Theatrical Devices

Question 1

Dumb show

Answer 1

The duchess and her family present themselves at shrine - banished by cardinal

Inc violent removal of duchess wedding ring

Outsider perspective

Question 2

Arrest of duchess

Answer 2

Wearing ‘visards’ Bosola and guards arrest duchess

Disguise and 2 faced

Question 3

Severed hand

Answer 3

Severed hand w ring

‘I am Duchess of Malfi still’

Share like ‘I ask you pardon’ ‘you have it’

‘Cold’

‘Tedious theatre’

Ferdinand mad

Question 4

Wax works

Answer 4

Dead bodies of children

Climax

Question 5

Mad men

Answer 5

Not a term used now

Thought that this may be Webster’s parody of a Jacobean court wedding masque

Audience would be aware ‘consort’ was a group of muscians

Question 6

Strangling

Answer 6

‘Enter executioners with a shrouded coffin, cords and a bell’

Ritualistic

Death of children

Question 7

Images of lycanthropy

Answer 7

Doctor speaks of ferdinand’s grave robbing exploits and how he was seen in a lane at midnight ‘with the leg of a man upon his soldier’

Lost wits

More sinister
Didactic

Question 8

Poison book

Answer 8

Book is a bible - corruption

Cardinal more calculated

Question 9

Echo

Answer 9

Speeds action

Pitch black

Be mindful of your safety

Fly your fate