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.
1. : Who is the speaker in “The Laboratory”?
(A) A doctor
(B) A jealous woman
(C) A king
(D) A servant
2. : What is the setting of the poem?
(A) A battlefield
(B) A church
(C) A laboratory
(D) A courtroom
3. : What is the woman’s purpose in visiting the laboratory?
(A) To find a cure for a disease
(B) To create a magical potion
(C) To buy poison for murder
(D) To learn science
4. : Who is the intended victim of the poison?
(A) The woman’s husband
(B) The king
(C) Her romantic rival
(D) A stranger
5. : What does the speaker compare the poison to?
(A) A sleeping potion
(B) A deadly jewel
(C) A beautiful flower
(D) A sharp sword
6. : What is the primary theme of the poem?
(A) Love and devotion
(B) Revenge and jealousy
(C) Hope and forgiveness
(D) Science and progress
7. : What emotion does the speaker express throughout the poem?
(A) Happiness
(B) Fear
(C) Excitement and satisfaction
(D) Guilt and remorse
8. : How does the woman feel about the poison?
(A) Afraid
(B) Fascinated and delighted
(C) Repulsed
(D) Indifferent
9. : What does the woman offer the apothecary?
(A) Money and jewels
(B) A promise of protection
(C) A scientific experiment
(D) Her gratitude
10. : What poetic form is “The Laboratory” written in?
(A) Sonnet
(B) Dramatic monologue
(C) Free verse
(D) Epic poem