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The Laboratory by Robert Browning
Overview:
● This poem tells the story of
a young woman who has
been betrayed by her lover
and now wants to kill the
two women (“Pauline” and
“Elise”) involved
...

Structure/Form:
● Written in 12 short stanzas - this could show how excited she is and the
urgency of her deed
...
This excites her and creates a fast pace
...
It
also highlights her uncontrollable desire to kill
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● The poem is written in 1st person from the viewpoint of a young French lady
in the 17th century, but it was published in 1845
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Context:
● Women were generally viewed as quiet and gentle in the Victorian era, so this
poem would’ve been quite shocking
...

● It was based on the story of a French female serial killer, who poisoned her
father and two brothers
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Language analysis:
● “Grind away, moisten and mash up thy paste” - this triad of imperative verbs
creates a forceful tone and suggests that the woman experiences great
pleasure in watching the poison take shape (and that she perhaps wants to
get involved)
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g
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This links to context, as

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the serial killer was charged with witchcraft and poisoning and sentenced to
death
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“Gold”
suggests that the speaker feels as if the poison is worth paying for and is
perhaps precious and rare
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This portrays the woman as grotesque
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Contextually,
earrings were something which young women would’ve worn all the time - this
may suggest that the speaker enjoys finding new and ingenious methods to
conceal her poison
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“Is it done? Take my mask off!” - the speaker clearly wants to get on with the
deed, as hinted at with the use of short and simple sentences
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She
appears to be stalling and procrastinating, all whilst cooking up plans to
murder other people too
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“Enticing and dim” - the speaker wants the poison to look appealing enough to
be slipped into a drink (and make it look pretty), but unsuspicious so she can
get away with the crime (and so the victims actually drink it)
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“She’s not little, no minion like me!” - this suggests that the speaker’s victims
are more curvaceous and beautiful than her, which seems to be the root of
her jealousy
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Key themes:
● Jealousy
● Anger
● Lust
● Control and power
● Betrayal and lack of loyalty
● Selfishness
● Individual voice



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