which can cause mental, nervous or skin problems. Her hair is rope and he is ridding himself of the disease (her) .
Dramatic Monologue
of the horrific death of Porphyria
Regular Rhyme
scheme contrasts the speakers state of mind. He adopts a logical, orderly state but he is masking his true emotions
Regular Rhythm with 4 stressed syllables in each line.
This is interrupted to draw readers attention
Enjambment
shows the speakers fragmented and disturbed thoughts
rain set early in tonight'
Pathetic fallacy foreshadows the dark events to come. In past tense, what happened earlier. Setting the scene
rain'
can mean imprisonment because you must stay indoors when it rains.
tonight'
shows its evening.
tore the elm
tops' - Using the personification of 'tore' it is foreshadowing Porphyria's death by the death of the tree
heart fit to break'
He yearns for her arrival and he's anticipating her arrival. Also shows how much pain she is unknowingly causing him in her visits.
glided in Porphyria'
The verb is powerful and shows she is in control of him
glided'
is almost supernatural, like a ghost
she shut the cold out'
Shows her arrival epitomises warmth and comfort and that she is the opposite of the storm outside
made the cheerless grate blaze'
The role reversal is evident, she is dominant, and he is passive. shows her power over the cottage as well as him
withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl'
Perhaps a seductive gesture
soiled gloves'
Her gloves represent the scandalous nature of their meeting. They are dirty and unclean just like sex out of marriage.
let the damp hair fall'
The word 'the' emphasises her hair and suggests this is her most attractive thing.
my arm about her waist'
Their first physical touch. She is seducing him.
Her making the first move emphasises role reversal
her smooth white shoulder bare' This is a very raunchy move and also shows that she is the stereotypical beautiful Victorian woman
her yellow hair' This combined with her white skin makes her seem like a china doll. This is where it begins to turn around
too weak' Suggests that because she is a woman she cannot cope with love. He sees her as weak
for all her hearts endeavour' Suggests she has had many lovers
set its struggling passion free' Insight into how he sees their relationship and his unhealthy obsession for her. Could be the moment he thinks about killing her
give herself to me for ever' Turning point. He knows she won't be in love with him forever so he must kill her.
Porphyria worshipped me' He sees love in terms of power. So now he knows she loves him he makes the next move as the now dominant one in the relationship
surprise made my heart swell' He feels euphoric that she feels the same way.
This could show his mad state
perfectly pure' Alliteration. He kills her when she is at her most perfect and beautiful
in one yellow string I wound' Linked linguistically to lines 20
21 were he is so loving and tender which adds to the horror of the situation
Repetition of 'yellow', continues his obsession with her hair
three times' Alliteration and Rule of three
her little throat' Repetition of 'little' makes her seem vulnerable and fragile and easier to kill
no pain felt she' She didn't resist or cry out whilst he was strangling her which is odd
I am quite sure she felt no pain' He wanted to do it quickly and without her feeling pain
In a twisted way he cares for her a lot here
The repetition suggests he's reassuring himself and justifying what he has done
As a shut bud that holds a bee' Simile shows he is scared she may still be alive
warily open her lids' Emphasise he is scared she's still alive