My Last Duchess

Question 1

Who wrote my last duchess

Answer 1

Browning

Question 2

This grew; I gave commands;

Answer 2

This grew; I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.

• Open ended statement to shock the reader as he is insinuating that he killed her.
• caesura creates a blatant stop, further emphasising the blatant stop to the Duchess’ life.

Question 3

That’s my last Duchess

Answer 3

“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”

• Possessive pronoun suggesting that he owned her and was controlling.
• Last highlights her death as it reflects the past tense

Question 4

Line about the curtain

Answer 4

The curtain I have drawn for you

Literally to hide the fact that he has murdered, and also to suggest that he doesn’t want anyone else to see her, highlighting his controlling nature.

Metaphorically to suggest that he held his wife captive from the outside world, highlighting his corruption.

Question 5

Why is iambic pentameter important within this poem

Answer 5

The poem is written in iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter was often used in Shakespeare’s plays to indicate a character’s wealth and high status.
Browning uses it to highlight the Duke’s obsession with his reputation and how he was viewed. Rhythmic speech implies that he is unfazed by what he has done

Question 6

What is the effect of the dramatic monologue used

Answer 6

This heightens the reader’s shock at the Duke’s actions because it feels as though he is speaking to us directly.
Only voice in the poem highlights his controlling nature as he feels that only he should get to speak

Question 7

Effects of rhyming couplets

Answer 7

This represents the speaker’s control even over his words, although this control loosens when the Duke is overcome with anger.

Question 8

context for My Last Duchess

Answer 8

Extreme representation of a patriarchal society, as men were so obsessed with status and wealth, and how women suffer due to the greed and actions of men.