MLD

Question 1

message

Answer 1

to explore the power and control of men of a high status and the objectification of women, criticism towards victorian views on women vs alternate interpretation dukes lack of power

Question 2

context

Answer 2

set in Ferrara and reflects social norms and power dynamics of the time. High importance was based on status. Written in victorian era.

Question 2

structure and form

Answer 2

dramatic monologue, iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets

Dramatic monologue so we are exclusively exposed to his point of view symbolising his view that his wife should not have a voice 

The use of regular meter and rhyme reflects the dukes attempt to maintain control and order in his narrative, mirroring his desire to control his wife

Question 3

personal pronoun

Answer 3

“MY last duchess” use of my throughout poem

Question 4

metaphor

Answer 4

“neptune… taming a sea horse, thought a rarity, which claus of innsbruck cast in bronze for me!”

Represents the duke himself domineering over women

Question 4

terms of adress

Answer 4

“you” and “sir”

Refers to the envoy as you and sir. These are formal terms of address. They actually 

might seem quite polite to a modern reader, but they are not.

Clarify the Duke’s superiority over the envoy. The more personal terms of ‘thou’ and ‘thee’ might have been used if they were on friendly or equal terms.

Duke is keen to point out that he is socially superior and again powerful, in this moment.

Question 5

enjambment

Answer 5

throughout

The enjambment reflects that the Duke doesn

’

t have complete control. He is quite uncontrolled and wild in his anger. So, although he does everything he can to control others, which is reflected in the tightly controlled use of rhyming couplets and the iambic pentameter, the fact is he can

’

t control himself. Seen through the enjambment, he can

’

t stop this blurting out of emotion.