Poems in Context – Browning’s Collections
Dramatic Lyrics (1842)
· Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister
Dramatic Lyrics was the first of Browning’s collections to showcase his use of dramatic monologue (even though this poem isn’t, strictly speaking!). The collection also contained My Last Duchess and Porphyria’s Lover, two of Browning’s most famous poems. There are many parallels between this collection and that of Tennyson’s Poems. Both poets influenced each other’s writings.
Dramatic Romances and Lyrics (1844)
· Pictor Ignotus
· The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St Praxed’s Church
· The Lost Leader
This collection also explored Browning’s use of dramatic monologue. Browning was visiting Italy for the second time when he was in the process of writing this collection, and its influence can be seen in setting and character. The poems deal with the relationship between art and morality.
Men and Women (1855)
· Love Among the Ruins
· Up at a Villa, Down in the City
· A Woman’s Last Word
· A Toccata of Galuppi’s
This collection of poems was published during Browning’s marriage to Elizabeth Barrett Browning. As such, it is concerned with love and Italy – where they lived their married life. The poems largely withdraw from the contemporary world to focus on relationships, as well as art, beauty and religion.
Dramatis Personae (1864)
· Apparent Failure
· Prospice
This was the first collection of poems to be published after Elizabeth’s death in 1861 and, as such, it is influenced by the turmoil Browning suffered. Love poems are mixed with tales of disappointment, bravery and grief.
Asolando (1889)
· Dubiety
Browning’s later work met with mixed reception. This was the last volume he ever wrote.