my last duchess

Question 1

who wrote the poem

Answer 1

Robert browning

Question 2

plot of the poem

Answer 2

• duke proudly points out the painting of the duchess (his former wife) to a visitor
• duke was angered by her behaviour - friendly to others and he got annoyed
• he acted to stop the duchess’s behaviour but doesn’t say how - strong hint of murder
• they both walk away from the painting - readers find out dukes visitor is there to arrange the next marriage

Question 3

form

Answer 3

dramatic monologue with iambic pentameter

Question 4

structure

Answer 4

framed to visit the gallery but the duke gets caught up asking about the duchess - poem builds towards a sort of confession before the identity of the visitor is revealed - he then moves on to talking about other work

Question 5

language

Answer 5

power and objectification - needs control over the duchess

dramatic irony - duke speaks quite innocently but have a more sinister meaning

status - important

Question 6

3 attitudes in the poem

Answer 6

pride - proud of his possessions

jealousy - can’t stand the duchess treating him like everyone else

power - enjoys control - didn’t have power over her till she was dead

Question 7

context

Answer 7

duke of Ferrara’s wife died under suspicious circumstances - rumours that she was poisoned - led browning to write the poem

Question 8

finish the quote + analysis : ‘my last

Answer 8

duchess painted on the wall’

• sounds as though he owns her not just the painting

Question 9

finish the quote + analysis : ‘looking as

Answer 9

if she were alive’

• sets sinister tone

Question 10

finish the quote + analysis : ‘will’t please you

Answer 10

sit and look at her’

• sounds polite but he is really being forceful

Question 11

finish the quote + analysis : ‘the curtain I have

Answer 11

drawn for you’

• controls who looks at the painting - couldn’t control her when she was alive

Question 12

finish the quote + analysis : ‘spot of joy…

Answer 12

spot of joy’ - repetition of quotes

• repeating how his wife blushing bothers him

Question 13

finish the quote + analysis : ‘how

Answer 13

shall I say?’

• duke struggles to show his irritation

Question 14

finish the quote + analysis : ‘she looked on..

Answer 14

her looks went everywhere’

• she flirted a lot according to the duke

Question 15

finish the quote + analysis : ‘the Brough of cherries some officious fool

Answer 15

broke in the orchard for her, the white mule’

• enjambment - getting carried away by the anger

Question 16

finish the quote + analysis : ‘she thanked men - good! but somehow -

Answer 16

I know not how’

• punctuation and repetition shows exasperation with her behaviour

Question 17

finish the quote + analysis : ‘my gift of

Answer 17

a nine hundred year old name’

• proud of his history and his titles - she is tarnishing this with her flirting

Question 18

finish the quote + analysis : ‘stoop’

Answer 18

repetition - feels as though she is below him

Question 19

finish the quote + analysis : ‘disgust’

Answer 19

suggests he is more bothered by her behaviour than he lets on

Question 20

finish the quote + analysis : ‘then would be some stooping

Answer 20

and I never to snoop’

• duke is so proud he believes criticising his wife is below him and she should know how to act

Question 21

finish the quote + analysis : ‘I gave commands

Answer 21

then all smiles stopped together’

• suggests a euphemism for his wife’s murder - cold command is cold and cynical

Question 22

finish the quote + analysis : ‘of mine for

Answer 22

dowry will be disallowed’

• arranging his next marriage

Question 23

finish the quote + analysis : ‘notice Neptune, though, taming a sea horse

Answer 23

through a rarity’

• returns to subject of his wealth and power - warning his visitor about how the new wife should act