Final answer:
The publication that raised Robert Browning's reputation above that of Alfred Lord Tennyson was his 1855 collection 'Men and Women'. Browning's use of dramatic monologues challenged traditional poetic forms and won critical acclaim, solidifying his stature in Victorian literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The publication that elevated Robert Browning's reputation as a poet above that of Alfred Lord Tennyson is often considered to be 'Men and Women' published in 1855. This work includes a collection of Browning's dramatic monologues, a form he mastered and that later became synonymous with his name.
Browning's exploration of psychology and human motives in his monologues, coupled with his complex and challenging poetic form, won him critical acclaim and helped establish his reputation as a leading poet of the Victorian era, eventually overshadowing Tennyson, who was Poet Laureate at the time.
Tennyson's own reputation was built on works such as 'The Lady of Shalott' and his appointment as Poet Laureate in 1850 after the passing of William Wordsworth. Although Tennyson's popularity during his lifetime was immense, Browning's innovative approach to poetry provided a new critical standard that would influence future generations.