Starter quiz
- What is being described here: 'the circumstances or background surrounding a text'?
- 'context' ✓
- Who wrote the poem 'Porphyria's Lover'?
- 'Robert Browning' ✓
- Which of the following poems from the AQA 'Love and Relationships' anthology can be considered 'Victorian'?
- 'Sonnet 29' ✓
- 'Porphyria's Lover' ✓
- 'Neutral Tones' ✓
- 'Love's Philosophy'
- 'When We Two Parted'
-
- If something is 'well-thought out or carefully chosen' then it is ...
- judicious. ✓
- evaluative.
- restrained.
- in-depth.
-
- Which of the below are reasonable synonyms of the word 'autonomy'?
- independence ✓
- freedom ✓
- restriction
- dominance
-
- A system where men hold power is known as a ______ system.
- 'patriarchal' ✓
Exit quiz
- Complete this quotation from the poem 'Porphyria's Lover': "That moment she was mine, mine, ______, / Perfectly pure and good''
- 'fair' ✓
- How can you effectively use context to develop inferences in your written responses?
- by providing isolated historical facts
- by avoiding specific quotations from the text
- by interweaving context with analysis ✓
- by focusing solely on the writer's intention
-
- How does Browning use possessive language in 'Porphyria's Lover' to highlight power dynamics?
- to emphasise the speaker's affection for Porphyria
- to symbolise the objectification and entitlement of patriarchal views ✓
- to demonstrate Porphyria's agency and autonomy
- to showcase the destructive consequences of male supremacy
-
- Why is it important for contextual points to be anchored to the text in analytical essays?
- to demonstrate your knowledge of historical facts
- to support the overarching argument of the essay ✓
- to provide background information about the author
- to avoid making generalisations about societal norms
-
- What is the significance of discussing the form of 'Porphyria's Lover' (a dramatic monologue) in contextual analysis?
- it emphasises the importance of rhyme and meter in the poem
- it highlights the popularity of dramatic monologues in the Victorian era
- it amplifies the thematic exploration of power dynamics in Victorian society ✓
- it underscores the influence of modernist literary movements
-
- Which of the following is *not* a relevant contextual factor for analysing 'Porphyria's Lover'?
- gender roles in Victorian society
- Victorian attitudes towards marriage
- The Industrial Revolution and the urban poor ✓
- Victorian Patriarchy
- Romanticism
-
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Context must be precise and avoid generalisations.
- Victorian society disempowered women but many disagreed with their subordinate position in society (e.g. the Brownings).
- Contextual references should be judiciously chosen and rooted in our argument about the text.
- An understanding of specific Victorian context deepens our interpretation of Victorian poetry.
Common misconception
All Victorian poets held the same views and attitudes towards societal issues.
Victorian poets had diverse views. Some challenged norms, others reinforced them. Consider each poem's own unique perspective.
Keywords
Judicious - well-thought out or carefully chosen
Context - the circumstances or background surrounding a text
Patriarchal - a society or system where men hold power
Objectification - treating someone as an object rather than a person
Autonomy - the ability to make decisions and act independently
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