My Last Duchess Flashcards
What is the Victorian view of women as discussed in the context?
Domestic only
This perspective limited women’s roles to the home and family.
Where did Browning spend most of his life?
Italy
Browning had a strong affection for Italy.
Who is the character based on in the poem?
Duke of Ferrara (Alfonso II)
He was a historical figure known for his controlling nature.
What is the structure of the poem?
Single stanza with enjambment and caesura
These elements serve to undermine the power of the speaker.
What form does the poem take?
Dramatic monologue
This form allows insight into the speaker’s character.
What is the meter used in the poem?
Tight iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets
This traditional structure enhances the dramatic effect.
What type of pronouns are prominently featured in the poem?
Possessive pronouns
They emphasize the speaker’s sense of ownership and control.
What does the symbolism of painting/curtain and Neptune statue represent?
Possession
These symbols illustrate the controlling nature of the Duke.
What is the significance of the term ‘Frá’ in the poem?
Monk
It reflects the Duke’s views on women as inferior.
Fill in the blank: The key idea is that the duke’s power is undermined by his _______.
Paranoia and fear of female sexuality
This fear drives his need for control over others.
What does the Duke’s desire to control others indicate about his character?
Compensation for lack of control over himself
His need for dominance reflects his insecurities.
Who wrote “my last duchess “
Robert browning
What does the title ‘My Last Duchess’ suggest about the Duke’s relationship with the Duchess?
It raises questions such as why she is his ‘last’ Duchess and implies she may be dead.
How does the Duke establish control in the poem?
Through the use of the possessive pronoun ‘my’.
What does the Duke’s reference to famous artists indicate?
It emphasizes and boasts about his wealth and influence.
What unreasonable expectation does the Duke have of his Duchess?
He expects her to derive joy only from him.
What is suggested about the Duke’s view of his Duchess’s life?
He believes her life should revolve around pleasing him.
What does the phrase ‘complete domination of her life’ imply about the Duke?
It indicates his controlling and possessive nature.
How does the Duke’s paranoia manifest in his characterization of the Duchess?
He seems to believe she may have been unfaithful or flirted with others.
What does the Duke’s description of the painting suggest about his feelings towards the Duchess?
He views her as a piece of art rather than a sentimental partner.
What is indicated by the rhetorical question the Duke poses to his visitor?
It implies that he controls who sees the Duchess’s portrait.
What ominous tone is established at the beginning of the poem?
The phrase ‘as if she were alive’ indicates the Duchess has died.
What does the Duke’s power over others suggest about his character?
People are scared of him, influencing their willingness to confront him.
What does the prefix ‘Fra’ signify in relation to the artist Frà Pandolf?
It indicates he is a monk, suggesting the Duke’s envy and paranoia.
Fill in the blank: The Duke forces his visitor to ______ with a rhetorical question.
sit down
True or False: The Duke believes the Duchess should find joy from various aspects of life.
False
What does the Duke’s perception of the Duchess’s joy reveal about his character?
He is possessive and controlling.
What impression does the Duke leave by ending the poem with the phrase ‘for me’?
He feels everything MUST be for him and desires exclusive ownership
This highlights the Duke’s egocentricity and entitlement.
What does the phrase ‘the Count your master’s known munificence’ imply?
The Count’s generosity will support the Duke’s claim for dowry
It suggests that the Duke believes he is entitled to the Count’s wealth without question.
Who is the Duke’s primary object of interest?
The Count’s fair daughter
The Duke’s pursuit of the daughter is a central theme in the poem.
What does the Duke notice about Neptune?
Neptune is depicted taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity
This symbolizes the Duke’s view of control and dominance.
What metaphor does Neptune represent in the context of the Duke’s character?
He sees himself as god-like, with men as gods who must tame their wives
This reflects the Duke’s excessive hubris and pride.
How does the Duke’s materialism manifest in his views?
He condemns nature’s beauty but values a statue, ‘thought a rarity’
This indicates his belief in the superiority of wealth and status over natural beauty.
True or False: The Duke believes his status and wealth are more valuable than anything available to the common man.
True
This belief underscores the Duke’s arrogance and materialistic values.
What is iambic pentameter?
Technique where the poet uses ten syllables in each line, with pairs of sounds going da-DA with the emphasis on the second syllable.
What is the definition of enjambment?
Sentence which runs over multiple lines.
Enjambment is commonly used in poetry to create a sense of continuity and flow.
What is a caesura?
A pause between words, for example across lines, with the use of a comma or full stop.
What effect does the use of a single verse have on the poem?
It makes the poem feel overwhelming and tiring.
This structure reflects the Duke’s power and dominance.
How does the Duke’s power affect his view of past relationships?
It indicates that he believes his mistreatment of his past wife is inconsequential.
His power shields him from accountability.
What perspective is primarily represented in the poem?
Only the Duke’s view is given, with no chance for the woman to defend herself.
This highlights a lack of agency for the female character.
What societal context influences the poem’s perspective?
The poem is set and written in a patriarchal society.
This context shapes how women are perceived through men’s eyes.
What literary technique is suggested by the no-stanza structure of the poem?
It resembles a stream of consciousness.
This technique reflects the Duke’s unfiltered thoughts and feelings.
What does the stream of consciousness imply about the Duke’s control?
It suggests he lacks control over himself while trying to dominate others.
This reflects his internal struggle.
What do possessive pronouns indicate in the context of ownership?
They indicate ownership and control over an individual or object
The term ‘possessive pronouns’ refers to pronouns that show ownership, such as ‘my’, ‘your’, ‘his’, etc.
How does the use of ‘my duchess’ instead of ‘my wife’ reflect the speaker’s feelings?
It shows a lack of affection and emotional connection
This choice of words portrays the duchess as a possession rather than a partner.
What does the speaker’s reference to the duchess imply about her autonomy?
It implies that she has no autonomy and is treated as a possession
The duchess is compared to objects like statues and art, suggesting she exists solely for the speaker’s enjoyment.
What emotions does the speaker’s possessive language suggest?
Jealousy and a sense of ownership
The speaker believes a wife should be exclusively enjoyed by her husband.
Fill in the blank: The speaker sees the duchess as an _______ rather than a partner.
accessory
This reflects the speaker’s complete power over her.
True or False: The speaker expresses deep affection for the duchess by calling her ‘my wife’.
False
The term ‘my duchess’ indicates a lack of emotional connection.
