scandals were constantly published so he had to shock the reader
he often uses speakers to depict fictional events
analysis of title
narrator is defined by his relationship with porphyria and is nameless
porphyria is a disease that causes hallucinations implying the narrative in unreliable
shows how self centered the narrator is
structure and form
chronological order - the narrative is a stream of consciousness
dramatic monologue - browning usually wrote in this form
mirroring speech - contrasts the ordered structure of the verse
Iambic pentameter - casual speech and conversational tone
language
objectification - speaker conceptualises her as an object and not a human
plosive alliteration - highlights certain phrases to cause discomfort for the listener
religious imagery - speaker is repressing their religious guilt and their hubristic tendencies
"The rain set early in to night" - The storm is a metaphor for the emotional turmoil of the characters.
"The sullen wind was soon awake" - The wind is a symbol of the power of nature being miserable.
"when glided in porphyria"- supernatural connotations and adds to the idea that she is view as not human.
"made the cheerless grate" - metaphor for speakers heart filled with coldness towards his lover.
"no voice replied"- foreshadows speakers inability to deal with her as a person.
"smooth white shoulder bare"- angelic connotations highlighting her innocence.
"soiled gloves" - enjambment implies that it is a stream of consciousness- connotations to cheating behaviour because it makes her seem unclean and pure so disloyal to him.
"murmuring how she loved me" - imply shyness or flirtation - reflects lack of understanding of porphyria.
"porphyria worshipped me" - demonstrates power imbalance that shows the speaker's hubris.
"perfectly pure and good" - plosive alliteration - foreshadows act of violence
"she felt no pain" - no emotive language - remorseless
"mine,mine" - theme of consumption related to possessive men"
"thus we sit together now" - collective pronoun - they are united because he now has full control
"God has not said a word" - speaker5 claims to have got away with it - blasphemy would be shocking to contemporary audience.