A Woman’s Last WordWhat do we know about this poem?

What does the title tell us?

Context

• Conversation between two lovers living in ‘a man’s world’ in which women were expected to be submissive and remain quiet, especially in mixed company.

• C19 disapproved of brave, forward women who challenged their men - even in the home.

• Women were prized for their innocence and domestic skills, not their opinions. Women were not meant to speak for themselves, even in private.

Different Readings• Soothing; distraught at their argument; submissive• Manipulative; dominant; undermining the man• Reason and understanding (masculine) vs passion and desire

(feminine)

This poem is about...A woman asking her “Love” to forget the argument they’ve had and fall asleep with her instead.

In a time when women were meant to be subservient to men, the speaker is going against this – she is speaking for both of them and dominating the speech of the poem.

I.

Let's contend no more, Love,Strive nor weep:All be as before, Love,---Only sleep!

II.

What so wild as words are? 5I and thouIn debate, as birds are,Hawk on bough!

III.

See the creature stalkingWhile we speak! 10Hush and hide the talking,Cheek on cheek!

IV.

What so false as truth is,False to thee?Where the serpent's tooth is 15Shun the tree---

V.

Where the apple reddensNever pry---Lest we lose our Edens,Eve and I. 20

“How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is / To have a thankless child!” – King Lear I.IV

VI.

Be a god and hold meWith a charm!Be a man and fold meWith thine arm!

VII.

Teach me, only teach, Love 25As I oughtI will speak thy speech, Love,Think thy thought---

VIII.

Meet, if thou require it,Both demands, 30Laying flesh and spiritIn thy hands.

IX.

That shall be to-morrowNot to-night:I must bury sorrow 35Out of sight:

X

---Must a little weep, Love,(Foolish me!)And so fall asleep, Love,Loved by thee. 40

Imagery

Biblical imagery: • Serpent• The Tree• “the apple reddens”• Edens• “Eve and I”

Why do you think Browning uses imagery connected to the fall of man?

Form

• Dramatic monologue: voice of the woman. The silent listener is a man and we never hear his voice – this goes against the conventions of the time.

• Different readings result from this: – Soothing; distraught at their argument; submissive– Manipulative; dominant; undermining the man– Reason and understanding (masculine) vs passion

and desire (feminine)

Structure

• 10 x numbered stanzas of 4 lines each – shorter and daintier: does this match the poet’s view of women?

• Stanzas are narrow on the page: the speaker is choosing her words carefully

• Trochaic meter (TRO-chee); 1st and 3rd line have 6 syllables; 2nd and 4th have 3: clipped or restrained?

• Rhyme scheme: ababcdcd