MY LAST DUCHESS

Question 1

summary of my last dutchess

Answer 1

• Duke showing off a painting of his dead wife to a visitor and points out her blushing
• suggests she cheated on him but he was too arrogant to tell her to stop
• he orders her to be killed
• then discusses new marriage with visitor

Question 2

structure and form of my last dutchess

Answer 2

• dramatic monologue - dukes dominating presence - creates a bias - bushes over the fact he killed her - only her one perspective of the story which mirrors society at this time
• iambic pentameter - very controlled rhythm - he had control of her and very traditional
• no stanzas and enjambment - narrators stream of conciousness in contrast to dead wife

Question 3

language in my last dutchess

Answer 3

A
- rhetorical question ‘will pls you sit and look at her?’ - control over who sees her - sinsiter tone
- possesive pronouns - ‘my’ - owenership over her she was a possesion and now she is dead she is actually his possession - manipluation and control. - dutchess - no name - lack of affection/jealousy
- SYMBOLISM - having the dutchess as a PAINTING - OBJECTIFICATION - she should be admired and looked at and now shes dead that is all she is there for.
- ‘non puts by the curtain i have draw for you but i’ - worried other men might enjoy her beauty - hes threatened - why he killed her