16 Questions
What is the Dramatic Monologue?
A type of poem that expresses the poet's own experiences or thoughts directly to the audience
What is the significance of the Lyre in the development of Lyric Poetry?
The Lyre was used to create a melancholic mood in Lyric Poetry
What distinguishes Robert Browning's approach to the Dramatic Monologue from earlier poets?
He introduced personae who were troubled, delusional, or egotistical to reveal their misperceptions and failings
What is the effect of using the Dramatic Monologue to explore a character's psychology?
It reveals the character's misperceptions and delusions about themselves, other people, and the world
What is the significance of the Duke's character in 'My Last Duchess'?
He is a critique of the aristocracy's treatment of women
What is the primary purpose of the Romantic Dramatic Monologue?
To teach the reader a lesson about ethics or beauty
What distinguishes the Dramatic Monologue from other forms of poetry?
It is a type of poetry that features a single character delivering a speech
What is the effect of using the Dramatic Monologue to reveal a character's misperceptions and failings?
It encourages the reader to listen to the character ironically
What is the Dramatic Monologue?
A type of lyric poetry
What was the voice of lyric poetry assumed to be?
The poet him or herself
What is the difference between the Romantic and Browning's Dramatic Monologue?
Browning's Dramatic Monologue persona was troubled, delusional, or egotistical
What did Browning's update on the Dramatic Monologue influence?
How the form was used by most 20th Century poets
What does the Dramatic Monologue allow writers to do?
To imply ironic distance from a persona’s observations in the poem
What is the significance of the Duke's character in 'My Last Duchess'?
He is a total control-freak who had the Duchess killed
What is the Dramatic Monologue a powerful tool for?
To explore the psychology of characters and reveal their misperceptions and delusions about themselves, other people, and the world
What is the history of Lyric Poetry?
It was spoken over cords struck on a harp-like instrument called a Lyre
Study Notes
The Dramatic Monologue: A Brief History and Evolution
- The Dramatic Monologue is a kind of Lyric Poem, the second-oldest form of poetry in the Western world after the Epic.
- Lyric Poetry developed as a short, meditative poem in Greek culture spoken over cords struck on a harp-like instrument called a Lyre to mostly aristocratic audiences.
- The voice of lyric poetry was always assumed to be that of the poet him or herself, offering his/her own experiences or thoughts directly to an audience of readers or listeners.
- The Romantic Dramatic Monologue persona usually has a tale to tell that suggests the struggles and victories of everyday people, often in rural settings, and how they might find solace in human ideals.
- The themes of these poems attempt to teach the reader a lesson about ethics or beauty and are stated directly to this implied audience with an urgent sincerity.
- Robert Browning changed the Dramatic monologue by introducing personae who were so troubled, delusional, or egotistical, that they indirectly revealed their misperceptions and failings.
- Browning’s update on the Dramatic Monologue went on to influence how the form was used by most 20th Century poets.
- The Dramatic Monologue allows the writer to imply ironic distance from a persona’s observations in the poem.
- Careful readers are being pushed to listen to the persona ironically and share an understanding of the persona’s psychology along with the author, to which the persona remains blind.
- In “My Last Duchess,” the Duke reveals himself to be a total control-freak and implies he had the Duchess killed for what he perceived as her insolence.
- Readers of the poem are encouraged to understand the Duke’s explanations ironically, and through this, to grasp Browning’s Feminist denouncement of the Duke’s control and abuse of his wife.
- The Dramatic Monologue is a powerful tool for poets to explore the psychology of characters and reveal their misperceptions and delusions about themselves, other people, and the world.
Are you a fan of poetry and its various forms? Test your knowledge about the Dramatic Monologue, a type of lyric poem with a rich history and evolution. From its origins in Greek culture to its influence on 20th Century poets, this quiz will challenge you to recall the key themes, personas, and techniques used in this unique poetic form. Discover how poets use the Dramatic Monologue to explore the psychology of characters and reveal their misperceptions and delusions about themselves, other people
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