LO: To understand the poem and it’s key themes and ideas.

Porphoria’s Lover

Write down what you think has happened in this painting.

Remember to back up your ideas with evidence.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/2008-09/english/irf08-86/flash-dev/porphyria.html

In each of the following paintings, write down what you think the woman is thinking...

At the end of each section, write a one sentence summary about what has happened.

We are now going to listen to the poem divided into sections.

Here there are images of the people who might have known Porphyria when she was alive and may know something about her death. On these screens we meet her father, her maid, her sister and a gardener.

We are going to look at the pictures and the prompts to discover what kind of relationship they had.

http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc/2008-09/english/irf08-86/flash-dev/porphyrias-people.html

We are now going to look at some characters who may have known Porphyria.

Group 1: Theme What are some dominant themes in the poem? sex, madness, violence, love, etc.) List examples of these themes using quotations Critical: what point do you think the poet is trying to make? What does the poem suggest about gender

(attitude towards the subject)?

Group 2: Atmosphere/personification/pathetic fallacy - I chose all three because there are few examples of each (as opposed to “theme,” which is more broad)

What is the atmosphere of the poem and when is it set? dark and eerie, set in the beginning List examples of personification and pathetic fallacy in the poem using quotations Critical: How do all three stylistic devices set up our expectations throughout the rest of the poem? Or

do they? Does the atmosphere change?

Group 3: Diction Does Browning use simple or complicated terminology? mostly simple Are there any words that stand out? Critical: What does this say about the flow of the poem? Reader comprehension?

Group 4: Symbolism Name one of the dominant symbols in the poem ex: her hair, the storm, the word “love,” etc. What is this repetitive word symbolic of? ex: her hair = “struggle,” “fall,” “string” = death Critical: How is this symbol used to build tension in the last dramatic scene?

Group 5: Imagery What words are used to describe the last scene? What other words stand out and create a contextual image in your mind? Critical: how does imagery add meaning to the poem? What does it do for the audience?

You are now going to write a dramatic monologue in the style of Browning from the character’s point of view.

What will we need to include?

Your creative task