Overview

Robert Browning, who was born in 1812 and died in 1889, was a 19th-century English poet whose body of work spanned the Victorian era. Many of Browning’s most famous poems employ his innovative use of dramatic monologue, in which the poem’s speaker is a character—often a recognizable literary or historical figure—delivering a lengthy speech. Such poems plumb the psychological depths of intriguing and complex characters whose idiosyncrasies are gradually revealed throughout the poem. In works like “My Last Duchess” and “Porphyria’s Lover,” for example, Browning invites readers into the minds of narrators whose voices reveal a rich tapestry of conflicting emotions and moral corruption. These dramatic monologues not only showcase Browning's poetic skill but also offer a nuanced portrait of the human psyche.

Browning was one of most popular poets of the 19th century, but his impact on poetry extends beyond that period. His innovative techniques and exploration of the inner lives of characters laid the groundwork for modernist poets. Browning’s influence is evident in the works of subsequent generations, and his poetry remains a subject of study for its rich narrative complexity and psychological insight.

Explore an /poetry/browning/plot-analysis/, a discussion of the poems’ themes, and three mini essays about key topics in Tennyson’s Poetry.

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