Summary:
Robert Browning’s “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s Church” is a dramatic monologue written in 1845. The poem features a corrupt and materialistic Renaissance bishop on his deathbed, giving detailed instructions about how he wants his tomb to be constructed. He is obsessed with wealth, status, and legacy, showing little concern for spiritual matters. His monologue reflects the hypocrisy of the Church during the Renaissance, as he envies his rival, Gandolf, and desires an extravagant tomb to outshine him. The poem critiques religious corruption, vanity, and the human obsession with legacy.
MCQs:
- What type of poem is “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s Church”?
a) Sonnet
b) Ballad
c) Dramatic monologue
d) Elegy
Answer: c) Dramatic monologue - Who is the speaker in the poem?
a) A dying bishop
b) A pope
c) A common priest
d) A king
Answer: a) A dying bishop - What is the main concern of the bishop in the poem?
a) His soul’s salvation
b) The beauty of his tomb
c) Helping the poor
d) Praying for forgiveness
Answer: b) The beauty of his tomb
The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s Church - Whom does the bishop envy in the poem?
a) Michelangelo
b) Gandolf
c) Raphael
d) Dante
Answer: b) Gandolf - What does the bishop want his tomb to be made of?
a) Plain stone
b) Black marble
c) Richly decorated lapis lazuli
d) Gold
Answer: c) Richly decorated lapis lazuli - What does the bishop’s obsession with his tomb symbolize?
a) Religious devotion
b) Renaissance humanism
c) Corruption and vanity in the Church
d) The power of art
Answer: c) Corruption and vanity in the Church - What is ironic about the bishop’s speech?
a) He is humble despite his power
b) He focuses on material wealth instead of spirituality
c) He respects his rival, Gandolf
d) He prays for the salvation of others
Answer: b) He focuses on material wealth instead of spirituality - What does the poem critique?
a) War and violence
b) Corruption within the Renaissance Church
c) The beauty of nature
d) The role of women in society
Answer: b) Corruption within the Renaissance Church - What literary device is used in the poem to expose the bishop’s hypocrisy?
a) Satire
b) Hyperbole
c) Irony
d) Metaphor
Answer: c) Irony - What is the tone of the poem?
a) Joyful and uplifting
b) Darkly humorous and ironic
c) Romantic and sentimental
d) Angry and rebellious
Answer: b) Darkly humorous and ironic
| Question | Answer |
| Poem Name | The Bishop Orders His Tomb at St. Praxed’s Church |
| Poet | Robert Browning |
| Year Written | 1845 |
| Year Published | 1845 |
| Poem Type | Dramatic Monologue |
| Verse Form | Blank Verse |
| Setting | A church in Renaissance Italy |
| Main Character | A corrupt bishop |
| Themes | Religious Hypocrisy, Vanity, Death, Power, Materialism |
| Tone | Darkly humorous, Ironic, Cynical |
| Famous Quote | “And then how I shall lie through centuries, / And hear the blessed mutter of the mass” |
| Main Conflict | The bishop’s concern with his tomb vs. his supposed spiritual duty |
| Structure | Continuous blank verse with a conversational style |
| Legacy | A powerful critique of Renaissance Church corruption, highlighting Browning’s mastery of dramatic monologue |