The Laboratory

Robert Browning 1845

How are CONFLICT and VIOLENCE presented?

Learning Objectives
To be able to identify how the language, form and structure of The Laboratory reveals the narrators feelings To be able to infer information about character using evidence from the text To explore how the theme of conflict is presented in the poem

The Laboratory is about a jealous woman/narrator who thinks her lover is cheating on her. She asks an apothecary to make a poison to kill her lovers mistress, her rival. She takes great pleasure in watching its preparation. She wants to enjoy her revenge. The main themes of this poem are: Love/Hate & Jealousy Leading to

Conflict (and killing)

The title
The Laboratory What does the title suggest the monologue will be about??

Ancien Regime

- Sets the monologue in eighteenth century France - The formal world of a place is suggested. Beneath the suggestion of wealth, privilege and order there lurks hatred and revenge.

How is the poison portrayed in the following quotes?

Consider what these suggest about the speakers feelings and state of mind.

That in the mortar you call it a gum? Ah, the brave tree whence such gold oozings come!

Yonder soft phial, the exquisite blue!

Had I but all of them, thee and thy treasures, What a wild crowd of invisible pleasures!

The delicate droplet, my whole fortunes fee!

Draw a bottle of poison as prepared by the apothecary.

Label your bottle with one quote that reveals the conflict in the monologue. (how are her sinister motives revealed?)

A dramatic monologue is a piece of spoken verse that offers great insight into the feelings, motives and character of the speaker. The monologue is usually directed towards a silent audience.

Stanza One
Now that I, tying thy glass mask tightly, May gaze thro these faint smokes curling whitely, As thou pliest thy trade in this devils smithyWhich is the poison to poison her prithee?
Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

This describes the narrator (character) putting on her mask so she doesnt poison herself and asking

What is the best poison to poison her please?

Alliteration- two or more words starting with the same letter

Find two examples of alliteration from stanza one.

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Two
He is with her; and they know that I know Where they are, what they do: they believe my tears flow While they laugh, laugh at me, at me fled to the drear Empty church, to pray God in, for them! -- I am here.
Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

The woman/narrator is paranoid and this is shown by the use of repetition. She is consumed by anger and jealousy tried to find comfort in God by praying for them but instead she went to the Laboratory.

Repetition- used to emphasise an emotion

Find two examples of repetition that shows how the narrator feels

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Three
Grind away, moisten and mash up thy paste, Pound at thy powder, - I am not in haste! Better sit thus, and observe thy strange things, Than go where men wait me and dance at the King's.
Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza three uses onomatopoeia to describe how the poison is made. The speaker feels calm and relaxed. She is almost mesmerised by the making of the poison.

Onomatopoeia words that sound like their action

Find two examples of onomatopoeia that describe the making of the poison

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Four
That in the mortar -- you call it a gum? Ah, the brave tree whence such gold oozings come! And yonder soft phial, the exquisite blue, Sure to taste sweetly, -- is that poison too?

The woman/narrator uses a metaphor to describe the poisonous tree- she calls it brave. The colours show how excited she is and she uses the word exquisite which means beautiful and precious.

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Metaphor- compares images not using as or like

Find an example of a metaphor

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Five
Had I but all of them, thee and thy treasures, What a wild crowd of invisible pleasures! To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, A signet, a fan-mount, a filligree-basket! This stanza shows how the character is becoming more and more excited at the potion makers power. She uses a metaphor to describe the power. The rhyme scheme makes the poem sound like a songthis contrasts the themes of the poem

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Rhyme- makes the poem sound like a song.

Find the metaphor that makes the potion- maker sound powerful Find four words that make the poem sound happy and carefree
Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Six
Soon, at the King's, a mere lozenge to give And Pauline should have just thirty minutes to live! But to light a pastille, and Elise, with her head And her breast and her arms and her hands, should drop dead!

She will give Pauline, her lovers mistress a sweet which will kill her in 30 minutes. But she doesnt stop there she also wants to kill Elise. This shows her deep mistrust of her lover and her growing paranoia. Does she really know who her partners lover is? Or who she is going to kill?

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Theme- Confusion & Paranoia (inner conflict)

Find a quote that suggests the woman/narrator is confused. What word is repeated that suggests her desire to kill?

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Seven
Quick -- is it finished? The colour's too grim! Why not soft like the phial's, enticing and dim? Let it brighten her drink, let her turn it and stir, And try it and taste, ere she fix and prefer! In this stanza, the woman/narrator is dismayed when the potion is ready. She complains the colour is too dark. She soon becomes excited when she envisages how the poison will hurt the mistress

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Theme- Colours
Why is she upset the poison is grim rather than bright? The monologue reveals lots about the womans feelings. Choose one example from the monologue that reveals how she is feeling.

Explain your answer using Point Evidence & Explain

Copyright 2007 www.englishteaching.co.uk

Stanza Eight
What a drop! She's not little, no minion like me-That's why she ensnared him: this never will free The soul from those masculine eyes, -- say, 'no!' To that pulse's magnificent come-and-go. In this stanza she is describing the other women. The mistress is larger and more powerful than herself. Minion means small and pathetic almost slave like. She believes her lover has no choice because he is ensnared (trapped).

Stanza Nine
For only last night, as they whispered, I brought My own eyes to bear on her so, that I thought Could I keep them one half minute fixed, she would fall, Shrivelled; she fell not; yet this does not all!

She saw them together last night and she tried to kill the other women with her eyes but it did not work. This shows how deeply jealous and paranoid the woman/narrator is.

Stanza Ten
Not that I bid you spare Alliteration is used in this stanza to reflect the her the pain! anger felt by the Let death be felt and woman/narrator. the proof remain; Brand, burn up, bite She is so bitter and into its grace-jealous that she wants He is sure to remember her lover to remember her dying face! the mistresss dying face

Stanza Eleven
Is it done? Take my mask off! Nay, be not morose It kills her, and this prevents seeing it close: The delicate droplet, my whole fortune's fee-If it hurts her, beside, can it ever hurt me? In this stanza the woman/narrator is so excited by the thought of killing that she believes the other poison can not harm her- only kill the other women

Stanza Twelve
Now, take all my jewels, gorge gold to your fill, You may kiss me, old man, on my mouth if you will! But brush this dust off me, lest horror it brings Ere I know it -- next moment I dance at the King's! The woman/narrator is so pleased with the maker of the poison, she offers him all her jewels.

The rhyme of brings and kings shows her excitement. The poem ends with the reader knowing the woman/narrator is off to the dance with her poison.

THE LABORATORY -

ANCIEN REGIME

First person NOW that I, tying thy glass mask tightly,

To protect from May gaze thro' these faint smokes curling whitely, Smoke from making poisons poisonous fumes As thou pliest thy trade in this devil's-smithy-Which is the poison to poison her, prithee? A woman is to be poisoned! He is with her; and they know that I know There is no consolation in religion Onomatopoeia and alliteration Suggestion of evil

Where they are, what they do: they believe my tears flow While they laugh, laugh at me, at me fled to the drear

A relationship gone wrong

Empty church, to pray God in, for them! -- I am here. Narrator is taking control of the situation, playing god Grind away, moisten and mash up thy paste, Pound at thy powder, -- I am not in haste! Almost savouring the Than go where men wait me and dance at the King's. preparations Better sit thus, and observe thy strange things, That in the mortar -- you call it a gum? Ah, the brave tree whence such gold oozings come! And yonder soft phial, the exquisite blue, Sure to taste sweetly, -- is that poison too? Poison described with rich imagery

The bowl in which the elements are prepared Taste is deceptive

Had I but all of them, thee and thy treasures,

What a wild crowd of invisible pleasures!

Poisons

Disguises for the poison

To carry pure death in an earring, a casket, A signet, a fan-mount, a filligree-basket!

Soon, at the King's, a mere lozenge to give

And Pauline should have just thirty minutes to live! But to light a pastille, and Elise, with her head Jealousy? Anxious to get the poison now

Emphasises the deadly effects

And her breast and her arms and her hands, should drop dead! Quick -- is it finished? The colour's too grim! Why not soft like the phial's, enticing and dim? Let it brighten her drink, let her turn it and stir, And try it and taste, ere she fix and prefer!

Why does she consider herself a minion (a small insignificant person?)

What a drop! She's not little, no minion like me-That's why she ensnared him: this never will free The soul from those masculine eyes, -- say, 'no!' To that pulse's magnificent come-and-go. Trapped a man, HER man?

For only last night, as they whispered, I brought Wishes she could kill with her looks She wants her to die in pain My own eyes to bear on her so, that I thought Could I keep them one half minute fixed, she would fall, Shrivelled; she fell not; yet this does not all! Not that I bid you spare her the pain! Let death be felt and the proof remain; Brand, burn up, bite into its grace-He is sure to remember her dying face! Question brings a sense of immediacy Could there be repercussions? Creates a sense of pain she wants her victim to go through But the poison will instead

She wants the man to remember the agony his mistress suffered Is it done? Take my mask off! Nay, be not morose
It kills her, and this prevents seeing it close: The delicate droplet, my whole fortune's fee-If it hurts her, beside, can it ever hurt me? Now, take all my jewels, gorge gold to your fill,

Uses imperative verb, like a command, she is in control

Payment for future happiness Rich imagery, suggests greed

Dust carries the horror of the poison

You may kiss me, old man, on my mouth if you will! But brush this dust off me, lest horror it brings Ere I know it -- next moment I dance at the Kings!

Form:

written in verse form, that has a lilting feel to it. The monologue gives the reader a sense that the speaker is addressing a silent audience (the apothecary). (Structure): Unlike Romeo and Juliet the conflict does not rise and fall; it is a continuous and dominant theme of the monologue.

Language: alliteration, onomatopoeia, metaphor, repetition are all

used to reveal the womans intentions and the conflict that exists between her and her lover.

Imagery: use of exotic imagery; the gold, the jewellery. The contrast
between the luxury of the palace and the grimness of the lab is highlighted. The special jewellery that will hold the poison, e.g. an earring is connected with the idea that ordinary wealth is the root of all evil.

Rhyme/rhythm:

the rhyme scheme is AABB and creates a jaunty effect, unsuited to what the woman describes.

Tone: sinister, immoral and remorselessness disguised with

excitement and rich imagery.

Style: the rhythm of the poem seems positive so is at odds with the
cold and calculating subject of the monologue. There is a chilling sense of remorselessness.

Find some other phrases and words that indicate the speakers emotions.
He is with her and they know that I know Frequent use of exclamation marks e.g. And Pauline should have just thirty minutes to live! Shes not little, no minion like me, thats why she ensnared him.. brand, burn up, bite into its grace- Rejection Excitement, insane enthusiasm

Jealousy, low self esteem

Extreme anger, rage, hatred

Personal Response
Consider the following statements, decide which you agree with and use evidence from the poem: 1. The poem has a disturbing effect as we gain intimate insight into the mind of a would-be killer and are horrified by her intended actions and lack of regard for her potential victims. 2. The speaker in The Laboratory takes a gruesome and violent pleasure in her intended mission to kill. We are provided with a clear motive for her actions and this results in the reader having sympathy for the speaker.

Write a paragraph explaining your personal viewpoint. Use evidence in the form of FLIRT to back up your opinion.

Victorian England

His

-Victorian values are now considered to be virtuous, and concerned with happy family relationships. - The Laboratory does not fit with these values. Although Browning is said to have had a good relationship with his wife, he enjoyed writing monologues that focused on the unhealthy nature of relationships, sinister ideas and the presentation of bad characters.

-He very much deals with the darker side of society.

Planning a response to The Laboratory

What is happening in the monologue? Themes of the monologue

CONFLICT How is the theme presented? e.g. The relationship, the mistress, the inner conflict in her mind.

Language & structure FLIRT: what devices are used to reveal this conflict?

What influence does the content and themes of the monologue have on the historical context? - How would a monologue like this have been received? What was society like?