Epilogue to Dramatis Persone by Robert Browning
The first speaker, speaking as David, recounts a temple dedication where worshippers praise God and a cloud fills the building. The second, speaking as Renan, laments the disappearance of a divine presence figured as a receding star and face. The third argues that nature shapes distinct human lives, making the world itself a temple in which the divine face takes new form.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Dramatic Poetry, Religious Poetry, Philosophical Poetry · 1,185 words
First lines
First Speaker, _as David_
On the first of the Feast of Feasts, / The Dedication Day, / When the Levites joined the Priests / At the Altar in robed array, / Gave signal to sound and say, --
Genres
- Dramatic Poetry — Three designated speakers present contrasting accounts of divine presence in verse, with the third directly addressing the others.
- Religious Poetry — Temple worship, God's apparent withdrawal, and the possibility of continuing divine presence form the speakers' central dispute.
- Philosophical Poetry — The third speaker reasons from nature's formation of individual lives to the claim that the world can replace the temple.
Tags
faith and doubt · divine presence · temple worship · nature · individuality · dramatic poetry
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Epilogue to Dramatis Persone is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Dramatic Poetry, Religious Poetry, Philosophical Poetry
- Length: 1,185 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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