Browning and the Dramatic Monologue

Curry, S. S. (Samuel Silas), 1847-1921Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.4

Word count: 513K words
Chapters: 52

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Browning and the Dramatic Monologue by S. S. CurryAuthor: Curry, S. S. (Samuel Silas), 1847-1921,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Apr 29, 2011

Editor's review

This study by S. S. Curry focuses on Browning and the dramatic monologue as a genre; it is a specialized work of English literary criticism and verse-form study. Its value lies in examining Browning's work within the formal tradition of the dramatic monologue, discussing how the poet constructs dramatic quality in verse through speakers' voices, scene setting, and psychological revelation. For readers studying Victorian poetry, narrative perspective, or verse technique, this book offers an earlier critical perspective that can be read against later scholarship to observe how the discussion evolved. Note that it is a scholarly work bearing the marks of its time, with argumentative methods and terminology different from contemporary criticism; readers should maintain a discriminating awareness. It is advisable to become familiar with Browning's representative monologues before entering the critical text, and to return to the original poems to verify arguments while reading; it can also serve as supplementary material for English verse stylistics, read alongside other critical works for a more complete understanding.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary specialists studying Victorian poetry and Browning
Criticism enthusiasts interested in the dramatic monologue as a genre and narrative perspective
Teachers and students needing materials on the history of criticism for English literature courses
Advanced readers wishing to understand early Browning scholarship

Not a good fit for

Beginner readers who have not yet encountered Browning's poetry and lack a foundation
General readers expecting light entertainment or biographical narrative
Researchers needing the latest contemporary critical frameworks and theoretical tools

Reading tips

First read several representative dramatic monologues by Browning, then enter the critical text for easier comparative understanding.
While reading, mark the author's core arguments and examples and verify them one by one against the original poems; avoid passive acceptance.
Read alongside other Browning studies or works on verse form to observe differences in critical perspective.
Take brief notes on terminology and historical background to help discern the assumptions of early critical discourse.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Which of Browning's works should be read before this book?

It is advisable to first become familiar with Browning's better-known dramatic monologues and understand his typical technique of narrating through a speaker's voice; the book's arguments will then be easier to follow. For specific poems, consult a common Browning anthology, focusing on the speaker's identity, setting, and psychological layers rather than reading all his works.

Is it an introductory work or academic research?

It is a specialized work of literary criticism aimed at readers who already have some understanding of Browning and the dramatic monologue; its argumentation carries the scholarly style of the author's era. Readers lacking a foundation in poetry may find it difficult and should first read Browning's works and gain background knowledge of Victorian poetry.

Are the book's views still applicable today?

As an earlier critical text, its value lies more in presenting a historical stage and particular perspective of Browning scholarship than in offering contemporary conclusions. Readers should compare it with later scholarship, distinguish arguments that remain illuminating from statements limited by their era, and use it with a critical awareness.

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About the author

Curry, S. S. (Samuel Silas), 1847-1921 Author

S. S. Curry (Samuel Silas Curry, 1847–1921) was an American author in the field of speech and expression education, though publicly available information about him in Chinese-language sources is limited. Two of his works are held here, showing that his writing spans both literary criticism and practical self-improvement. The first, Browning and the Dramatic Monologue, discusses the poet Browning and the dramatic monologue as a poetic form, and is essentially literary criticism. The second, How to Add Ten Years to your Life and to Double Its Satisfactions, addresses general readers, offering advice on improving one's state of life and increasing everyday satisfaction in a practical, encouraging tone. Though the two works differ widely in subject, both are direct in language and aimed at readers, reflecting an author devoted to expression and education. Given the limited material, details of his life and academic background cannot be described in depth; readers may nonetheless come to know his concerns and prose style through these two works.