never read it before but just enjoyed it now. Thank you kindly.
I, too, like Browning, always have done. I once painted a fence for an old
man who gave me ten shilling note for doing the job. I went to the
second-hand bookstall in the old market and spent two hours choosing. I
bought 'Pippa Passes'. I was 14 and you didn't spend ten shillings on
rubbish like that in those days and my ear got thoroughly boxed when I got
home. I had it for years.......... the book not the boxed ear.
I like the Dramatic Monologue as a form. I have used it before. The old man
walking home at the end of the day.
I also like Ulysses although it never occurred to me that Sue was referring
to Molly's soliloquy. It is wonderful writing but I prefer the chapter in
the pub at lunchtime for sheer glittering language and musicality. I once
spent a fortnight colour-coding and cross referencing the chapter and
identifying the music in it. Regards Arthur.
----- Original Message -----
From: "grasshopper" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 2:25 PM
Subject: Re: Castle/ Dramatic monologue


> That's interesting, Arthur, as I immediately thought of Molly's monologue
> from the novel.
> One of my favourite dram. mons. in a tour-de-force-y sort of way, has to
be
> Browning's Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister  -the robust malice of the
> voice
> is wonderful I think.
>
http://www.web-books.com/Classics/Poetry/Anthology/Browning_R/Soliloquy.htm
>
> I think Browning is under-rated these days- and I like the fact he could
> laugh at himself.
> Someone once pointed out a passage in Sordello, and asked him to explain
the
> meaning.
> He read and re-read it, then said 'When I wrote that, only I and God knew
> what it meant. Now only God knows.'
>
> Kind regards,
>    grasshopper
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "arthur seeley" <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2003 9:56 AM
> Subject: Re: [THE-WORKS] Castle/ Dramatic monologue
>
>
> > I love "Ulysees" I assume you mean the Tennyson. I read it aloud to a
> group
> > of VSO comrades in a small hotel in the Solomons about two days after
> > arriving there. They were playing whist by a dim light and as I got
> towards
> > the end:
> >
> > ....To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
> > Of all the western stars, until I die.
> > It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
> > It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles....
> >
> > I glanced up from the page and everyone had laid down their cards and
> their
> > eyes were shining. My voice caught but I managed to finish and there was
> > silence and a slow group sigh. A really magical moment. I remember
feeling
> I
> > had become Ulysees, I was 60 years old at the time. Oh, the power of
> poetry.
> > Great poetry, that is.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Sue Scalf" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 11:11 PM
> > Subject: Re: Castle/ Dramatic monologue
> >
> >
> > > My favorite dramatic monologue has always been "Ulysses." The
situation
> > and
> > > the language are so poignant.   Sue
> >