My Last Duchess

Question 1

Quote of which the Duke compares himself to a masculine, strong and powerful greek god. This highlights his power but also reveals his manipulative nature over woman, since he is “taming” them.

Answer 1

“Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse through a rarity”
Device: Metaphor

Question 2

Quote which reveals a lack of power through irony, since the Duke could not control who looked at the Duchess when she was alive.

Answer 2

“Since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you, but I”
Device: Irony

Question 3

Quote which suggests that the Duke is self obsessed and views his wife as property.

Answer 3

“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”
Device: Personal Pronoun

Question 4

Structural features which reflect the tight control of the Duke

Answer 4

Iambic Pentameter, constant rhyming couplets

Question 5

Quotes of which the Duke frames his demands as questions, which highlights his social superiority and how he talks down to his inferiors. This suggests how he is full of himself and arrogant. The use of “you” also conveys his power, since when the poem was set you would expect to hear “thee” or “thou” in a professional context.

Answer 5

“Will’t please you sit and look at her?”, “Will’t please you rise”
Device: Terms of adress, Questions

Question 6

Structural device which renders the Duke’s speech as having no breaks or pauses which reflects a lack of control and reveals his weakness. The fact that his monologue is a sprawling. messy speech emphasises a lack of control and superiority.

Answer 6

One Long Stanza

Question 7

Structural Device which highlights the Duke’s power and emphasises that he is control of the situation.

Answer 7

Dramatic Monologue