Pippa Passes

BACKGROUND TO POEM:
‘Pippa’s Song’ can be found in Pippa Passes. It follows a young girl in Asolo
who sings as she walks, describing the various people she sees. There are
several “matter of fact” portrayals of characters that caused controversy when
the poem was released. The lines in this analysis come after two characters,
Sebald and Ottima discuss their affair and the successful completion of their
murder of Luca, Ottima’s husband. So, although the poem is quite upbeat and
optimistic on its own, when placed in context, it’s much stranger, darker, and
ironic. Pippa’s Song is a short lyric poem. Its story centres on a fourteen-year-
old girl, Pippa, who works in a silk mill. She was an orphan girl. She was
abused by her employer and by society. She had to work long hours under bad
conditions. When she makes her journey on a holiday, she meets many people
and sees many things. She has a positive outlook and kindness. She sings a song
during the journey. Her songs teach the lessons of goodness and kindness to the
people. Browning seems to convey the idea that despite all the injustice and evil
in the world, we should believe that God is with us, and therefore, all is right
with the world.
SUMMARY
The short and simple lines of this poem depict everything “right” in the world.
The season is spring, the morning is 7 o’clock and dew is on the hill. In the
speaker’s eyes, everything is as it should be. The poem concludes with the
speaker reiterating this and also mentioning God in heaven.
ANALYSIS OF POEM
Lines 1-4
The year’s at the spring,
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;
In the first lines of ‘Pippa’s Song,’ the speaker begins by making several
statements about the world. On their own they’re hard to understand, but after
finishing the poem and returning to them, they make more sense. The speaker is
celebrating how “right” the world feels in the moment. Everything, they
explain, is as it should be. The first lines state a few of these “right” things. The
first is the year, which is “at the spring.” This suggests first that it is the season
of spring and second that something new and lively is on its way. This is likely
meant to relate to Ottima and Sebald’s murder and their belief that it would
allow them to start a new life. The same feeling is carried over into the next line
when the poet mentions “day’s at the morn.” The following lines are similar,
with the fourth line using a great example of imagery to depict the hills covered
in pearl-like dew. This is a beautiful image, one that is central to the idea of a
new life, a new day, and new relationships free of old restraints.
Lines 5-8
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in His heaven,
All’s right with the world!
In the following lines, the speaker brings in animals to their understanding of
the word and its rightness. The “lark,” a kind of songbird, is flying and the
“snail’s on the thorn.” The animals, season, time of day, and everything else is
exactly as its supposed to be. The poem concludes with a reference to God
whose “in His heaven.” Without the context of the poem, these lines feel quite
innocent and it’s easy to see why they were popularized.
Literary Devices
Robert Browning artfully used a plethora of literary devices to deepen the
intended effects of his poem. Within the lines of his work, he weaved intricate
webs of literary elements, as shown below.
Allusion: It is a reference to a person, place, or event from history or literature.

“God’s in his Heaven” (line 6) is a reference to the Christian belief that God
resides in Heaven.
Alliteration: It is the repetition of the same sounds at the beginning of two or
more words in close proximity. The phrase “dew-pearled” contains alliteration
of /d/ in line 4 of the poem.
Anaphora: It means the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of
successive verses, such as the word “the” is repeated at the beginning of several
consecutive lines, creating a pattern of repetition and emphasizing the cyclical
nature of time and the harmony of the natural world.
Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of the same consonant sound in two
or more words in close proximity. The phrase “snail’s on the thorn” contains
consonance of /n/ and /s/ in line 6 of the poem.
Imagery: Imagery refers to the use of vivid language to create sensory
impressions in the reader’s mind. The entire poem is rich in imagery, with
descriptions of spring, morning, the hillside, the dew, the lark, and the snail.
Metaphor: It is a comparison between two, unlike things without using “like” or
“as” such as “The hill-side’s dew-pearled” (line 4) in which the dew drops on
the hill-side are compared to pearls, creating a vivid image in the reader’s mind.
Symbols: A symbol is an object or idea that represents something else. The
phrase “God’s in his Heaven” is a symbol, representing the idea of a higher
power or divine presence overseeing the world. This phrase appears in the final
line of the poem.
Poetic Devices
Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here
is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.
Diction: Diction refers to the author’s choice and use of words to convey a
certain meaning or tone. The diction in “Pippa’s Song” is simple and
straightforward, with words easily understood by the reader, such as “spring,”
“morn,” and “dew.”
End Rhyme: End rhyme refers to the rhyming of words at the end of two or
more lines of poetry. “Pippa’s Song” has end rhyme, with the words “spring”
and “wing” rhyming in lines 1 and 5 of the poem and the words “thorn” and
“morn” rhyming in lines 6 and 2.
Meter: Meter refers to the rhythmic pattern of a poem created by the
arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. “Pippa’s Song”
has a loose meter, with irregular patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables
throughout the poem.
Rhyme Scheme: Rhyme scheme refers to the pattern of rhyming words in a
poem, typically indicated by letters that represent each rhyming sound. “Pippa’s
Song” has a rhyme scheme of ABABCC, with the first four lines rhyming in a
pattern of ABAB and the last two lines rhyming in a pattern of CC.
Poem Type: “Pippa’s Song” is a lyric poem, which is a type of poem that
expresses personal emotions or feelings.
Stanza: “Pippa’s Song” consists of a single six-line stanza, known as a sestet.
Tone: Tone refers to the author’s attitude or perspective towards the subject
matter or audience of a poem. The tone of “Pippa’s Song” is optimistic and
joyful, with a sense of hope and faith in the world’s goodness and order.
Pippa’s Song” As a Representative of Cultural Transformation: “Pippa’s
Song” by Robert Browning is representative of Victorian literature and culture,
reflecting the social and cultural changes of the time. The poem presents a
working-class protagonist, Pippa, who symbolizes the marginalized members of
Victorian society and emphasizes the importance of individual agency and
finding happiness in challenging circumstances. The Victorian obsession with
moral and social improvement is evident in Browning’s use of Pippa’s
optimistic spirit to encourage readers to see the world positively and strive for a
better society. The poem’s use of nature and music as symbols of joy and
transcendence is typical of Victorian literature, which often celebrated the
beauty of the natural world as a source of inspiration and solace. In short,
“Pippa’s Song” reflects the values, concerns, and literary techniques of the
Victorian era.
Major Themes in “Pippa’s Song”: “Pippa’s Song” by Robert Browning
explores several major themes, including the power of innocence, the
importance of self-discovery, and the possibility of finding happiness in the
most challenging circumstances. The poem presents Pippa as a symbol of
innocence, who, through her song, spreads joy and hope to those around her.
Pippa’s song also represents her self-discovery as she learns about the world and
herself through her experiences. Furthermore, the poem emphasizes the idea
that happiness is not dependent on material possessions or social status but
rather on one’s ability to find joy in the present moment. Browning also uses
nature and music as symbols of transcendence and the possibility of finding
beauty and peace in the world. In fact, “Pippa’s Song” is a powerful reflection
on the human experience, celebrating the power of innocence, self-discovery,
and the search for happiness in a world full of challenges.

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BACKGROUND TO POEM:

Allusion: It is a reference to a person, place, or event from history or literature.

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