Victorian Poetry Worksheet

Description

Directions: compose a short (two or three sentence answer) for each question below, using the poems to find the answer. Much of this is interpretation, so multiple answers are possible, but make sure your answers show critical thought and insight. Each one of these poets is Victorian, but each one is different Look for preoccupations, emphases, things that make each one individual Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61): Concerned with freedom and love She was an invalid and recluse under tyrannical father Think of Emily Bronte’s preoccupations Look for images of suppression and freedom She later eloped with Robert Browning to Italy There she regained strength and had son, Pen Used poetry as social protest Her “The Cry of the Children”—about children in coal mines She supported Italy’s revolution. Italy’s freedom seems to be a symbol of her own “Sonnets from the Portuguese”  These poems are about her love with Robert  How does Browning display equality with her lover in 22? How does she convey the idea of having a relationship despite her flaws in 32? How does she use the idea of musical instruments in 32? Robert Browning (1812-89): various personalities, dramatic monolog Browning was Modern in that he showed perspectives of different narrators, not just one. He is known for Dramatic monolog—using a specific individual’s voice He used dialects and slang, and tried to make the narrator a particular individual Think of Elizabeth’s poetry compared to Roberts “Porphyria’s Lover”  What does the narrator do that makes him seem insane? What does he do afterward that is just as weird? “Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister”  What is ironic about this narrator? “My Last Duchess”  What has happened to the narrator’s wife? Why did this happen? How does the narrator regard his wife? Christina Rosetti (1930-94) Rosetti is known for feminine sensibility, sensitivity Poems known for having morals, lessons “After Death” (1941) What is creepy about this poem’s narrator? How is this somewhat like a Robert Browning poem? “An Apple-Gathering” (1494) What are two differences between the narrator and those around her? What do you think the apples represent? “Winter: My Secret” (1994) How does she use the image of wrapping/clothing in relation to secrecy? How does she use the idea of wind? What might she do when spring comes? What does this imply? Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) Arnold was concerned about the changing world He saw life becoming disengaged from tradition Described himself as “Wandering between two worlds, one dead, the other powerless to be born” He thought that poetry could bring joy to life Said the poet must be “a serious thinker who could provide guidance to his readers” As a school inspector, he got to visit middle-class homes He saw the middle class as unfit and unimaginable  He said they were “inadequately equipped either to lead or enjoy a civilized life” “Dover Beach” (1387) How is this poem Wordsworthian? That is, how does Arnold’s approach seem like Wordsworth’s What do the pebbles represent, considering Arnold view of his generation? What does the tide represent? What does Arnold see as the only dependable thing? Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) Believed that if there is a God, he must be awfully mean Hardy brings us out of the Victorian period into the Modern period Modernism is known for doubt, atheism, anxiety Modernist—“Art is a disproportioning…of realities” Previous art had sought to represent reality, but Modern art does not One critic states, “Though rooted in the Victorian period, Hardy thus looks ahead to the dislocations of poetic form carried out by subsequent poets of the 20th century”.  But Hardy was a “meliorist,” believes the earth can be made better by human effort “Hap”  The title means “happenstance” or “chance” or “coincidence”. How does this relate to Hardy’s ideology? Why is the idea of there being a God comforting to Hardy? “Neutral Tones”  “Neutral tones” means colorless and bland, lacking life or emotion. How does that idea relate to the images in this poem? “The Darkling Thrush”  The thrush in this poem is singing despite his surroundings. How does Hardy relate to it? How does Hardy use the image of broken instruments here? “Ah, Are You Digging On My Grave?” (1942) Why is this a funny poem despite its name?