What is the meaning of the laboratory poem?

The poem composed as a dramatic monologue, and this is also a metaphysical poem. The poem The laboratory explores psyche of a vengeful woman who is planned to kill his husband or lover’s lover with a poison. the poem explores the inner frustration and extreme jealousy of a women who is jilted in love.

What is the theme of the laboratory?

Major Themes in “The Laboratory”: Jealousy, death, and revenge are the major themes of this poem. The poem centers on the revengeful attitude of a woman who intends to kill another woman. She is filled with hatred and wants to kill the lady. For that purpose, she is making poison that can help her achieve her goal.

What is the tone of the poem the laboratory?

Despite the dark subject manner, the tone of the poem is gleeful and energetic; Browning’s character is like a pantomime villain, and we see her excitement mount as she witnesses the grisly process.

Who is the voice in the poem the laboratory?

The poem is narrated by a young woman to an apothecary, who is preparing her a poison with which to kill her rivals at a nearby royal court. She pushes him to complete the potion while she laments how her beloved is not only being unfaithful, but that he is fully aware that she knows of it.

Which is the poison to poison her prithee?

Which is the poison to poison her, prithee? Empty church, to pray God in, for them!

What does Devil’s Smithy mean?

Glossary. 3 devil’s-smithy: i.e. a workshop fit for the devil: the laboratory with all its poisonous chemicals. The speaker is imagining one made of poison which, when lit, will give off poisonous vapours.

How does Browning use language in The Laboratory?

The laboratory cleverly uses language and structure to show her feelings and perhaps show her state of mind too. Starting, Robert Browning emits a paranoid persona in the lady using repetition. He uses ‘they’ abundantly in the second stanza to show she is obsessed with what others [they] think of her. …read more.

How does Browning use language in the laboratory?

Why did Robert Browning learn Greek as a child?

Later, when the child had incorporated the game into his play with his friends, his father introduced him to Alexander Pope’s translation of the Iliad. Browning’s appetite for the story having been whetted, he was induced to learn Greek so as to read the original.

What is browning full name?

Robert Browning, (born May 7, 1812, London—died Dec. 12, 1889, Venice), major English poet of the Victorian age, noted for his mastery of dramatic monologue and psychological portraiture. His most noted work was The Ring and the Book (1868–69), the story of a Roman murder trial in 12 books.

Was Robert Browning religious?

Browning was raised in an evangelical non-conformist household. However, after his reading of Shelley he is said to have briefly become an atheist. Browning is also said to have made an uncharacteristic admission of faith to Alfred Domett, when he is said to have admired Byron’s poetry “as a Christian”.

What is the summary of Robert Browning’s poem The laboratory?

Summary The poem is narrated by a young woman to an apothecary, who is preparing her a poison with which to kill her rivals at a nearby royal court. She pushes him to complete the potion while she laments how her beloved is not only being unfaithful, but that he is fully aware that she knows of it.

What does the word Brave mean in the laboratory by Robert Browning?

She appears to delight in this nefarious activity as she describes both the process and the elixir in such delicious detail that we can almost see it. The long vowel sounds (assonance) in ‘gold oozings’ and the adjective ‘brave’, show how she is almost mesmerized by the colours and textures.

Who is the woman in the laboratory by Robert Browning?

The two faces the woman creates alludes to Iago and his depiction as ”Janus”, the Roman God of deception, positioning her firmly as a villainous character. This is immediately followed through the term “devil’s-smithy”, consequently creating a cacophonous hammer-like rhythm to mirror the blacksmith’s hammer.

What does assonance mean in the laboratory by Robert Browning?

The long vowel sounds (assonance) in ‘gold oozings’ and the adjective ‘brave’, show how she is almost mesmerized by the colours and textures. It is ironic that such beautiful potions are destined to cause harm, especially with the gentle sibilance of ‘sure to taste sweetly’ which is then off-set by the question ‘-is that poison too?’