My Last Duchess Flashcards
Who wrote My Last Duchess?
Robert Browning
What quotation sounds as if he owns the Duchess herself, not just the picture of her?
” my last Duchess painted on the wall,”
Who is Fra Pandolf?
The name of the artist
What question does he asked, that sounds polite but he’s being quite forceful?
“Wiil’t please you sit and look at her?’
What is effective about “i said”?
The punctuation doesn’t end the line, with the Duke speaking again immediately, showing that he doesn’t give his visitor a chance to speak
What quotation shows that he controls who looks at the painting but he couldn’t control who looked at his wife when she was alive?
“none puts by the curtain i have drawn for you, but i”
What does “if they durst” suggest?
That people were scared of his temper
What quotation creates the impression of a question from the visitor, but we hear it through the Duke - he’s in complete control?
“not the first are you to turn and ask thus”
What phrase is repeated, showing that his wife’s blushes bother him?
“that spot of joy”
What does the quotation “dies along her throat” hint at?
Reference to death is out of place and suspicious which could hint at the Duchess’ fate
What question shows the Duke struggles to express his irritation?
“how shall i say?”
What description of his wife seems like she is friendly but is meant as a criticism?
“too soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked whate’er she looked on”
What quotation implies she flirted a lot?
“her looks went everywhere”
What quotation makes it sound like he’s justifying himself?
“Sir, t’was all one!’
In what quotation does the enjambment make it sound as if he’s getting carried away by his anger?
“The bough of cherries some officious fool / Broke in the orchards for her, the white mule”
What is the effect of “She thanked men,- good! by thanked somehow - i know not how”?
The punctuation and repetition here creates a stuttering effect, which underlines his exasperation with her behaviour
What quotation shows he’s proud of his history; his important family and the titles “Duke” and “ Duchess”?
“as if she ranked my gift on nine-hundred-years-old name”
What word is repeated to hint at how the Duke felt his wife was beneath him?
“stoop”
What quotation shows false modesty?
“Evn had you skill in speech - (which i have not)”
Whats the effect of the verb “disgust”?
This word suggests he was more bothered about the Duchess’ behaviour than he’s letting on
What quotation shows that the Duke is so proud that even criticising his wife would have been beneath him - he feels he shouldn’t need to be reminded how to behave?
“-E’en then would be some stooping; and i choose never to stoop”
What quotation shows that he sounds suspicious of her?
“but who passed without much the same smile?”
What quotation is a euphemism for his wife’s murder?
“I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together”
What quotation shows that he is arranging his next marriage?
“no just pretence of mine for dowry will be disallowed”
In what quotation does he return to the subject of his art collection, which emphasises power and wealth? - The story of his last Duchess is a subtle warning to his visitor about how he expects his next wife to behave.
“Notice Neptune, though, taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity”
What is the context of the poem?
Based on the Duke of Ferrara.
Browning has to move to Italy to marry because of his wife’s over-protective father
What is the form of the poem?
The poem is a dramatic monologue written in iambic pentameter.
The rhyming couplets show the Duke’s desire for control but the enjambment suggests that he gets carried away with his anger and passions.
What is the tone/mood?
Pride, jealousy and power
