A Blot in the 'Scutcheon by Robert Browning
Earl Mertoun seeks to marry Mildred Tresham, whom he has been visiting secretly at night. When her brother Thorold discovers the visits, he mistakes her acceptance of Mertoun for a plan to deceive an innocent suitor, then fatally wounds Mertoun before hearing his explanation. Mildred dies after blessing her remorseful brother, who reveals that he has taken poison and dies too.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Tragedy, Dramatic Poetry, Family Drama · 3 chapters · 18,639 words
First lines
A Tragedy
Persons
Genres
- Tragedy — Thorold's refusal to hear Mertoun before striking him leads to Mertoun's death, Mildred's death and Thorold's suicide.
- Dramatic Poetry — Verse dialogue and stage directions carry the action, with a sung serenade accompanying Mertoun's secret entrance into Mildred's chamber.
- Family Drama — Mildred's secret relationship brings her into conflict with her brother's demands for family honor, while Guendolen and Austin attempt to help her.
Tags
secret courtship · family honor · shame · forgiveness · fatal duel · suicide
What this Textopian page supports
A Blot in the 'Scutcheon is listed on Textopian as a play by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Dramatic Poetry, Family Drama
- Length: 18,639 words
- Structure: 3 chapters, 378 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for A Blot in the 'Scutcheon by Robert Browning
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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