My Last Duchess

• My Last Duchess was written by Robert Browning (1812-1889)
• 'My Last Duchess' implies there have been several wives, which Ferrara believes he "owns"
• AABB rhyme scheme occurs in My Last Duchess, which controls the pace and tone of the poem
• 'Will please you sit and look at her' suggests that he is going to tell the story of his late wife
• 'Fra Pandolf' is repeated throughout the poem, despite the fact we never learn the name of his wife, who is the main focus of the poem, suggesting that his wife only had an identity due to his status
• 'curtain I have drawn for you' he has the power to hide her away, shows his power over her
• 'twas not her husband's presence only' hints at her unfaithfulness
• 'dies along her throat' irony/hinting her fate
• 'too easily impressed' shaming her for exploring other people / having a flirtatious demeanour
• 'thanked somehow - I know not how' he is trying to paint her as an evil person, as she is unable to defend herself, further showing male privilege
• 'My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name' implies he believes his name and status should be the most precious thing to his wife
• 'I choose never to stoop' shows he will not change
• 'I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together' implies that he had her killed due to her disobedience
• 'Will please you rise' highlights that he has finished explaining his story
• 'is my object' objectifying his wives
• 'Taming a sea-horse' is metaphorical for trying to seduce his new wife