Isolation, emotional turmoil and uncertainty are three key elements in which ‘The Listeners’ by Walter de la Mare and ‘Porphyria’s lover’ by Robert Browning use to establish the ways in which they share a dark and melancholic atmosphere.  Alike many of Robert Browning’s other poems including ‘The Laboratory’, the idea of isolation is clearly evident.  The description of the ‘cottage’, by the ‘lake’ suggests that the scene may be in an isolated rural area as well as in ‘The Listeners’ in which the ‘forest’s ferny floor’ and the ‘lonely traveller’ also suggest an isolated and lonesome scene.  The poems both share an element of mystery, as it is never quite apparent as to who the ‘traveller’ or the ‘lover’ is. A clear physical description of either of these characters isn’t given as they remain suspiciously anonymous throughout the poem.  One of the main differences between the poems is that in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’, the tone is noticeably more sinister as the idea of murder and a crime of passion is clear as ‘I wound three times her little throat around’. ‘The Listeners’ uses more of a gentle tone although there is still some darkness and uncertainty within the poem.
Robert Browning uses many ideas of religion in his poem, a main one being ‘And yet God has not said a word’ as this implies that even after a man has taken another persons life, God says nothing which shows he doesn’t exist. Also some evidence to show that this implication was made is the fact that Robert Browning went through a period in his life where he was in fact an Atheist who didn’t believe in the existence of God. Another strong aspect of the poem is the macabre imagery. This poem relates strongly to death as it displays a sinister crime of passion and the sombre lead up to the fatal strangling. Gothic references throughout, such as the ‘Long yellow string I wound three times her little throat around, and strangled her’ this particular quotation reflects the strong mortality and gothic undertone this poem has as collectively the stormy weather, suspicious and illicit affair and the brutal murder each add to the intense and powerful tone the poem gives. Particularly in ‘Porphyria’s lover’ pathetic fallacy is clearly used with the ‘cold’, ‘storm’ and ‘rain’ each contributing to the sullen and eerie mood. The ‘sullen wind’ that ‘tore the elm tops down’ establishes an atmosphere that invites the reader into a sinister, dark and intense poem as the rest of the poem follows the same tone, it could also be seen as God’s way of getting Porphyria inside more quickly.  Immediately, one of the main images in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ sets the scene of the poem as the reader instantly recognizes the isolation and solitude of both ‘Porphria’ and the ‘cottage’  which gives along with the foul weather, gives the idea that there is nobody around to help Porphyria from strong actions lover’s passion.
The narrative voice in the poem, ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ speaks as if the actions carried out by the Lover are for the benefit of both ‘Porphyria’ and themselves.  The speaker does not describe the horror of what they are doing, but only describes it as what they are doing is right. We can tell this from the description that is given, such as, ‘Happy and proud’ , ‘Laughed the blue eyes’ and ‘smiling rosy little head’.  Each of these quotes show the happiness and justice the ‘Lover’ believes they have caused. As the title describes the second character to be a ‘Lover’, this has strong connotations of an extra-marital affair.  As Robert Browning wrote the poem in 1836, within the Victorian era, this would have been seen as a shocking idea that a person would have illicit relationships with another person. As well as this, the fact that Porphyria ‘made her smooth white shoulder bare’ would have also been appalling thing to do as Victorian people saw bearing flesh to be frowned upon greatly.  As Porphyria enters the cottage from the storm outside, her gloves are described to be ’soiled’, in a metaphorical sense, this could mean that they are soiled with the affair that they are having.  The fact that Porphyria is wearing a cloak, shawl and hat suggests that she may not want to be seen and that she is present at the scene in secret.

During the Victorian era, the art of physiognomy was popular as they also showed interest in the intelligent criminal.