Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 1 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) A. Comparing Characters After reading “The Other Wife,” read “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning. Compare how the husband in each work is characterized. Discuss how point of view influences characterization.

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 2 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) Final Essay: Two Husbands Revealed Two husbands. Two former wives. One wife is dead. The other is an ex-wife. In both “The Other Wife” and “My Last Duchess,” a husband talks about a woman who was previously his wife. Each man's words and actions reveal the type of husband he was and also will be. (continued)

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 3 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) The first husband is Marc from “The Other Wife.” Marc and his current wife, Alice, are eating at a hotel restaurant when Marc spots his ex-wife. Over lunch, Marc talks about why his marriage broke up, saying that they were incompatible. “We divorced like well-bred people, almost like friends, quietly and quickly,” he says. Later, he tells Alice that his ex-wife “wasn’t happy with me... I just didn’t know how to make her happy, that’s all.” Marc’s character is difficult to make out. The story is told by a limited-omniscient narrator so the reader must judge Marc’s character by evaluating his words and actions. Occasionally, the reader gets a glimpse into the feelings of Marc and his wife. (continued)

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 4 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) Sometimes Marc seems to be a doting husband to Alice. He openly compliments her looks, but at the same time he hints that she shouldn’t put on too much weight. He says he and his ex-wife divorced happily, but he avoids meeting her. Even his explanation that he couldn’t make his ex-wife happy doesn’t seem convincing. His extensive praise of Alice seems more about appearing to be a good husband and manipulating her feelings for him than an honest outpouring of his love. The second husband is the Duke from narrative poem “My Last Duchess.” In the poem, the Duke is showing a painting of his dead wife to a servant of a Count. The Duke mentions that the servant has come to arrange the Duke’s next marriage. (continued)

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 5 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) In first person, the Duke describes the painting of his last Duchess and his own words reveal the type of husband he was. The Duke points out the “spot of joy” in the Duchess’ cheek. He explains to his guest that the Duchess was too easily impressed. He says “She had / A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad.” The Duke believes that the Duchess should have reserved her glad looks for him alone. After all, he was the one who bestowed on her his “nine-hundred-years-old name.” The Duke describes how he gave commands that the Duchess should stop being so free with her affections. As the Duke says in his own words, “Then all smiles stopped together.” What (continued)

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 6 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) happened to the Duchess? Did she die of unhappiness or did the Duke have a hand in her demise? Both “The Other Wife” and “My Last Duchess” leave the reader wondering if the men’s next marriage will be successful. At the end of “The Other Wife,” Marc’s current wife seems to doubt her own happiness in the marriage. Clearly, the Duke from “My Last Duchess” is not an amiable man; he is controlling and proud. Likely, his next wife will not be happy being married to him. (continued)

Chapter 5 Writing a Literary Analysis 9-10 Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 7 Activity 4A Writing a Literary Analysis (p. 85) In both stories, the men’s words and actions reveal the type of husband that they are. Although the men have vastly different personalities, neither seems to love and respect his wife as a person. Both men seem to be expecting too much from their young wives. It is likely that neither they nor their wives will find true happiness together.