Exploring Fra Lippo Lippi

What are the key ideas, or themes, of the poem?

·symbolism ·art ·fate ·beauty ·human body (realism & true-life) ·suffering→ understanding

1 of 37

Identify key words or phrases connected with the key ideas/ themes?

·Freedom, realism, symbolism ("give us no more of body than shows should!") ·Suffering→ understanding ("they left me on the street")

2 of 37

How is Browning presenting those themes through Fra Lippo Lippi?

·criticism ·appreciates nature of body ·criticises idealism & religious perfection ·natural

3 of 37

In which moments is the setting of FFL described or alluded to?

·Set at night- disguise, shows hiding of wrong-doing ·"alley's end"-symbolises hardship ·life is hard, fight for survival, no one else will fight for you ·"sportive ladies" → brothel- sets scene/time ·provides realism- language relevant to time

4 of 37

What is the poem's first sentence?

"I am poor brother Lippo, by your leave!"

5 of 37

Is there anything interesting or significant about the first sentence?

·enters action immediately ·trying to create sympathy for himself ·causes audience to question preceding events

6 of 37

Do the opening few lines give the reader clues about the type of story they are about to embark on?

·direct address- story of justification

7 of 37

Do the opening few lines suggest themes and ideas which will be important?

·religion/ corruption of religion ("monk")

8 of 37

Do the opening few lines set out the subject matter of the story?

·sets the scene for him to explain himself

9 of 37

Do the opening few lines introduce a problem to be solved?

·is he going to get arrested?

10 of 37

Do the opening few lines introduce characters?

·he introduces himself in a hyperbolic way

11 of 37

How is the poem organised in terms of stanzas? How does the poem appear on the page?

·three extremely long stanzas- represents stream of consciousness? ·appearance- mass of words ·disjointed words ·lots of punctuation

12 of 37

Does the poem's structure relate to its form?

·

13 of 37

How does Browning use time in the poem? Are the events chronological?

·present tense and then a flashback which proceeds in chronological order of past

14 of 37

How does the poem end? Is it satisfying? Why does Browning end it at that point?

·ends with return to present tense (same as beginning)- injects realism & normality

15 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: name?

FRA LIPPO LIPPI ·bubbly, energetic ·singing/outburst of song- rowdy (ironic- he's a monk & should be reserved?)

16 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: clothes?

·monk habit ·"you think see a monk"- (obvious imagery)

17 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: appearance?

·shaved head (monkshood)- should represent loyal to being a monk but he's at a brothel..

18 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: use of imagery?

·"flesh" (repetition) ·"three slim figures" - imagery of women, sexually orientated despite being a monk

19 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: diction?

·rhythm of speech increases when he mentions women ("three slim shapes", "skipping of rabbits")

20 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: what other characters say about him?

·other characters= threat (police/guards- "hand away from my neck")

21 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: what they say about themselves?

·sympathises with himself a lot (reference to himself as a child)

22 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: contrasts of character?

·contrast between violence & romance (link with passion)

23 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: showing and telling?

·in order to justify himself

24 of 37

Characterisation of FLL: point of view?

·ironically church has made him turn to brothel

25 of 37

Is the narrator commenting upon and judging others?

·criticises prior (line 183) "your business is to paint the souls of men" ·consider external factors- narrow minded

26 of 37

Is the narrator directly addressing the reader?

·address implied reader "you'll take your hand away'

27 of 37

Is the narrator being a participant in the story?

·mentions other monks are the same- exposes other monks

28 of 37

Is the narrator being a detached observer?

·contrast "doors ajar" (beginning) "doors closed" (end)

29 of 37

Is the narrator being transparent (appearing to speak with the voice of the author)?

·appears to be transparent ·detached from author but, through character, expresses Browning's attitudes to art

30 of 37

What kind of narrator is FLL?

·omniscient narrator because it's his story to tell- unreliable because only one voice & one opinion ·tells critic life story to justify positioning at moment

31 of 37

What does the lexis (or word choice) tell you about the voice of the character?

·repeats "Zook"- juxtaposes typical monk ·aggressive- "you'll take your hand away" ·abusing respect anticipated/expected of a monk- "you'll know who I am"

32 of 37

What does the sentence structure tell you about the voice of the character?

·enjambement ·punctuation increases - excitement due to slim figures? ·long rambling- suspicion?

33 of 37

What do the key phrases tell you about the voice of the character?

·

34 of 37

What does the register (formality or informality) tell you about the voice of the character?

·

35 of 37

What are the arguments against Fra Lippo Lippi being a sympathetic character?

·loves colour & beauty of life but sneaks around alleys ·too aggressive & not sorry ·hypocrisy turns off him ·should be able to swear off women if he's going to use monkshood to survive ·enjoying pleasures of flesh

36 of 37

What are the arguments for Fra Lippo Lippi being a sympathetic character?

·choice was to be a monk or starve ·out of place in his era ·relatable ·middle of carnival season ·sticking by philosophy of life ·8 year old swearing celibacy ·not allowed wife ·extreme lack of love

37 of 37

Get Revising

Exploring Fra Lippo Lippi

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Back

Card 3

Front

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

Back

Comments

Similar English Literature resources:

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Back

Card 3

Front

Back

Card 4

Front

Back

Card 5

Front

Back

Comments

Related discussions on The Student Room

Similar English Literature resources: