My last Duchess by Robert Browning

• What phrase sets a sinister tone in the poem "My Last Duchess"?

  "Looking as if she were alive"
• What does the rhetorical question "Will't please you sit and look at her?" reveal about the Duke?

  It shows his obsession with power.
• What does the line "She had what's ever she looked on" imply about the Duchess?

  It hints that she was flirtatious.
• How does the Duke feel about his wife's status in relation to his own?

  He believes she was beneath him and dared to rebel against his authority.
• What does the phrase "gave commands; fine" imply in the context of the poem?

  It is a euphemism for his murder of the Duchess.
• What does the line "Notice Neptune though/amining a star, nor points our another painting" suggest?

  It reflects the Duke's desire for control.
• What is the form and structure of "My Last Duchess"?

  • Dramatic monologue in iambic pentameter
  • Speech pretending to be a conversation
  • Enjambment indicates instability and anger
  • Heavy use of caesura shows frustration
  • Dramatic irony reveals sinister undertones
• What tones are present in "My Last Duchess"?

  Sinister, bitter, and angry
• What are the main themes of "My Last Duchess"?

  • Power
  • Pride
  • Control
  • Jealousy
  • Status
• Who is the author of "My Last Duchess" and where did he live?

  Robert Browning, who lived in Italy
• When was "My Last Duchess" published?

  It was published in 1842.
• What inspired Browning to write "My Last Duchess"?

  It was inspired by the story of an Italian Duke.
• What were the suspicious circumstances surrounding the Duchess's death?

  It was rumored that she was poisoned.
• What is the purpose of the Duke's monologue in "My Last Duchess"?

  • He shows a visitor his art collection
  • He reveals annoyance at his wife's flirtatious behavior
  • He objectifies her by showing her portrait
  • He warns the visitor's next wife about behavior