Romanticism Movement
The Romanticism Movement was the largest artistic movement of the late 1700's. Romanticism had a huge influence on many continents. Romantic poets, such as William Wordsworth and Frendrich Schiller, cultivated individualism and idealism. These poets went against the "norm" so that they could embrace freedom in their art. Romantic ideas never died out, but were put into other movements.
Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning
AnalysisThe title "Porphyria's Lover" tells me that the writer is talking about someone who's in love with someone named Porphyria, possibly himself. The poem is saying that the man has killed someone he truly loved, so that she could be with her forever. Browning wrote "From pride and rainer ties dissever, and give herself to me forever". Apparently Porphyria didn't know what was about to happen however she never expected it because this was someone she loved and trusted. Browning also said "A thing to do, and all her hair, in one long yellow string I wound three times around her little throat around and strangled her". This paints a picture of distress, and of sickness of someone who was helpless, so helpless that they gave their life. The way the poem is written, it's almost as though it's a gloat, or as though the writer is enthusiastic about telling about his murder he committed. The poem portrays a man vs. man theme. Do you let the one you love live without you, or let the one you love die so you'll be with them forever?
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Literary DevicesThe literary devices that're used within this poem are imagery, irony and personification.For example "She put my arm about her waist, and made her smooth white shoulder bare" is an example of imagery because the writer is enabling us to visualize these actions as they're happening. "The rain set early in tonight" is an example of personification because the rain cannot set, it's not human nor is it the sun. "In one long yellow string I wound three times her little throat around" is an example of irony because it's telling me that she's about to be strangled. The purpose of these literary devices within this poem is to entertain, and also help the reader imagine or visualize what the author is trying to paint a picture of through his words. These literary devices are applied throughout the poem because it helps the reader better understand what they're reading. Within the poem there's a description of how he killed Porphyria which was strangling her with her own hair, therefore applying it to imagery.
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