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Poetry > My Last Duchess > Flashcards

My Last Duchess Flashcards

1
Q

What is the main message of this poem?

A
  • Browning is criticing men with inherited power for misusing their status in society to mistreat/ control women in Victorian era.
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2
Q

When was My Last Duchess written?

A

17th century (Victorian times)

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3
Q

Who are The Duke and Duchess in the poem thought to be based off?

A
  • Duke Ferrara and his Duchess in Italy.
  • Duchess died under suspicious circumstances (it is thought that The Duke poisoned her.)
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4
Q

How does form of poem show the power of The Duke?

A
  • Dramatic monologue: shows the control/ power the Duke has over the way the story is told.
  • Enjambement: story is flowing: never inviting space for response.
  • Accentuates the wife and messenger as being voiceless.
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5
Q

What is the significance of the title: “My Last Duchess?”

A
  • “My” - posessive pronoun: controlling nature of Duke.
  • “last” - suggests there are many: he has exerted his power on many wives.
  • “Duchess” - no name insignificance of her (in the eyes of The Duke.)
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6
Q

What is the significance of The Duke having a painting of his wife smiling?

A
  • He wants his wife to be his object - she will smile just for him if she is immortalised in this painting.
  • He can control who sees her “the curtain that I have drawn for you.”
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7
Q

How does Browing describe The Duchess physically?

A
  • “spot of joy.”
  • “her looks went everywhere.”
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8
Q

How does The Duke feel about The Duchess blushing at Fra Pandolf, the painter of the painting?

A
  • He feels distgusted, want his wife only to blush at him.
  • BUT… it mentions that she thought it was courtesy, perhaps she was being modest.
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9
Q

How does The Duke describe the blush along The Duchess’ throat?

A
  • “Half- flush that dies along her throat.”
  • “Dies” - foreshadows the way she died.
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10
Q

What sort of things did The Duchess enjoy?

A
  • Sunset
  • Cherries that a man gave her.
  • Horse- riding
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11
Q

How does The Duke feel about the fact that The Duchess liked the cherries that someone bought her?

A
  • He says: “as if she ranked my gift of a nine- hundred year- old name with anyone else’s gift.”
  • He thinks he is superior because of his inherited power- Browning is criticing this.
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12
Q

How is The Duke seen as a hypocrite?

A
  • “Who’d stoop to blame this sort of trifling.”
    … BUT he has done that for the whole poem and he killed her for this “trifling.”
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13
Q

What is significant about The Duke speaking unclearly to the messenger when he speaks about “stooping?”

A
  • He is trying to make the messenger not understand what he is saying.
  • Trying to manipulate/ confuse the messenger.
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14
Q

How is The Duke’s power shown in the way he kills his wife?

A
  • “I gave commands.”
  • He doesn’t do it himself! Can get out of the situation because he is a man of high status…
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15
Q

What is the euphemism for dying that Browning uses for The Duchess?

A
  • “all smiles stopped together.”
  • Duke is happy that he can control her now that she is in “his” painting.
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16
Q

What is the last word of the poem and what is the significance of this?

A
  • “me”
  • Shows the selfish, narcastic nature of The Duke.
17
Q

What two phrases are repeated at the beginning and towards the end of the poem to the messenger?

A
  • “There she stands - as if alive, Wilt you please rise.”
  • “looking as if she were alive, please sit and look at her.”
  • Reminding the readers that this is a conversation but what The Duke says drags on long before the line is repeated.
18
Q

What is significant about The Duke saying: “as if she were alive?”

A
  • He is trying to relive her memory.
  • Psychotic nature.
  • He only wants her in his life if she will give him pleasure.
  • Victorian times: men would turn to prostitues if they didn’t like their wives.
19
Q

How is imagery of the patriach used at the end of the poem?

A
  • The Duke speaks about how he is expecting the dowry from his future wife’s father.
  • Business transaction, women isn’t involved.
20
Q

How does The Duke speak about his future wife?

A
  • “my object”
  • just like tha painting
21
Q

How is The Duke shown as being controlling to the messenger?

A
  • “Wilt you please sit and look at her.”
  • He immediately starts speaking about the painting - like messenger has no choice but to listen.
  • Messenger try to warn bride’s family.
    Duke: “nay we’ll go down together.”// CONTROLLING!!
22
Q

What is the significance of The Duke pointing out the sculpture of Neptune at the end of the poem?

A
  • Neptune: Roman God of the Sea.
  • He is showing his power with this painting.
  • Thinks he is better than others “cast for me.”
  • Just like seahorse is rarity, so was his wife to him/ he wanted to tame her like he tames the sea horse.

Poetry (14 decks)

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