Victorian Poetry Introduction

A poem in which a single character speaks directly to a silent listener, revealing their thoughts and feelings. It's a longer speech, lasting for a significant period.

A dramatic monologue where a character discusses their deceased wife. It's known for revealing the speaker's personality and possible flaws.

A dramatic monologue where a hero, Ulysses, reflects on his past adventures and desires for more experiences.

The speaker's words in a dramatic monologue can reveal their state of mind, engage the audience emotionally, and create a strong connection between character and reader.

Dramatic monologues resemble soliloquies in that they involve characters speaking their thoughts out loud. However, unlike soliloquies, they are meant to be heard by others, creating a dramatic tension between the speaker and the assumed listener.

Fra Lippo Lippi's justification for his involvement with the Church.

Fra Lippo's feelings towards the Church's doctrines, particularly celibacy, are presented as unrealistic expectations.

Fra Lippo's defiance and unconventional nature as a monk, expressing his conflicting identity as both a monk and an individual with desires.

The use of humor by Fra Lippo to disarm the guards, demonstrating his quick wit in a difficult situation.

Fra Lippo's life story, including his childhood, his choice to become a monk, and his artistic aspirations.

Fra Lippo's perspective on the role of art and the artist, highlighting the connection between creativity and human experience.

The use of specific examples from the poem to illustrate how Fra Lippo challenges the Church's rules and expectations.

In art, focusing on ordinary, everyday details, emphasizing the tangible and material aspects of life, as opposed to abstract or idealized religious themes.

The artistic approach of capturing natural, real-life elements and scenes as they are, instead of idealized or symbolic representations.

A form of art where artists depict scenes and figures in a true-to-life manner, paying attention to accuracy and detail.

The belief that art should be honest and truthful, reflecting the authentic experiences of life, even if they aren't always beautiful or pleasant.

Browning's viewpoint that art should be expressive, and a reflection of the artist's personal experiences and emotions.

The idea that the church's traditional definition of beauty in art can be limiting and act as propaganda.

A style of painting that breaks away from traditional, formal religious imagery.

Lippi, like Browning, rejects the old way of doing things in art and brings a fresh perspective to painting.

Browning's view that art should not just be beautiful, but should also be honest and reflect the reality of life.

The concept that art should imitate reality and not just focus on the soul or the abstract. The body and soul are essential components of the human experience, and art should acknowledge both.

The main conflict in "Fra Lippo Lippi" is between the artistic perspective of Fra Lippo Lippi and the traditional, religious views of the Prior. This clash represents the tension between artistic freedom and the constraints of societal expectations.

The Prior, a representative of religious authority, believes that art should focus solely on the spiritual and ignore the body. He wants to depict the 'souls of men' and abstract concepts instead of portraying the physical world.

Fra Lippo Lippi, a painter, embraces the beauty and importance of the physical world, arguing that the soul cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the body. He believes that art should be a representation of reality and should not shy away from the sensual and the worldly.

The Prior criticizes Fra Lippo Lippi for focusing on the beauty of the physical, comparing him to a prostitute who uses her body for profit. This comparison highlights the Prior's disdain for the material world and his belief that art should elevate the human spirit.

Fra Lippo Lippi believes that emotions, passions, and desires, which are often considered sinful by the Church, are essential elements of the human experience. He argues that denying these aspects of life is to deny the full spectrum of human existence.

The poem suggests that art serves as a bridge between the spiritual and the material, the soul and the body. By embracing the physical world, Fra Lippo Lippi aims to achieve a deeper understanding of the spiritual.

In "Fra Lippo Lippi", Browning uses the dramatic monologue to reveal the complexities of Fra Lippo Lippi's artistic philosophy, contrasting his revolutionary views with the conservative stance of the Prior and his belief in the importance of both flesh and soul.

The poem "Fra Lippo Lippi" can be seen as a critique of religious authority and a celebration of artistic freedom. It challenges the restrictive conventions of the Church and calls for a more inclusive and realistic approach to art.