Browning cleverly uses the narrative device of a dramatic monologue to portray his version of an Arthurian legend.

Browning cleverly uses the narrative device of a dramatic monologue to portray his version of an Arthurian legend. This form of writing can be extremely useful, as it is able to engage the reader through its continuous effect. Browning skilfully probes the nature of the character so that he reveals things about himself that he did not intend to disclose. In this way, this method reveals secrets, feelings and thoughts that would otherwise remain hidden. The reader is ‘listening’ to the tale and takes a role unlike the therapist; interpreting what is really being said. There is a certain pleasure in being able to see and understand this secret world that Browning himself cannot see. The poem seems to contain a more psychological approach; hence drawing the reader in. ‘Roland’ is somewhat more human, rather than the heroic knight. This is seen through the confusion and doubt in his mind, which has been demonstrated by the use of question marks and exclamation marks. These thought processes are merely tools to emphasise on this dramatic monologue. The middle section gradually builds tension and suspense. No doubt horror and disgust is felt at the thought of stamping on a ‘dead man’s cheek’.

Browning also tends to use colloquial language from time to time. He uses it to discuss his fate, as ‘then the trap shuts’, sealing his fate, implying that he has an intimacy with his own fate.

Roland imagines that he sees other knights. The landscape is personified as a malicious character. The idea of a “ragged thistle-stalk” adds to the feelings of unease and horror.

Browning also uses metaphors and similes. These simple and common devices just add to the illustration of the Arthurian legend. The comparison of a ‘distorted mouth that splits its rim gaping at death’ to nature is ironic. Nature is the most benevolent. It is a symbol of peace and beauty. What you see is what you get. To compare it to death is disturbing and furthermore worrying.

Browning may have used the form of a dramatic monologue to portray the idea of Arthurian legends. However, Tennyson chooses to tell his tale through a dialogue. This form allows the reader to have a feel of the whole situation by maintaining an overall insight of the poem. The action mainly takes place between two characters, King Arthur and Bedivere. The poem builds suspense, with mention of ‘Merlin’ and the ‘brand Excalibur’. Suspicious results over Bedivere are the consequence of his actions. He attempts to conceal the truth from King Arthur, as he does not want ‘a precious thing’ to be lost forever from the Earth. This form of writing gives the reader an advantage. At one point or another of the poem, the reader is involved with what happens while the other character (mostly King Arthur) is left in the dark. Though, Tennyson never actually approaches the reader in the poem, it makes the reader feel almost special. The thought of knowing something that another doesn’t seems satisfying. It makes you feel part of the tale as you soon await the resection of the other character once the truth is revealed. As the readers, we are required to change roles as each person talks.

In one section of the poem, Bedivere has a sly dialogue with himself. This allows the reader to learn more about the character and his thoughts in the current situation.

Tennyson also makes it regular to use the method of repetition. He displays increasingly ritualistic forms of repetition. Due to this style of writing, it makes the poem more enjoyable to read. It also allows the reader to always look back and remember past events of the poem because it is quite long.

The settings and atmosphere of both poems are taken very seriously. They set the scene for the ...

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In one section of the poem, Bedivere has a sly dialogue with himself. This allows the reader to learn more about the character and his thoughts in the current situation.

The settings and atmosphere of both poems are taken very seriously. They set the scene for the upcoming events and allow the reader to imagine what is happening in an unusual context.

Tennyson explores the ‘mountains by the winter sea’, and also ‘barren land’. The barren land, being dead itself is an enhancing setting to use at the death of King Arthur, there is lack of life and vitality, in the King and the land. Arthur’s recollections of the surroundings of Camelot remembers better times, the ‘fellowship of the Knights’ is no more. Religion is reflected through the settings. The ‘broken cross’ and the chapel represents, possibly, broken religion. The significance of the word broken can be to emphasise on the lack of religion presence or even to create a more unsettled atmosphere. The mentioning of the moon represents the idea of fate, change an also sacrifice. If ‘the moon was full’ it could be to exaggerate on its moon representations.

It could be said that the characters are somewhat the most important aspect of the poem of portraying Arthurian legend. King Arthur is no less than the patriotic knight that Bedivere wishes to become. Arthur is a ‘star of tournament’, the more chivalrous one. Bedivere is far behind as he seems to have problems in obeying commands. His insecurity and fear of what the future holds gets in the way of becoming ‘great’. However, we see a different Arthur being described in the ‘shattered column’. We see Arthur as a human rather than a knight, seriously hurt and shattered, with the hope to go ‘ to the island-valley of Avilion’. The presence of the 3 queens introduces the feelings of love, charm and protection. Their grieving state emphasises on the importance of the loss of a great King. The lady of the lake is nonetheless, the most mystic statuesque. She reveals a perspective, which contrasts the strong atmosphere.

In ‘Childe Roland’, Browning sets the scene in dark and cold settings and atmosphere. The dark tower immediately provokes the reader to feeling the presence of morbidity and death. Also the ‘tall scapled mountain’ portrays a strong sense of brutality. The mentioning of the ‘serpants’ and ‘spumes’ refers to a dark and gothic atmosphere, which is most disturbing. On the whole Browning achieves in setting an eerie and uncomfortable atmosphere.

The character Roland, is used to show the effect on the setting and the atmosphere at its fullest. Roland is scared and sceptical, a baby’s shriek’ is gristly and scary. It leaves a trail of terror. Other characters in the poem also assist developing the sense of death, terror and doubt. The hoary cripple, with the ‘malicious eye’ is worrying, he ‘lied very word’. He also likes to disappear and cause a feeling of panic and restlessness. All the characters help develop feelings of surrealism and fear.

The rhythm and sound effects of a poem controls the effects of the poem on the reader. Browning’s style of writing allows the reader to read the poem with a rhythm, hence, making it easier to read. The poem uses the rhyming scheme of ABBA. The rhyming couplets in the middle of each paragraph put emphasis on the sentences. It draws the reader’s attention and gets them thinking.

However, the even rhythm, can sound quite blip. This suggests irony, as it could sound serious or like a nursery rhyme. This depends on how the reader views it.

Symbols in a poem create images. The ‘Dark Tower’ is very ambiguous. It represents the idea of death; extremely foreboding. The ‘skull’ and the ‘dead man’s cheek’ introduces a grotesque kind of fear, somewhat surreal. Browning also mentions ‘trumpets’. The trumpets call again relates to a more religious ground, the idea that judgement day is coming. The devil’s house also conjures a demonic effect. The negative aspect of religion is very popular in Browning’s poem.

Roland’s passion of being a knight, it seems has burnt out, as the flame on a candle, his ‘hearts’….‘cold’. Nevertheless there is a constant sense of conflict. This reflects the symbolic mountains that look like ‘two bulls backed in fights’.

Tennyson does not approach ‘Morte d’Arthur’ with a rhythmic tone. However, he does tend to use monosyllabic words at the end of most sentences. This tale is more in the style of a story than a poem. In that sense, it is easy to read. Tennyson uses short and sharp war related words. To build on the lamenting tone, Tennyson turns to the frequent use of polysyllabic words. Tennyson emphasises on the importance of the size of words to create an effect.

Tennyson also seems to favour the use of symbolism. He uses the most important object in the poem to display the many forms of power; the sword. ‘Band Excalibur’ symbolises the power and Kingship. As it is the centrepiece of the tale, its relation to power and authority is instantly revealed. This shows the importance of Kingship and power. The ‘shimmering’ physical characteristic of the sword indicates the ultimate temptation of power. ‘Excalibur’ is full of temptations, in the way that it looks, and due to what it holds for the beholder. A rather more enigmatic symbol is, the appearance of the ‘lady of the lake’. She rises from, the ‘shining levels of the lake’, a magical place of significance. The ‘lady’, through her methods of appearance and existence portrays a ‘Mary’ figure, who will protect the sword. Her clothing, no doubt reflects her character as a figure of importance, purity and beauty. Furthermore, Arthur’s retreat, also conjures up questions. The mediation of the death of Arthur somehow dangers the existence of his rules and ideas. His death makes the ritualistic means of the sword, power and Kingship extinct. It seems that the fate of the sword at what it achieves lies in the hands of Bedivere, who finally gathers the courage to discard it.

Death, in Tennyson’s tale is almost one of the main issues of the poem. We are faced with death as soon as we read the title; ‘Morte d’Arthur’, the death of Arthur. The Kings death symbolises and stands for a great deal in this tale. His death brings fear that English Christianity will die alongside him. Again we are faced with the moral issues of religion itself. The ‘tombs of Kings’ destines Arthur within a tradition of glorious Kings, who have died out of love for their country.

Browning approaches the theme of death indirectly. We as readers do not encounter a death in the poem, but discloses the issue through the mentioning of the ‘grim reaper’ and the portrayal of the landscape. Again, Browning portrays a negative view of nature to get his ideas across. Unnaturally, Browning’s nature is full of death and depression, a ‘suicidal throng’. The image of the crow feeding off a corpse is utterly repulsive. The human is left vulnerable and has been spared no source of indignity in death.

Overall, I feel that Browning seems to me to be the most modern writer.