My Last Duchess

Question 1

‘since ____ ____ by the _______ I have drawn ___ ___, but I’

Answer 1

‘since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you, but I’
- No one is allowed to draw back the curtains in front of the painting but him = controlling and authoritative
- Excessive control
- He couldn’t control who looked at her when she was alive
- Metaphorical - he drew the curtains on her life when he wanted to
- He’s tyrannical (exercises power in a cruel way)

Question 2

‘This ____ I gave ________’

Answer 2

‘This grew I gave commands’
- Duke commits uxoricide (wife murder) because of his paranoia
- Short and blunt line contrasts the rest of the poem
- He lacked the courage to actually do the heinous (evil) deed himself
- The uke was too stubborn to talk to the Duchess about his issues with her (views of women) but now seems comfortable saying it to the listener = showing his power (=full of pride)

Question 3

‘A _____ - how shall _ ___? - too soon ____ ____’

Answer 3

‘A heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad’
- Means he saw her as easily pleased with others = accusing her of being too nice and flirtatious (maybe she was simply friendly)
- Caesura show his calculating menace
- Reveals misogyny (hatred/prejudice against women) of the patriarchal society (controlled by men)
- He’s trying to insult her in a polite way to keep his reputation