Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Irony Porphyria's Lover

In Robert Browning's poem "Porphyria's Lover" irony is a common theme. This is rather apparent as soon as the reader knows that the speaker has killed Porphyria. The reader does not know this, though, until after the speaker has given a detailed account of how much he loves Porphyria and her beauty. The scene is set up perfectly for a romantic engagement, wherein Porphyria has offered the speaker her bare shoulder. The speaker is so overwheled with how pristine the moment is, that he doesn't know what to do. This is where the irony comes in. Though the speaker is so in love with Porphyria, he kills her to capture the beauty of the affair.
This is the main theme of the poem, but it is not the sole sample of irony. At one point in the speaker's description of Porphyria, he is taken by her hair's gorgeousness. In the end of the story, he finally uses her hair to strangle her. This is obviously ironic.
The irony of Browning's poem is what brings the whole story together. Without it, we'd be left to think that the speaker is a senseless killer with some creepy tendencies.

"Ozymandias"

“Ozymandias” is a poem about a troubled tale and a rising and falling of a dynasty. “Ozymandias” was a man that’s insignificant and his efforts are hopeless when compared to the forces of time and nature. “Ozymandias” who once was the “king of all kings” (line 10). With many power, then he fell from his throne and did not stop falling till he hit rock bottom. Before the statue was destroyed, it was a representation of the king’s thought of the alertness, and the details of his behavior are much so expressed. Although the crushed statue seemingly contradicts the theme; the durability is not of importance. The length of the legend is vital to the understanding of the theme. “Ozymandias” is a figure representing all mankind, conveying our fragile lives. This poem was very hard to interpret but after reading it a few times you soon to find out about the poem.