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Power And Conflict Poems > My Last Duchess > Flashcards

My Last Duchess Flashcards

1
Q

What is the Victorian view of women as discussed in the context?

A

Domestic only

This perspective limited women’s roles to the home and family.

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2
Q

Where did Browning spend most of his life?

A

Italy

Browning had a strong affection for Italy.

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3
Q

Who is the character based on in the poem?

A

Duke of Ferrara (Alfonso II)

He was a historical figure known for his controlling nature.

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4
Q

What is the structure of the poem?

A

Single stanza with enjambment and caesura

These elements serve to undermine the power of the speaker.

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5
Q

What form does the poem take?

A

Dramatic monologue

This form allows insight into the speaker’s character.

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6
Q

What is the meter used in the poem?

A

Tight iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets

This traditional structure enhances the dramatic effect.

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7
Q

What type of pronouns are prominently featured in the poem?

A

Possessive pronouns

They emphasize the speaker’s sense of ownership and control.

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8
Q

What does the symbolism of painting/curtain and Neptune statue represent?

A

Possession

These symbols illustrate the controlling nature of the Duke.

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9
Q

What is the significance of the term ‘Frá’ in the poem?

A

Monk

It reflects the Duke’s views on women as inferior.

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10
Q

Fill in the blank: The key idea is that the duke’s power is undermined by his _______.

A

Paranoia and fear of female sexuality

This fear drives his need for control over others.

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11
Q

What does the Duke’s desire to control others indicate about his character?

A

Compensation for lack of control over himself

His need for dominance reflects his insecurities.

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12
Q

Who wrote “my last duchess “

A

Robert browning

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13
Q

What does the title ‘My Last Duchess’ suggest about the Duke’s relationship with the Duchess?

A

It raises questions such as why she is his ‘last’ Duchess and implies she may be dead.

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14
Q

How does the Duke establish control in the poem?

A

Through the use of the possessive pronoun ‘my’.

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15
Q

What does the Duke’s reference to famous artists indicate?

A

It emphasizes and boasts about his wealth and influence.

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16
Q

What unreasonable expectation does the Duke have of his Duchess?

A

He expects her to derive joy only from him.

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17
Q

What is suggested about the Duke’s view of his Duchess’s life?

A

He believes her life should revolve around pleasing him.

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18
Q

What does the phrase ‘complete domination of her life’ imply about the Duke?

A

It indicates his controlling and possessive nature.

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19
Q

How does the Duke’s paranoia manifest in his characterization of the Duchess?

A

He seems to believe she may have been unfaithful or flirted with others.

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20
Q

What does the Duke’s description of the painting suggest about his feelings towards the Duchess?

A

He views her as a piece of art rather than a sentimental partner.

21
Q

What is indicated by the rhetorical question the Duke poses to his visitor?

A

It implies that he controls who sees the Duchess’s portrait.

22
Q

What ominous tone is established at the beginning of the poem?

A

The phrase ‘as if she were alive’ indicates the Duchess has died.

23
Q

What does the Duke’s power over others suggest about his character?

A

People are scared of him, influencing their willingness to confront him.

24
Q

What does the prefix ‘Fra’ signify in relation to the artist Frà Pandolf?

A

It indicates he is a monk, suggesting the Duke’s envy and paranoia.

25
Q

Fill in the blank: The Duke forces his visitor to ______ with a rhetorical question.

A

sit down

26
Q

True or False: The Duke believes the Duchess should find joy from various aspects of life.

A

False

27
Q

What does the Duke’s perception of the Duchess’s joy reveal about his character?

A

He is possessive and controlling.

28
Q

What impression does the Duke leave by ending the poem with the phrase ‘for me’?

A

He feels everything MUST be for him and desires exclusive ownership

This highlights the Duke’s egocentricity and entitlement.

29
Q

What does the phrase ‘the Count your master’s known munificence’ imply?

A

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.

30
Q

Who is the Duke’s primary object of interest?

A

The Count’s fair daughter

The Duke’s pursuit of the daughter is a central theme in the poem.

31
Q

What does the Duke notice about Neptune?

A

Neptune is depicted taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity

This symbolizes the Duke’s view of control and dominance.

32
Q

What metaphor does Neptune represent in the context of the Duke’s character?

A

He sees himself as god-like, with men as gods who must tame their wives

This reflects the Duke’s excessive hubris and pride.

33
Q

How does the Duke’s materialism manifest in his views?

A

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.

34
Q

True or False: The Duke believes his status and wealth are more valuable than anything available to the common man.

A

True

This belief underscores the Duke’s arrogance and materialistic values.

35
Q

What is iambic pentameter?

A

Technique where the poet uses ten syllables in each line, with pairs of sounds going da-DA with the emphasis on the second syllable.

36
Q

What is the definition of enjambment?

A

Sentence which runs over multiple lines.

Enjambment is commonly used in poetry to create a sense of continuity and flow.

37
Q

What is a caesura?

A

A pause between words, for example across lines, with the use of a comma or full stop.

38
Q

What effect does the use of a single verse have on the poem?

A

It makes the poem feel overwhelming and tiring.

This structure reflects the Duke’s power and dominance.

39
Q

How does the Duke’s power affect his view of past relationships?

A

It indicates that he believes his mistreatment of his past wife is inconsequential.

His power shields him from accountability.

40
Q

What perspective is primarily represented in the poem?

A

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.

41
Q

What societal context influences the poem’s perspective?

A

The poem is set and written in a patriarchal society.

This context shapes how women are perceived through men’s eyes.

42
Q

What literary technique is suggested by the no-stanza structure of the poem?

A

It resembles a stream of consciousness.

This technique reflects the Duke’s unfiltered thoughts and feelings.

43
Q

What does the stream of consciousness imply about the Duke’s control?

A

It suggests he lacks control over himself while trying to dominate others.

This reflects his internal struggle.

44
Q

What do possessive pronouns indicate in the context of ownership?

A

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.

45
Q

How does the use of ‘my duchess’ instead of ‘my wife’ reflect the speaker’s feelings?

A

It shows a lack of affection and emotional connection

This choice of words portrays the duchess as a possession rather than a partner.

46
Q

What does the speaker’s reference to the duchess imply about her autonomy?

A

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.

47
Q

What emotions does the speaker’s possessive language suggest?

A

Jealousy and a sense of ownership

The speaker believes a wife should be exclusively enjoyed by her husband.

48
Q

Fill in the blank: The speaker sees the duchess as an _______ rather than a partner.

A

accessory

This reflects the speaker’s complete power over her.

49
Q

True or False: The speaker expresses deep affection for the duchess by calling her ‘my wife’.

A

False

The term ‘my duchess’ indicates a lack of emotional connection.

Power And Conflict Poems (15 decks)

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