Analysis of "The Laboratory" by Robert Browning
The poem "The Laboratory" by Robert Browning portrays a sinister narrative of a jealous woman seeking revenge on her ex-lover's new interests. Set in pre-revolutionary France, the poem delves into themes of betrayal, jealousy, and vengeance through the perspective of the narrator planning a murderous act. The language used, the historical context, and the vivid imagery contribute to the chilling atmosphere of the poem.
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THE LABORATORY By Robert Browning
Questions When does it become apparent in the poem that the narrator is a woman? Find evidence. What is the first clue that something sinister is happening? Find evidence. For each example of alliteration used, try to explain the effect. What is the poet trying to emphasise? What mood/tone does it convey? Create a 12 point list of what is happening in each stanza. EXT: write a short narrative to summarise the overall structure of the poem. TIP What does the poet focus on in each stanza?
Starter What evidence is there in the poem that it is not set in modern times? Make a list and discuss in your groups. EXT: what can you tell about the world in which the narrator lives. HMWK Write a PEE+E paragraph about the way the poet structures the poem to create interest.
Context The subtitle to Robert Browning's poem The Laboratory , Ancien Regime , tells us that it is set in France before the Revolution, when the old regime of the monarchy was still in place. (Use the wall to find out when!) In his book Revise the English and English Literature Anthology, critic Tony Childs states that the narrator of The Laboratory is based on an imaginary incident in the life of Marie Madeleine Marguerite D'Aubray Brinvilliers (1630- 76). In reality, she killed her father and two brothers by poisoning them and also planned to poison her husband. Although her victims were all male, Browning has adapted the character into a dangerously jealous woman targeting her ex-lover's new female interests. His portrait of her is utterly convincing.
Step by step translation Now that I watch you doing what you do Can you tell me what poison will poison her? I know my husband has cheated They think I m crying but I m not Chemist, keep working away Grind it down, I can wait for the best poison I d rather do that than watch my husband and his lover together at the dance I ll see them later at the Kings What are you making? What tree does that gum come from? What is in the blue test-tube? It looks sweet, is that also poison? I will take all your poison and use any vessel (means) to give it. I ll go to the Kings and give it to Pauline and another girl and they will drop dead. Quickly! I want to get this done. It looks too dull! Can t you make it pretty? She ll be more interested to try it and taste it. This is it? It doesn t look enough, she is not small like me, that s how she got my husband. She s not the type to take no for an answer. Last night I forced myself to look at her and tried to kill her with my looks. I want her to die and suffer pain and look ugly. Finally! Take off my mask. Don t be sad that you ve made this. This has cost me everything. I wonder if carrying it around will harm me? Take all my gold. You can kiss me too, but clean me up first so you don t get poisoned. I m off to kill her now.
Language Old fashioned familiar terms of you and your : thy and thou . Repetition of poison . Repetition of laugh . Contrast of laboratory and church, sweet taste and poison. Use of imperatives: Grind away , pound at thy powder etc. Imagery: gold oozings , soft phial . Alliteration to emphasise eagerness: moisten and mash Alliteration used: delicate drop , gorge gold , fortune s fee Ambiguity: can it ever hurt me?
Structure Written in 12 stanzas (stages) representing time passing and how carefully thought out the whole thing is. Even length stanzas, building towards climax. Dashes used - showing tone and pace. Enjambment used to focus on certain words.
Structure Stanza 1: Woman asks for the poison, stanza 2: We learn of the deception, stanza 3: The narrator eagerly encourages the chemist to mix the poison, stanza 4: Narrator describes the poisons, stanza 5: Narrator wishes she had all the poisons and delights at the thought of using them. Stanza 6: Narrator muses about how easy it would be to kill a woman. Stanza 7: Narrator is now very excited. Stanza 8: Narrator is concerned it might not work. Stanza 9: Recounts an encounter with her husband s lover. Stanza 10: Shorter lines, the narrator does not want her victim to have an easy death. Stanza 11: The narrator asks if the poison is ready and notes that it has cost her everything. She wonders if it will harm her. Stanza 12: She pays for the poison and shows her gratitude but is frightened that the poison might also harm her. The poem ends with her showing no remorse, determined to carry out her plan.
Form Dramatic monologue Narrator is a woman a fact that becomes apparent as the poem progresses anapaestic metre: in other words, two stressed syllables followed by one unstressed one. Tell me the poison to poison her prithee? This gives the lines of poetry an upbeat, fast-paced rhythm that convey the woman's excitement at the idea of poisoning her victim.
Character profile You are going to create a criminal profile for the narrator using evidence from the poem to infer Physical appearance Personal details Psychological makeup Motives Crime Fatal flaw Extra challenge: Which words or phrases have been used to show (e.g. what she looks like), suggest (e.g. that she is eager) or symbolise (e.g. her jealousy)? Create an evidence list.
Evidence list Evidence shows suggests symbolises Pound up thy paste Eagerness He is with her She has been deceived Devil s smythy evil
