My Last Dutches Flashcards
Who wrote it, when, why
Robert Browning, 1842, Critisim of Vicotrian attitudes to women. Shows how women must be perfect or they are worthless.
What does form show
Dramatic monologue, shows poem focuses only on the Duke of Ferrara
Iambic pentameter, every other syllable stressed, showing
AABB rhyme scheme shows nead for control and order by Duke of Ferrara
Caesura and Enjalment towards the end shows loss of control
One over sized stanza shows Dukes obsession with her and he can’t stop talking about her
First line shows,
“That’s my last Dutchess painted on the wall”
Personal pronoun shows self obsessed and believes his wife belongs to him.
How does Duke of Ferrar show he only listens to himself
“Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said ‘Frá Pandolf’ by design,”
References painters name shows how he wants to impress his guest, repeated later in the poem
Enjalment shows cutting of his guest showing only listens to himslef
Passive agressive question shows his controlling and need for power nature
Metaphore shows his belief in controlling women
‘Notice Neptune, through, Taming a sea-horse, throught a rarity,’
Also compares himself to a God, Machiavelism
Enjambment shows lack of control and blurting out of emotion
What does the name show
‘My’ possesive pronoun shows he owns her.
‘Last’ shows she was replaced and there will be many more
Ironic that the poem is about the Dutches but she never speaks, shows powerless of women in the Victorian era.
