My last duchess

• Themes: power of humans, memory, identity, pride
• The Duke is opposite to London. He is secure in his wealth and class.
• Structure: AABB shows ultimate control. Form is dramatic monologue showing his voice and views hold ultimate power. iambic pentameter which means 10 syllables per line. Poem is one stanza he is in control and dominates no lapses or breaks.
• Title:

  “My” - property and powerlessness: pronoun shows object and ownership.

  “Last” - past and no more but many more previously. Death gave her power as he cannot forget her ingrained in memory.

  “Duchess” some power through her title as the whole poem is about her. Power over his thoughts. Title also strips her identity and she’s linked to her husband
• “ my gift of a 900 years old name” - the noun shows that he believes the gift of title “duchess” is enough. 900 year-old name shows that he believes that wealth is more important than anything else and he is proud of his heritage.
• “ countenance” (face) sophisticated and eloquent vocab shows that he has had an education. We feel less and inferior as we don’t understand the vocab but this makes him feel powerful as he is showing off his control of language.
• Robert Browning lived in the 19th century and he protested against the divide between classes and gender.