Pre 1914 Poetry

To analyse how pre-1914 poets have explored the different aspects of the theme of relationships over a period of time.

In my English class, I have studied four poems. The four poems that I decided to study were: ‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning, ‘My Last Duchess’, by Robert Browning, ‘The Highwayman’, Alfred Noyes and ‘The Lady of Shallot’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. In this essay, I will explore the different aspects of the theme of relationships over a period of time. All four of these poems have various attitudes towards men and women. The tone in each poem conveys how the poets feel. The poets use sophisticated comments and have different approaches to make the reader understand how a particular character feels. There is a lot of contrast in the poems and in this essay I will be comparing the poems; with their similarities and differences; through language, structure and their connotation.

‘The Laboratory’ by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue. The poem was published in 1842 at the time of the Ancien Regime in France.  The narrative of the poem is based on a mentally, desolate, isolated lonely woman. This woman, who is an aristocrat, is jealous of another woman who is her rival. This is because the woman whom she is jealous of is found with her ‘man’ at a ball. ‘My Last Duchess’ also written by Browning was published in the same year and in this poem the poet again uses a female character as the protagonist. The poem is based on the story of a powerful Duke who kills his wife. The reason of which he kills her is because she is too easily pleased; while she fantasizes about other things or people. The Duke who is unwilling or incapable of talking to his wife, he then concludes by killing her. The Duke’s master, the Count sends a messenger to let him know about the wedding with the Count’s daughter. This poem is based on love, death, jealousy and status/power. ‘The Highwayman’, by Alfred Noyes is the most modern poem I am studying. It was written in 1912. This poem is a ballad and is based on jealousy and a forbidden relationship. The heroic Highwayman is in love with a landlord’s daughter named Bess. Bess however, is tied by King George’s men on her bed, whilst her father does nothing to stop this. Tim is an ostler and he is also in love with Bess; which creates jealousy. Due to all the snitches and the devotion to love, this leads to Bess’s suicidal death and to the Highway man’s optional death. ‘The Lady of Shallot’, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson is also a ballad. This poem is rhythmical and spiritual. The themes of jealousy and loneliness are used in this poem. The Lady of Shallot is a mystical character and she lives in a peaceful atmosphere; living in a castle. Placed there because she is cast under a spell, the town was presumably aware that this lady was locked there. Even though people knew she was in this castle no one went to her aid. This woman could see through a mirror which allowed her to see what was going on around her i.e. life. However, she was left there alone and in love which led to her depression and loneliness. This tempts her to break the spell and I believe she does this unintentionally and this consequences her to death.