my last dutchess

Question 1

What region of Italy is Ferrara located in?

Answer 1

Ferrara is a region of Italy

Question 2

In what year did Lucrezia, the Duke of Ferrara’s wife, die under suspicious circumstances?

Answer 2

1561

Question 3

What is the significance of the rumors surrounding Lucrezia’s death?

Answer 3

There were rumors she was poisoned

Question 4

What poem did Browning write that was inspired by the events surrounding Lucrezia’s death?

Answer 4

My Last Duchess

Question 5

How does the Duke’s tone in ‘My Last Duchess’ come across?

Answer 5

Sounds polite, but he’s really being quite forceful

Question 6

What does the Duke control in the poem?

Answer 6

He controls who looks at the painting

Question 7

What does the reference to death in the poem hint at?

Answer 7

Hints at the Duchess’s fate

Question 8

How does the Duke feel about his wife’s behavior?

Answer 8

He struggles to express his irritation

Question 9

What criticism does the Duke make about his wife’s personality?

Answer 9

She was cheery and friendly, but he means this as a criticism

Question 10

What does the repetition of ‘stoop’ in lines 34, 42, and 43 hint at?

Answer 10

Hints at how the Duke felt his wife was beneath him

Question 11

What does the term ‘false modesty’ suggest about the Duke?

Answer 11

He clearly does like speaking

Question 12

What does the phrase ‘gave commands’ suggest about the Duke’s attitude towards his wife?

Answer 12

Is cold and cynical, seems to imply he was involved in her murder

Question 13

What is the Duke doing at the end of the poem?

Answer 13

Arranging his next marriage

Question 14

What does the Duke’s art collection emphasize?

Answer 14

His power and wealth

Question 15

What does the story of the last Duchess serve as for the Duke’s visitor?

Answer 15

A subtle warning about how he expects his next wife to behave

Question 16

What does the phrase ‘That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall’ imply?

Answer 16

Sounds as if he owns the Duchess herself, not just the picture

Question 17

Fill in the blank: ‘Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said ______ by design.’

Answer 17

Frà Pandolf

Question 18

What does the Duke suggest about the smiles of the Duchess?

Answer 18

Much the same smile was given to others as well

Question 19

What does the phrase ‘all smiles stopped together’ imply?

Answer 19

Implies the Duchess’s death

Question 20

What does the Duke say about the Count’s generosity?

Answer 20

Is ample warrant that no just pretence of mine for dowry will be disallowed

Question 21

What does the mention of Neptune in the poem signify?

Answer 21

Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for him

Question 22

True or False: The Duke gives his visitor a chance to speak.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

What does the Duke’s pride in his family history indicate?

Answer 23

He believes even criticizing his wife would be beneath him

Question 24

What does the term ‘countenance’ refer to?

Answer 24

Face

Question 25

What does 'dowry' mean?

Answer 25

Money paid to a man by his bride's family when they marry

Question 26

What is the meaning of 'munificence'?

Answer 26

Generosity

Question 27

Who is the author of 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 27

Robert Browning

Question 28

What period was Robert Browning fascinated by?

Answer 28

The Italian Renaissance

Question 29

What is the main subject of the Duke's conversation in 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 29

The portrait of the Duchess

Question 30

Why was the Duke angered by the Duchess's behavior?

Answer 30

She was friendly towards everyone and treated him just like anyone else

Question 31

What action did the Duke take against the Duchess's behavior?

Answer 31

He acted to stop her flirtatious behavior, with hints that he had her murdered

Question 32

What does the visitor's arrival suggest at the end of the poem?

Answer 32

He has come to arrange the Duke's next marriage

Question 33

What form is 'My Last Duchess' written in?

Answer 33

A dramatic monologue in iambic pentameter

Question 34

What do the rhyming couplets in the poem indicate about the Duke?

Answer 34

His desire for control

Question 35

What does enjambment in the poem suggest about the Duke's character?

Answer 35

He gets carried away with his anger and passions

Question 36

How does the poem's structure reflect the Duke's focus?

Answer 36

It frames the visit to the gallery but shifts to the Duchess instead of just the art

Question 37

What does the Duke's view of the Duchess reveal about his attitude towards power?

Answer 37

He objectifies her, seeing her as a possession like his artworks

Question 38

What type of irony is present in the Duke's statements about the Duchess?

Answer 38

Dramatic irony

Question 39

What feelings does the Duke exhibit regarding his status?

Answer 39

He cares about how others see him

Question 40

What feeling of pride is evident in the Duke?

Answer 40

He is proud of his possessions and status

Question 41

What emotion does the Duke feel towards the Duchess's behavior?

Answer 41

Jealousy

Question 42

What does the Duke enjoy control over in the poem?

Answer 42

The painting of the Duchess

Question 43

What is a key theme in 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 43

Pride and power

Question 44

Fill in the blank: The Duke views the Duchess as another of his _______.

Answer 44

possessions

Question 45

True or False: The Duke speaks only about his artworks in the poem.

Answer 45

False

Question 46

What question might one ask regarding the Duke's feelings for the Duchess?

Answer 46

Do you think the Duke ever had any affection for the Duchess?

Question 47

How does the Duke's self-perception differ from the reader's perception?

Answer 47

Q2: How is the Duke's view of himself different from the way the reader sees him?

Question 48

What alternative title might be suitable for 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 48

Q3: Can you think of a suitable alternative title?

Question 49

Why is the Duke the only character who speaks in the poem?

Answer 49

Q4: Why do you think the Duke is the only one who speaks in the poem?

Question 50

What literary form is 'My Last Duchess' written in?

Answer 50

Dramatic monologue ## Footnote The poem features a single character speaking throughout.

Question 51

Who is the narrator of 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 51

Duke Alfonso II ## Footnote He ruled Ferrara in Italy during the 16th century.

Question 52

What type of structure does the poem have?

Answer 52

Tight structure with rhyming couplets ## Footnote The poem is composed in a specific format that includes structured lines.

Question 53

What poetic meter is used in 'My Last Duchess'?

Answer 53

Iambic pentameter ## Footnote This meter consists of five pairs of syllables in each line.

Question 54

How does the Duke express his feelings towards his late wife?

Answer 54

He lists her perceived faults ## Footnote He felt she did not show enough appreciation for him.

Question 55

What does the Duke imply about his wife's death?

Answer 55

He hints at having ordered her death ## Footnote He states, 'I gave commands' suggesting he was responsible.

Question 56

What type of questions does the Duke use in his speech?

Answer 56

Rhetorical questions ## Footnote He asks questions that do not require a response, reflecting his arrogance.

Question 57

What do personal pronouns indicate about the Duke's attitude?

Answer 57

Arrogance and ownership ## Footnote He refers to the Duchess as 'my', showing he believes he owns her.

Question 58

How does sentence length affect the Duke's speech?

Answer 58

It emphasizes his mood ## Footnote Longer sentences convey his anger and frustration.

Question 59

What does the Duke's enjoyment of others' fear suggest about his character?

Answer 59

He is paranoid and controlling ## Footnote He relishes the idea of instilling fear in others.

Question 60

What symbolic representation is included at the end of the poem?

Answer 60

A statue of Neptune taming a seahorse ## Footnote This symbolizes the Duke's view of control in a marital relationship.

Question 61

Fill in the blank: The Duke describes his late wife's behavior as 'trifling' which he _______.

Answer 61

justifies ## Footnote He tries to rationalize his actions regarding her treatment.

Question 62

True or False: The Duke appears polite and amiable throughout the poem.

Answer 62

True ## Footnote Despite his polite demeanor, his controlling nature is evident.

Question 63

What effect does enjambment have on the poem?

Answer 63

It creates a flowing, conversational tone ## Footnote This mimics real speech despite the poem's structured form.

Question 64

What does the Duke's reference to 'the curtain I have drawn for you' signify?

Answer 64

His ownership over the Duchess even in death ## Footnote He continues to control how she is perceived.