4) My Last Duchess: quotes

Question 1

The Duke (referring to the painting of his late wife) remembers the “f__ h__-f__ t__ d__ a__ h__ t__”.

Answer 1

…“the faint half-flush that dies along her throat”.

Question 2

The Duke suggests his late wife’s infidelity when describing the “s__ o_ j__” in her cheek, how “h__ l__ w__ e__” and how “F__ P__ h__ / W__ b__”.

Answer 2

“spot of joy”…“her looks went everywhere”…“Fra Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily”.

Question 3

The Duke incredulously describes how “s__… s__ r__ / M_ g__ o_ a _n__-h__-y__-o__ n__ / W__ a__ g__”.

Answer 3

…“somehow…she ranked / My nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift”.

Question 4

The Duke hints at his own involvement in his late wife’s death when he tells the listener that “I g__ c__ / T__ a__ c__ s__ t__”.

Answer 4

…“I gave commands / Then all smiles stopped together”.

Question 5

The Duke presents his nobility by remarking that “I c__ / N__ t_ s__”.

Answer 5

…“I choose / Never to stoop”.

Question 6

The Duke, at the beginning of the poem, describes his late wife, in the painting of her, as looking “a_ i_ s__ w__ a__”. Near to the end, he returns to this by describing her as looking “a_ i_ a__”.

Answer 6

…“as if she were alive”…“as if alive”.

Question 7

At the end of the monologue, the Duke somewhat anticlimactically shifts his listener’s focus to “a s__ … c__ i_ b__ f__ m_”.

Answer 7

…“a seahorse…cast in bronze for me”.

Question 8

List 3 quotes which hint at the Duke’s involvement in his late wife’s death.

Answer 8

1) “the faint half-flush that dies along her throat” 2) “I gave commands / Then all smiles stopped together” 3) “as if she were alive” and “as if alive”

Question 9

List 3 quotes where the Duke suggests his late wife’s unfaithfulness.

Answer 9

1) “spot of joy” 2) “her looks went everywhere” 3) “Fra Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily”

Question 10

Give one quote which reveals the Duke’s control-centred views on how his late wife should have conducted herself.

Answer 10

“spot of joy”. (This probably doesn’t make sense without explanation, but there’s a card about it on the interpretations deck.)

Question 11

Give one quote where the Duke presents his supposed nobility, in comparison to his uncivilised late wife.

Answer 11

“I choose / Never to stoop”. (to her level.)

Question 12

Give one quote which demonstrates the incredulity felt by the Duke at what he perceived as his late wife’s lack of respect for him.

Answer 12

…“somehow…she ranked / My nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift”