My last duchess

• What is the perspective?

  -First person

  -The Duke being the only voice in the poem reveals how self-absorbed and controlling that he doesn't allow any interuptions to his very long narrative.
• What does the use of Iambic Pentameter show?

  -Highlights the Duke's obession with control
• What other structural features are used?

  -Dramatic monologue

  -Enjambment

  -Single stanza
• What are the key themes?

  -Control

  -Opression of women

  -Arrogance

  -Pride

  -Power
• That's my ... ... ... on the ...'

  'That's my last duchess painted on the wall
• That's my last duchess painted on the wall'

  -Possessive pronoun, shows he views the duchess as his property

  -Objectification of the duchess
• Will't ... ... ... ... ... ... her?'

  'Will't please you sit and look at her?
• Will't please you sit and look at her?'

  -Rhetorical question

  -Posed as a question, although really it is a command, Duke is trying to exert his power

  -Wants people to notice his power, wealth and possessions.
• Since ... ... ... ... ... I have drawn ... ... but I'

  'Since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I
• Since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I'


  -The curtain symbolises how the Duke gets to control the Duchess even in death, she is still is property that he commands her.
• as if she ... ... ... ... ... ...-...-...-...-... with anybody's ...'


  'as if she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old-name with anybody's gift
• as if she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old-name with anybody's gift'


  -Of punctution indicates high speed of talking and anger

  -The Duke is furious when not respected
• I gave ...: ... ... ... stopped ...'


  'I gave commands: then all smiles stopped together
• I gave commands: then all smiles stopped together'


  -Use of short sentences and caesura show the coldness and ruthlessness at which the Duke disposed of her life
• She had a heart- how shall I say?- too soon made glad'


  -False modesty

  -Rhetorical question

  -The Duke killed his wife being too easily pleased and happy essentially
• Why would Robert Browning write about an Italian Duke?

  -He spent most of his life in Italy

  -He visited Italy shortly before writing My Last Duchess so he may have been inspired

  -He also may have been trying to have a more subtle criticism of society by setting the poem in a foreign country
• What Duke was the poem based on?

  -Duke Alfronso II as he is suspected to have killed his first wife
• What poem could you compare My Last Duchess too?

  -Tissue