The early examples of dramatic monologue created strong expectations about the genre. This unique type of poetry offers a refreshing change from other types of poetry and intrigues the reader, beckoning an analysis and interpretation of the speaker and his or her character. Two defining early dramatic monologues are; Robert Browning’s "My Last Duchess" and Lord Alfred Tennyson’s "Ulysses". These two poems, both written mid-nineteenth century, share many characteristics. Both speak through the …showed first 75 words of 1580 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1580 total…for this to be a dramatic monologue. Instead, however, it shows the creative genius of the man. Eliot manipulated the conventions of dramatic monologue to further support his characterization of Prufrock. By twisting the speaker, situation and audience of the poem, Eliot illustrates the speaker’s persona. He worked within the structure to show the weak, anti-social, isolated, pathetic Prufrock not only by words, but by a subversion of a long-lived tradition in dramatic monologue.