My Last Duchess

“Porphyria’s Lover” by Robert Browning (1836)

“Porphyria’s Lover” is the first dramatic monologue ever penned by Robert Browning. It was first published in 1836 under the title “Porphyria” in the January issue of the Monthly Repository, but it did not receive much critical attention then. Browning later republished it under the title “Madhouse Cells” in Dramatic Lyrics (1942), the same collection in which “My Last Duchess” appears. The poem only received its definitive title in 1863. “Porphyria’s Lover” has gone on to be one of Browning’s most anthologized works alongside “My Last Duchess.”

“Ulysses” by Lord Alfred Tennyson (1842)

Lord Alfred Tennyson was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era and a contemporary of Robert Browning. Tennyson also frequently employed the dramatic monologue form in his poetry, and “Ulysses” is an oft quoted example from his works. “Ulysses” greatly differs in tone from “My Last Duchess,” as it embodies a positive and uplifting spirit. It sees the Greek epic hero Ulysses describing his restlessness and enduring spirit of adventure after having returned to his kingdom, Ithaca, after his many travels.

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.