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Year 11 - English

Understanding the poem 'Porphyria's Lover' by Robert Browning

Love and relationships poetry continued

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupis read and analyse three poems from the 'Love and Relationships' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. At the end of the unit, pupils analyse themes from the anthology and analyse the modern and Victorian poems as groups.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how Browning presents a transgressive and abusive relationship.

Key Notes

  • The poem starts with the speaker feeling unsettled but is soon warmed physically and emotionally by Porphyria's arrival.
  • Porphyria begins to undress and instigates intimacy with the speaker.
  • The speaker seems to want ownership of Porphyria and is jealous she has a life outside of his.
  • The speaker strangles Porphyria with her own hair and marvels how he can then keep Porphyria like a doll.
  • Browning was writing at a time when Porphyria's sexual and suggestive manner would have been transgressive.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • unsettled: to be in a state of uncertainty or unease
  • instigate: to initiate or provoke an action or event
  • transgressive: involving actions that go beyond accepted boundaries or norms
  • marvel: to be filled with wonder or astonishment; to admire greatly
  • misogyny: hatred, prejudice or discrimination against women

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The speaker kills Porphyria out of love, and his actions can be seen as a romantic gesture.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The poem starts with the speaker feeling unsettled but is soon warmed physically and emotionally by Porphyria's arrival. Porphyria begins to undress and instigates intimacy with the speaker.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'unsettled'

to be in a state of uncertainty or unease.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The speaker kills Porphyria out of love, and his actions can be seen as a romantic gesture. Correction: The speaker's actions aren't a romantic gesture but a sign of his disturbed mind. His love is possessive and obsessive, shown by his desire to control Porphyria. The calm tone he uses to describe the murder show his detachment from reality.

More Lessons In This Unit

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