My Last Duchess Flashcards
Story line
The duke shows the painting of his previous wife to the envoy of a count who is arranging for the duke to marry the counts daughter
Info
‘Will’t please you sit and look at her?’ = rehitorical question (imperative command)
Quote
‘Cast in bronze’ = a bronze statue ~ little warning about the expectations he has for his next wife
Poetic techniques used
Rhyming couplets
A dramatic monologue
A one sided conversation
Euphemism
Quote
‘She stands’ = personified as if she’s still alive
About
The poem is written in one long stanza and by it being a dramatic monologue it makes him come across as forceful and dominant and sounds mentally unstable and crazy
Comparison to other poems
Ozymandias
Checking out me history - abusive power
Storm on the island - worries and paranoia
Poppies - love that is shown in different ways
Themes
Power = political and social in the Dukes attempt to control his whole marriage - (power of a person) - “I gave commands”
Jealousy
Pride and arrogance
About
Gets jealous of her giving attention to other men
