Prospice by Robert Browning - Summary
Brief summary This poem is one of the well-known dramatic monologues of Browning. It raises his recurring infatuation of transcending death and the belief of life after death as hailed in Hindu mythology. The title of the poem is revealing too as the meaning of the word "prospice" in Latin is to "look forward". Browning stands against the mighty death as he is a fighter and he insinuates that this could be his "the best and the last" fight. He knows it very well that despite being a brave man, he could not straightaway beat death, he is ready to embrace death like "the heroes of old". He can imagine that all the "pain, darkness and cold accompanying death end in "a minute". It is merely a task of holding on for moments of anguish, then calmness will prevail. A divine light will appear followed by his beloved, whom he has been missing for in his lifetime and finally with her and the God. Literary devices "fear...feel...fog...