VICTORIAN POETRY: ALFRED LORD TENNYSON AND ROBERT BROWNING

Abstract

The Victorian era (1837-1901) was a period of immense change, marked by scientific advancements, industrial growth, social upheaval, and profound intellectual and spiritual questioning. Victorian poetry, therefore, became a complex tapestry reflecting these myriad anxieties, aspirations, and moral dilemmas. Among the towering figures who shaped this literary landscape were Alfred Lord Tennyson, the Poet Laureate and a master of lyrical beauty and elegiac introspection, and Robert Browning, the innovative dramatist of the human psyche and the dramatic monologue. This article will explore the distinctive poetic styles, thematic concerns, and lasting contributions of Tennyson and Browning. We will examine how Tennyson grappled with faith, doubt, loss, and national identity through his musical verse, exemplified in works like *In Memoriam A.H.H.* and "Ulysses." Concurrently, we will delve into Browning’s groundbreaking exploration of moral ambiguity, psychological complexity, and the intricate workings of the human mind, primarily through his masterful use of the dramatic monologue in poems such as "My Last Duchess" and "Porphyria's Lover." By comparing and contrasting their approaches, this analysis aims to illuminate their individual genius and their collective role in defining the richness and complexity of Victorian poetic thought.