Porphyria’s Lover MCQs and summary

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 18, 2025

Summary:

“Porphyria’s Lover” is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning. In this poem, the speaker, a lover, recounts an evening spent with his lover, Porphyria, who arrives at his cottage during a storm. As she makes the fire burn brighter and shows affection towards him, the lover, overwhelmed by a sense of control and power, strangles her with her own hair to “preserve” the perfect moment of love. The poem explores themes of obsession, control, and madness, with the speaker justifying his crime by the belief that Porphyria would have wanted him to kill her to keep her love forever.

MCQs:

1. Who is the speaker in “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) Porphyria
   b) The lover
   c) A servant
   d) A friend
   Answer: b) The lover
2. What action does the speaker take in “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) He kisses Porphyria
   b) He strangles Porphyria
   c) He proposes to Porphyria
   d) He leaves Porphyria
   Answer: b) He strangles Porphyria
3. How does the speaker describe Porphyria’s hair in “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) As a symbol of her beauty
   b) As a weapon
   c) As a symbol of her love
   d) As a symbol of power
   Answer: c) As a symbol of her love

   

4. Where does the poem “Porphyria’s Lover” take place? a) In a garden
   b) In a cottage
   c) In a castle
   d) In a church
   Answer: b) In a cottage
5. What is the speaker’s justification for killing Porphyria in “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) He wants revenge
   b) He wants to keep her love forever
   c) He is angry with her
   d) He is protecting her
   Answer: b) He wants to keep her love forever
6. What emotion does the speaker primarily feel towards Porphyria in the poem? a) Anger
   b) Desperation
   c) Control and obsession
   d) Happiness
   Answer: c) Control and obsession
7. What type of poem is “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) Sonnet
   b) Dramatic monologue
   c) Free verse
   d) Ballad
   Answer: b) Dramatic monologue
8. What is the mood of “Porphyria’s Lover”? a) Peaceful
   b) Sad
   c) Dark and sinister
   d) Joyful
   Answer: c) Dark and sinister
9. How does the speaker view his actions at the end of the poem? a) As a mistake
   b) As a self-sacrifice
   c) As a way of keeping Porphyria’s love forever
   d) As a form of revenge
   Answer: c) As a way of keeping Porphyria’s love forever
10. What literary technique is primarily used in “Porphyria’s Lover” to present the speaker’s thoughts? a) Allegory
    b) Imagery
    c) Dramatic monologue
    d) Paradox
    Answer: c) Dramatic monologue