The Laboratory MCQs and summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman | Last updated: June 10, 2025

Summary:

“The Laboratory” is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning in 1844. The poem is set in 17th or 18th-century France and follows a jealous woman who visits an apothecary to purchase poison. She wants to kill her romantic rival and possibly other women who have wronged her. The poem vividly describes the preparation of the poison and reveals the speaker’s deep obsession with revenge. The tone is dark and sinister, emphasizing themes of jealousy, vengeance, and moral corruption.

The Laboratory
The Laboratory
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1. : Who is the speaker in “The Laboratory”?



2. : What is the setting of the poem?



3. : What is the woman’s purpose in visiting the laboratory?



4. : Who is the intended victim of the poison?



5. : What does the speaker compare the poison to?



6. : What is the primary theme of the poem?



7. : What emotion does the speaker express throughout the poem?



8. : How does the woman feel about the poison?



9. : What does the woman offer the apothecary?



10. : What poetic form is “The Laboratory” written in?



 

Question Answer
Poem Name The Laboratory
Poet Robert Browning
Year Written 1844
Year Published 1844
Poem Type Dramatic Monologue
Verse Form Rhymed Couplets
Setting A laboratory in 17th or 18th-century France
Main Character A jealous woman
Themes Jealousy, Revenge, Murder, Moral Corruption
Tone Sinister, Excited, Morbidly Fascinated
Famous Quote “Grind away, moisten and mash up thy paste, / Pound at thy powder—I am not in haste!”
Main Conflict The woman’s obsession with killing her romantic rival
Structure 12 quatrains, each in rhymed couplets
Legacy A classic example of Browning’s mastery in dramatic monologue, showcasing psychological depth and dark themes

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