"Porphyria's lover" by Robert Browning And "Not To Blame" by Joni Mitchell

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Joanna Burton 10s                                                       20th February 2004

Examining Poetry

“Porphyria’s lover” by Robert Browning

 And “Not To Blame” by Joni Mitchell

        To begin with, these two pieces of poetry are about two different women who have suffered terrible violence from their male partners. This essay compares the two poems identifying their similarities and differences as they are both written from a different point of view. ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ is written from a male’s point of view, Robert Browning whereas ‘Not To Blame’ is written from a female’s point of view, Joni Mitchell. Further more ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ has been written in Victorian times when issues like these were seen differently compared with ‘Not To Blame’, as this is a modern poem.

        Firstly the connotations of the titles are very interesting. In ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ the title can suggest two impressions as it could be referring to the female’s partner in the poem or someone she could possibly be having an affair with. Likewise in ‘Not To Blame’ the title demonstrates two connotations as it suggests that the female in the poem was ‘not to blame’ or that the male was ‘not to blame’. In effect it makes you more aware of what the poem is about and lets you decide on what you want to believe the title is trying to tell you.

        The structures of the two poems are different. Although similarly they both use poetic devices to make the poem stand out.  ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and ‘Not To Blame’ use carefully chosen phrases making a strong impact on the reader.

        In ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ rhyme is used throughout most of the poem. It also uses half rhyme, caesura and run on lines. The poems are also written in free verse.

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        Caesura is shown in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ when the poem breaks in the middle of the line,

‘In one long yellow string I wound

Three times her little throat around,

And strangled her. No pain felt she; ’

        

Using Caesura gives emphasis to ‘And strangled her.’ or to ‘No pain felt she; ‘ which makes a strong point to the important and shocking part of the poem. It is trying to portray the male’s character as delusional by expressing acts of violence. The male character is also suprisingly calm at this stage in the poem, catching the readers attention. ...

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