Robert Browning and his poetry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Robert Browning and his poetry - Research Paper ExampleIt would appear that Browning was greatly influenced by this palingenesis because after Mills criticism, he rarely wrote about his own emotions or used a subjective t iodin in his poetry. As a teenager, Browning was greatly influenced by the poet Percy Shelley. His earliest poetry efforts reflected Shelleys views and style. Shelleys writings inspired Browning to be an atheist for a short heart of time. Later he would say that his short-lived atheism was just a phase that he passed through in his life. His premier create poem, entitled Pauline A Fragment of Confession was thought to be inspired by a religious music composer named Eliza Flower. (Liukkonen). In 1969, he wrote what is known as his greatest poem, The Ring and the Book, which was a tribute to his wife Elizabeth who had passed away eight years before. Brownings first critical praise came after he published Paracelsus in 1835. William Wordsworth and other distinguish ed writers praised the poem and thought him a very promising young poet. For the next 30 years, however, a majority of his works were gratingly criticized until the late 1860s when he wrote the much praised The Ring and the Book. Later, in 1873, he wrote Red Cotton Night Cap Country. The Examiner c all(prenominal)ed the work the most useful of all the good poems that he has written (Johnson). Brownings Work as a Whole Overall, Brownings poetry could accurately be draw as narrative and dramatic. More specifically, his major works are best described as dramatic monologues. A dramatic monologue features a item-by-item character narration. The monologue style allows for the reference to judge the narrators worth and the value of what he is saying. Also, the narrator is not generally speaking to the audience in this type of poem but merely musing to themselves. In general, Brownings poetry is difficult to read and understand and, as cyclopedia Brittanica states, certain Browning poe ms require a considerable acquaintance with their subjects in order to be understood (Brittanica). As mentioned earlier, Browning departed from the self-conscious tone of his first poem and adopted the narrative structure. He is often known for giving the poems audience an unanticipated point of view. He also oft uses irony in his poems and is able to shift the focus of his poems as well. Many Christian themes and sentiments can also be observed in Brownings work. His poetry also reflects his changing religious views throughout his life. He frequently deals with the topics of love, faith, and death. Also, his works occasionally reveal his uncertainty and skepticism about religion (Johnson). However, by todays standards they are viewed as quite optimistic as well as spiritual. The rhythm of Brownings poetry is mostly irregular. He employed a wide variety of mensurable forms in his writing. He was able to create very interesting rhythms and melodies by using these varied metrical fo rms and rhythms. A good illustration of this technique can be observed by reading the following extract from Brownings poem Abt Vogler And one would bury his brow with a blind plunge down to hell, Burrow awhile and build, broad on the roots of things, Then up again drift into sight, having based me my palace well, Founded it, fearless of flame, flat on the nether springs. Browning also wrote