married.

25
Q

Who panders to who?

A

Porphyria panders to the speaker

26
Q

“murmuring”

A

Porphyria speaks softly and gently.
Shows she truly cares for the speaker.
Her love is genuine, not possessive.

27
Q

“gay feast”

A

The speaker believes Porphyria is too weak to be with him however this is untrue as Porphyria has fled a grand party to be with him
May not be the first time she’s done this.

28
Q

Turning Point in the poem?

A

When the speaker has his epiphany and realises he must preserve his “perfect” moment

29
Q

When is the speaker satisfied with the situation

A

When he believes Porphyria “worship(s)” him and he has full control of her

30
Q

“Porphyria worshiped me”

A

Speaker is satisfied that Porphyria has given herself to him and that he can do what he wants now

31
Q

“mine, mine”

A

Speaker now believes he has ownership of Porphyria and can do what he wants.

32
Q

Quotes showing speaker believes he owns Porphyria:

A

“Porphyria worshipped me”

“mine, mine”

33
Q

“debated what to do”

A

Shows murder was premeditated and wasn’t spur of the moment.

Shows madness and violence of speaker.

34
Q

Calls the murder “a thing”

A

Blunt, detached tone.
Chilling - appears extremely calm and there are no signs of regret
Proves insanity as he talks about murder is such a casual way, making it somehow seem more terrifying.

35
Q

Murder related quotes:

A

“debated what to do”

“a thing”

36
Q

Introduction for manipulation of the body:

A

Inspects her eyes and when he finds no tears he is fully satisfied he has done the right thing and that Porphyria would have wanted to die for him.

37
Q

“as a shut bud that holds a bee”

A

Strange metaphor.
May be sexual as bees are well-known for pollinating flowers.
Suggestion of necrophiliacs confirms speaker is criminally insane.

38
Q

Quote related to manipulation of body:

A

“as a shut bud that holds a bee”

39
Q

What does speaker do in the final lines?

A

Reflects on his actions.
Speaks about Porphyria as if she is still alive.
Tries to convince himself he has done the right thing.

40
Q

Is the speaker delusional throughout the poem, especially after killing Porphyria?

A

Yes

41
Q

“gained”

A

This is how the speaker describes Porphyria.
Ironic as she has lost her whole life and has gained nothing.
Speaker believes she has gained the ability to be with him forever, but of course she can’t experience this as she has been killed.

42
Q

“God has not said a word!”

A

Speaker believes his lack of punishment means he has done the right thing.

43
Q

What does the mention of God in the last line do?

A

Seems like a taunt from the speaker.
He is laughing at any external system of ethics or retribution.
He is seriously insane now.

44
Q

Quotes for paragraph on final lines of the poem:

A

“gained”

“God has not said a word!”

45
Q

Who wrote the poem?

A

Robert Browning

46
Q

Setting of the poem:

A

Traditional Victorian setting; an isolated cottage

47
Q

Type of poem?

A

Dramatic Monologue

48
Q

Auditor?

A

No clear auditor, only the reader.

Perhaps the speaker is retelling the story, bragging about it.

49
Q

Speaker?

A

Name is never revealed.

Only identifies himself in relation to Porphyria ( as her lover ) showing his obsession with her.

50
Q

Examples of Dramatic action?

A

Porphyria’s murder.
Manipulation of body.
Porphyria arriving in hut and lighting fire.
Porphyria pandering to speaker.

English (1 decks)

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