my last duchess Flashcards
what type of word is ‘my’? give the quote its used in?
-its a possessive pronoun that the poet uses to show that she is his property to show off
-“thats my last duchess painted on the wall”
what is the significance of the quote “Fra Pandolf’s hands worked busily a day” and what is the name of the technique?
-he values the artist its done by rather than the woman that it depicts
-its an allusion to a famous artist of the time
what is the technique used in “(since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I)”
its ironic becuase he is suggesting that hes giving a rare viewing of the duchess when actually he needs to show off. He is exercising his power.
give a quote that shows the Dukes jealousy that his wife gained joy from things other than him
“twas not only her husbands presence only called that spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek”
give a quote where a sinister tone is created due to a semantic field of murder?
“the faint half-flush that dies along her throat”
what is the impact of the rhetorical question “- how shall I say? -“
he is trying to create a lighter tone to make conversation and avoid showing his jealousy/rage
give the quote where he is listing all of the things people have gotten for her
“the bough cherries of some officious fool, broke in the orchard for her, the white mule she rode with round the terrace”
what is the impact of “she thanked men - good!”
exclamation and change of structure. The verse is broken with caesuras to show his rising anger. He’s losing control.
what is a quote to show how vain the Duke is and how highly he regards himself?
“my gift of a nine-hundred year old name”
what does the Duke mean when he says “Even then would be some stooping and I choose never to stoop” and why is it ironic
he was talking about how even if he was good with words he wouldnt stoop as low as to tell the Duchess what was bothering him becuase he is too powerful to talk to women - ironically this means that she has the power here
what is the impact of the line “This grew; I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together.”
the use of semicolon gives a sense of finality to the statement as shows a cumulation of conflict in the relationship.
commands could be euphemism for murder
what does the Duke mean when he says “There she stands As if alive”
her in a painting is no different to her in real life - she was a possession in both instances
how does the line “there she stands as if alive” have an impact on the tone and structure of the poem?
the tone prior to this was getting very agressive so this brings the civil tone back and by going back to the topic of the painting we get a circular structure
give a quote where the Duke makes an allusion to a famous artist at the end?
“notice Neptune, though, taming a sea horse, throught a rarity, which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!”
what is the impact of the allusion to a famous artist at the end?
-hes showing off his wealth and power
-he quickly forgets about his dead wife
-ironic becuase he was just talking about how devoted he was to her
-creates a circular structure
