My Last Duchess Flashcards
What is the poem about?
The duke describes a portrait of his late wife to a count’s envoy, who is helping to arrange a marriage between the Duke and his master’s daughter. Reveals his character and his duchesses too through the things he says.
What is the form?
A dramatic monologue. First person narrative allows us to fully understand the duke’s actions and motivations.
I gave commands; and the smiles stopped altogether.
This could be seen as The Duke giving orders to kill his wife, displaying his arrogance again as he thinks that her life isn’t worth living.
What is the poem based on?
The life of an Italian Duke from the sixteenth century.
True or False?
The characters in this poem are based on real life, historical figures.
True.
The narrator is Duke Alfonso II who ruled a place in northern Italy called Ferrara.
What meter is the poem written in?
Iambic pentameter.
Although the poem is written in rhyming couplets, how is the sense of rhyme lost?
Through the use of enjambment.
(since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
He is showing his power in the bracketed aside by suggesting that he is giving the messenger a rare privilege to see the Duchess in this way, exercising his control. In fact the irony is that he needs to show off.
Half-flush that dies along her throat.”
Sinister tone, ‘dies along her throat’ the words are also semantically linked to murder ‘die’ and ‘throat’.
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Dowry,
interested in the money not future bride.
sinister-suggests a repeat in his actions.
starts with an allusion to another famous artist-show wealth/power.
quickly forgets about his dead wife claimed used to be devoted to. Ironic-talking about how devoted he will be.
Gives the poem a circular structure.
