The poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Browning and Victorian values
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how the Brownings' poems subvert typical Victorian values.
Key learning points
- Victorian society viewed women as passive and confined them to domestic roles.
- Victorian society had a stigma surrounding sexual freedom and liberation.
- The Brownings were a couple whose marriage challenged Victorian attitudes towards love and relationships.
- Both 'Sonnet 29' and 'Porphyria's Lover' challenge typical attitudes of the Victorian era towards love and marriage.
Keywords
Subvert - to undermine or weaken the power of something, especially an established system
Elope - to secretly run away and get married, often without the consent of parents or family
Propriety - conformity to accepted standards of behaviour or morals; correctness in social conduct
Submissive - willing to conform to the authority or will of others; behaving in a way that follows accepted standards
Victorian era - the historical period in the United Kingdom during Queen Victoria’s reign (1837–1901
Common misconception
Knowing that the Brownings were married to each other is an important piece of contextual information.
Although it is relevant to know they were married, it is in linking their own unconventional marriage to the subversive presentation of love and relationships in their poems that the best contextual points can be found.
Teacher tip
Both of these poets wrote poems that challenged and subverted typical notions of love for a Victorian audience. It may be useful to compare their work with a poem that more typically presents love, at least for a Victorian audience (e.g. 'Love's Philosophy').
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the AQA 'Love and Relationships' anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning were ...
Q2.Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning wrote most of their poetry in the __________ era.
Q3.Following Barrett Browning's courtship with poet Robert Browning, the couple married and eloped to Italy. What were the consequences of this for Barrett Browning?
Q4.'Sonnet 29 - I think of thee!' was taken from a collection of poems entitled 'Sonnets from the __________'.
Q5.Which of the below are major themes in the poem 'Porphyria's Lover'?
Q6.In 'Porphyria's Lover', what could be seen as a symbol of Porphyria's sexuality?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What verb is being described here: 'to undermine or weaken the power of something, especially an established system'?
Q2.If you run away in secret to get married then you have ...
Q3.Which of the following were typical of the Victorian era?
Q4.Why was the marriage between the Brownings unconventional by Victorian standards?
Q5.'Sonnet 29' challenges Victorian attitudes by openly expressing a woman's emotional and romantic longing, demonstrating intellectual in a relationship.
Q6.In 'Sonnet 29' Browning uses the metaphor of a 'wild vine' to describe her love. Why would this have challenged typical Victorian attitudes towards women and love?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: The poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Browning and Victorian values, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: The poetry of Robert and Elizabeth Browning and Victorian values, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Love and relationships poetry continued unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.